Gluconolactone (and) Sodium Benzoate

Gluconolactone (and) sodium benzoate is a preservative blend pairing a polyhydroxy acid with a food-grade benzoate salt. It's used to control microbial growth and extend cosmetic shelf life while maintaining a mild, skin-friendly pH window.
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Ingredient Snapshot

Overview
A mild preservative blend that keeps products fresh and safe to use.
Category
Preservative
Type
Preservative

Ingredient Ratings

Overall Rating

Good

Comedogenic Risk

None

Skin Benefits

Helps products stay fresh and reliable by limiting contamination, with a preservation approach that's typically mild on skin. Can reduce reliance on harsher preservative systems.

Uses In Skincare & Cosmetics

Common in water-based serums, lotions, cleansers, and wipes to safeguard formulas during daily use and storage.

Comedogenic Rating

This ingredient is not typically evaluated for comedogenicity, and no standardized rating is available.

Safety

Typically safe in leave-on and rinse-off products, though mild irritation can occur in very sensitive skin. Usage follows regional limits, such as sodium benzoate capped at 0.5% in the EU.

Is Gluconolactone (and) Sodium Benzoate a Good Ingredient?

It's Good because it delivers effective preservation in mildly acidic systems with a gentler profile than many alternatives. It's not rated Great because efficacy is pH-dependent and often needs adequate dosage or additional preservation hurdles to work reliably.