Potassium Benzoate ●
TL;DR. This ingredient is a water-soluble preservative used mainly to control yeast and mold, with some support against bacteria. It works best in acidic formulas such as toners, gels, cleansers, and water-based products.
What does Potassium Benzoate do in a cosmetic formula?
This ingredient is a water-soluble preservative used mainly to control yeast and mold, with some support against bacteria. It works best in acidic formulas such as toners, gels, cleansers, and water-based products.
Is Potassium Benzoate clean?
From a clean-beauty perspective, this ingredient is generally accepted and well understood, with low concern at typical cosmetic use levels. Like many preservatives, it can be less comfortable for very reactive skin when used at higher levels or in low-pH formulas.
Is Potassium Benzoate sustainable?
This material is commonly made as a nature-identical salt, often from conventional chemical feedstocks, rather than directly harvested from plants. It is readily biodegradable and has low bioaccumulation concern in rinse-off and leave-on use patterns.
Is Potassium Benzoate COSMOS-approved?
It is permitted under COSMOS natural and organic standards as an approved preservative, with use governed by regional cosmetic preservative limits. Its profile fits Green Chemistry reasonably well because it is effective at low levels, water soluble, and readily biodegradable, though its feedstock route is not always renewable.
How does Potassium Benzoate work chemically?
The molecule is an ionic potassium salt of an aromatic carboxylic acid, and its preservative performance depends on conversion toward the acid form in acidic systems. It is typically used around 0.1% to 1.0%, performs best below about pH 5.5, and is often paired with other preservation aids for broader coverage.
Last updated 2026-05-13