Evigrade
DrugsCosmetic ingredientsCalculatorsInteractionsEvigrade SkinEvigrade Meds ↗
ConditionsJournalMethodologyPro for practitioners
ESRU

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate

Dipotassium salt of glycyrrhizic acid from licorice root, added to soothing skin care. Anti-inflammatory data come from cells; no study has tested the salt alone on human skin

Evidence by route

C

Topical application

The best data concern the anti-inflammatory effect, and they come only from keratinocytes and a skin model of atopic dermatitis (Lee 2019). There are no controlled studies of this salt alone on human skin, and it has not been studied in rosacea, after sunburn or for pigmentation

  • C

    Soothing

    In keratinocytes and a skin model of atopic dermatitis, the salt reduced inflammatory gene expression and cytokine release (Lee 2019). No controlled study has tested it alone on human skin

  • D

    Brightening

    No studies of a lightening effect of dipotassium glycyrrhizate alone were found, either in people or in cells

  • D

    Post-sunburn repair

    No study has looked at this salt after sunburn or UV-induced erythema

  • D

    Rosacea-friendly

    There are no studies of tolerability or effect in people with rosacea

  • Lee SH et al. Ameliorating effect of dipotassium glycyrrhizinate on an IL-4- and IL-13-induced atopic dermatitis-like skin-equivalent model. Arch Dermatol Res. 2019;311(2):131-140. PMID 30506356
  • Paolino D et al. Ethosomes for skin delivery of ammonium glycyrrhizinate: in vitro percutaneous permeation through human skin and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity on human volunteers. J Control Release. 2005;106(1-2):99-110. PMID 15935505
  • Marianecci C et al. Anti-inflammatory activity of novel ammonium glycyrrhizinate/niosomes delivery system: human and murine models. J Control Release. 2012;164(1):17-25. PMID 23041542
  • Barone A et al. Ammonium glycyrrhizate skin delivery from ultradeformable liposomes: A novel use as an anti-inflammatory agent in topical drug delivery. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2020;193:111152. PMID 32535351
  • Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel. Final report on the safety assessment of Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Potassium Glycyrrhetinate, Disodium Succinoyl Glycyrrhetinate, Glyceryl Glycyrrhetinate, Glycyrrhetinyl Stearate, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Glycyrrhizic Acid, Ammonium Glycyrrhizate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Disodium Glycyrrhizate, Trisodium Glycyrrhizate, Methyl Glycyrrhizate, and Potassium Glycyrrhizinate. Int J Toxicol. 2007;26 Suppl 2:79-112. PMID 17613133
  • Oiso N et al. Allergic contact dermatitis caused by arbutin and dipotassium glycyrrhizate in skin-lightening products. Contact Dermatitis. 2017;77(1):51-53. PMID 28612442
How to read tiers A–F
  • CWeak evidence. In vitro data, open-label studies, or expert consensus
  • DNo data, or very weak or conflicting data

Tolerability and safety

Working concentrations
CIR reported use in cosmetics at up to 1% in 2007, and phototoxicity testing used 5% (CIR 2007). No concentration with a proven effect on human skin has been established
Irritation potential
Low
Allergen risk
Low
Pregnancy
Unknown
Suitable for
Normal, Dry, Oily, Combination, Sensitive

About this ingredient

Dipotassium glycyrrhizate is the dipotassium salt of glycyrrhizic acid (glycyrrhizin), a compound isolated from licorice root. Cosmetics use it as a skin-conditioning or flavoring agent; in 2007 the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) panel reported use at up to 1% (CIR 2007). Mechanism data come from cells only. In keratinocytes and a skin model of atopic dermatitis driven by IL-4 and IL-13, the salt lowered disease-related gene expression and cytokine release (Lee 2019). Most of the authors work for a cosmetics company. No controlled study has tested dipotassium glycyrrhizate alone on human skin. Volunteer studies of induced erythema used another salt, ammonium glycyrrhizinate, and compared delivery systems rather than the substance against a vehicle (Paolino 2005; Marianecci 2012; Barone 2020). One researcher co-authored all three, and the abstracts give no figures. The CIR panel judged glycyrrhizic acid salts safe at the concentrations in use and not irritating or sensitizing at those levels. At 5% the salt was not phototoxic, and it did not pass through pig skin in a permeation test (CIR 2007). A case report describes allergic contact dermatitis to dipotassium glycyrrhizate and arbutin in skin-lightening products (Oiso 2017). High oral doses of glycyrrhizic acid cause sodium retention, potassium loss and hypertension (CIR 2007). There are no data on use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Frequently asked questions

Is Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate safe during pregnancy?

Safety data for Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate during pregnancy is insufficient. Best avoided when in doubt.

What skin types is Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate for?

Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate suits: normal, dry, oily, combination, sensitive.

What is Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate and what does it do in cosmetics?

Dipotassium salt of glycyrrhizic acid from licorice root, added to soothing skin care.

What's the INCI name for Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate?

The INCI name is Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate.

What concentration of Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate is effective?

CIR reported use in cosmetics at up to 1% in 2007, and phototoxicity testing used 5% (CIR 2007). No concentration with a proven effect on human skin has been established

See Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate in a product composition right on the store page

The Evigrade extension adds an evidence panel to iHerb, Sephora, Druni and 12 more stores. This ingredient and every other one in the product show evidence-tier, allergen risk and pregnancy/lactation flags at a glance.

Install the extension for free

Similar in action

Published: · updated: