Common Name(s): Undecylenoyl potassium carrageenan,antimicrobial biopolymer conjugate,anti-dandruff conditioning
CAS Number: N/a
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Provides combined antifungal activity against malassezia (anti-dandruff) from the undecylenoyl group and conditioning/thickening from the biopolymer backbone โ eliminating the need for separate antifungal and conditioning ingredients.
Why It's Used: Combining antifungal and conditioning function in one molecule reduces formulation complexity and enables delivery of the antifungal active with substantive biopolymer deposition for prolonged scalp contact time.
How It Works: The undecylenoyl fatty acid chain (c11 trans-2-enoate) inhibits enoyl-acp reductase in fungal type ii fatty acid synthesis, blocking malassezia lipid production. the biopolymer backbone provides substantive deposition on scalp (for xanthan, carrageenan, inulin) or hair shaft (for protein hydrolysates) extending antifungal residence time.
Typically Found In: Anti-dandruff,hair conditioning,scalp care
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Active ingredient โ skin microbiome support
Secondary Functions: Microbiome balance,prebiotic effect
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 0.5%โ5%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Fermentation-derived or plant-extracted.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating; beneficial for sensitive skin.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile. ewg score: 1.
Works Well With: Ceramides,niacinamide,soothing actives
Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Substantive biopolymer deposition extends the antifungal residence time on scalp: free undecylenic acid rinses away in <30 seconds; undecylenoyl biopolymer conjugates deposit on scalp surface and are retained for hours, providing sustained antifungal activity between shampoo applications.
Last Verified: Cosing database,potassium undecylenoyl carrageenan undecylenoyl antimicrobial conjugate review
Primary Sources: 2026-03-12