Po-tassium Sorbate ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a preservative used mainly to control yeast and mold in water-containing formulas. It is most useful in acidic products and is often paired with other preservatives for broader bacterial coverage.
What does Po-tassium Sorbate do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a preservative used mainly to control yeast and mold in water-containing formulas. It is most useful in acidic products and is often paired with other preservatives for broader bacterial coverage.
Is Po-tassium Sorbate clean?
It is widely accepted in clean-beauty standards and has a generally low irritation and sensitization profile at cosmetic use levels. The main formulation caveat is performance, since it is pH-dependent and not usually enough as a standalone preservation system.
Is Po-tassium Sorbate sustainable?
This material is typically produced synthetically rather than sourced directly from plants. It is readily biodegradable, used at low levels, and is not known for persistence or bioaccumulation concerns.
Is Po-tassium Sorbate COSMOS-approved?
It is permitted under COSMOS as a nature-identical preservative, with use conditions tied to preservative function and compliant formulation design. Its Green Chemistry profile is solid on biodegradability and low-dose efficacy, while its usual petrochemical feedstock keeps it from being a fully renewable ingredient story.
How does Po-tassium Sorbate work chemically?
The molecule is an ionic salt of a conjugated, unsaturated six-carbon carboxylate, which works best when enough of the acid form is present in the formula. Typical cosmetic use is about 0.1% to 0.3%, with regulatory limits commonly expressed up to 0.6% as acid, and performance is strongest below about pH 5.5.
Last updated 2026-05-15