Sodium Benzoate

Sodium Benzoate is a water-soluble preservative commonly used in personal care and cosmetic products, especially acidic formulas. It's chosen to control product spoilage by suppressing microbial growth and to extend shelf stability.
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Ingredient Snapshot

Overview
A common preservative that keeps products from spoiling.
Category
Preservative
Type
Preservative

Ingredient Ratings

Overall Rating

Great

Comedogenic Risk

None

Skin Benefits

It helps keep products fresh and minimizes the risk of contamination, supporting product safety and quality over time.

Uses In Skincare & Cosmetics

It's frequently included in moisturizers, shampoos, gels, and toners as a system preservative, and found in cleansers and body lotions to support formula longevity.

Comedogenic Rating

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

Safety

It's generally well tolerated at typical cosmetic concentrations, though it may sting on compromised or very sensitive skin. It's widely permitted with concentration limits, commonly up to 0.5% as benzoic acid equivalent in many regions.

Is Sodium Benzoate a Good Ingredient?

It earns a Great rating as a well-studied, pH-dependent preservative that effectively controls microbes at low levels with generally low irritation in finished formulas. Broad regulatory acceptance and stability in acidic products back up its consistent performance.

Products with Sodium Benzoate

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