Functional Category 200 ingredients

Cosmetic Preservatives

Preservatives protect cosmetic products from microbial contamination during storage and use. Under EU Regulation 1223/2009 Annex V, preservatives operate on a positive list: only substances explicitly listed in Annex V may be used as preservatives in cosmetic products, subject to the concentration limits and conditions specified per entry. Commonly used classes include phenoxyethanol, parabens (methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, butyl-), sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, benzyl alcohol, isothiazolinones (MIT, CMIT), and formaldehyde releasers (DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea). Regulatory scrutiny has intensified on parabens (SCCS re-reviews of longer-chain esters), isothiazolinones (skin sensitization thresholds), and formaldehyde releasers (carcinogenicity concerns). This hub lists preservative ingredients with SCCS opinion history where available, sensitization data, and multi-jurisdictional regulatory status.

Functional Categories
Skin Conditioning Ingredients Humectants in Cosmetics Emollient Ingredients in Cosmetics Antioxidants in Cosmetics Surfactants in Cosmetics Emulsifiers in Cosmetics Fragrance Ingredients in Cosmetics Cosmetic Colorants Cosmetic Preservatives UV Filters & Sunscreen Ingredients Hair Conditioning Ingredients Rheology Modifiers & Thickeners Active Cosmetic Ingredients Plant Extracts & Botanical Ingredients
Regulatory Clusters
Cosmetic Ingredients Flagged as Endocrine Disruptors Cosmetic Ingredients Listed Under California Proposition 65 Cosmetic Ingredients with SCCS Safety Opinions Cosmetic Ingredients with CIR Expert Panel Conclusions Cosmetic Ingredients with GHS Hazard Classification Cosmetic Ingredients with NOAEL Toxicological Data Cosmetic Ingredients Banned or Restricted Globally Cosmetic Ingredients with Sensitization Data Cosmetic Ingredients with Dermal Absorption Data Cosmetic Ingredients Restricted Under EU Regulation 1223/2009
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Ingredient Safety
(LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA/MELISSA OFFICINALIS/HYPERICUM PERFORATUM) FLOWER/(CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF/(GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA/ACANTHOPANAX SENTICOSUS) ROOT/SARRACENIA COBRA NEST LEAF/FLOWER/STALK EXTRACT Good
(MAGNOLIA OFFICINALIS/PHELLODENDRON AMURENSE) BARK/CAMELLIA JAPONICA LEAF/ZINGIBER OFFICINALE ROOT/CITRUS PARADISI SEED WATER Good
2-BROMO-2-NITROPROPANE-1,3-DIOL Moderate
2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol (Bronopol) Moderate
4-Hydroxybenzoic Acid Excellent
5-Bromo-5-Nitro-1,3-Dioxane Moderate
7-Ethylbicyclooxazolidine Moderate
ACHYRANTHES JAPONICA ROOT/RHUS SEMIALATA GALL/TERMINALIA CHEBULA FRUIT/GLYCYRRHIZA URALENSIS ROOT/STEM EXTRACT Good
AGASTACHE RUGOSA EXTRACT Good
AJUGA REPTANS LEAF EXTRACT Good
ALPINIA SPECIOSA FLOWER/ LEAF/SEED/ STEM EXTRACT Good
ALTERNANTHERA SESSILIS EXTRACT Good
ASPERGILLUS/THYME/(NARDOSTACHYS CHINENSIS/ASARUM SIEBOLDI) ROOT/LYSIMACHIA FOENUM-GRAECUM/PORIA COCOS/ATRACTYLODES JAPONICA RHIZOME/ MAGNOLIA LILIFLORA BUD/ VITEX TRIFOLIA FRUIT/BAMBUSA VULGARIS LEAF/STEM FERMENT FILTRATE Good
Alpinia Speciosa Flower/ Leaf/Seed/ Stem Extract (with spaces) Moderate
Alpinia Speciosa Flower/Leaf/Seed/Stem Extract (standard) Moderate
Alpinia Speciosa Root/Seed/Stem Extract Moderate
Ammonium Benzoate Good
Ammonium Bisulfite Moderate
Ammonium Phenolsulfonate Moderate
Ammonium Propionate Good
Ammonium Silver Zeolite Moderate
Ammonium Silver Zinc Aluminum Silicate Moderate
BACILLUS/LACTOBACILLUS/MONASCUS/RICE BRAN EXTRACT/SOYBEAN EXTRACT FERMENT FILTRATE Good
BENZALKONIUM BROMIDE Moderate
BENZALKONIUM CETYL PHOSPHATE Good
BENZALKONIUM SACCHARINATE Moderate
Benzalkonium Chloride Moderate
Benzisothiazolinone Moderate
Benzoic Acid Good
Benzoxiquine Poor
Benzyl Alcohol Moderate
Benzyl Glycol Good
Benzylhemiformal Moderate
Benzylparaben Poor
Bis-Caprylylaminoethyl Glycine Good
Bispyrithione Moderate
Bithionol Moderate
Bromochlorophene Moderate
Bromoethyl PCA Moderate
Bronopol Moderate
Butylparaben Moderate
C12-14 Alkyl Diaminoethylglycine HCl Moderate
CANDIDA (LACTIS-CONDENSI/ ROBUSTA/UTILIS)/ DEBARYOMYCES/LACTOBACILLUS/LEUCONOSTOC/PICHIA/SACCHAROMYCES/STREPTOCOCCUS (CREMORIS/FAECALIS/LACTIS/THERMOPHILUS)/ TORULASPORA DELBRUECKII/ZYGOSACCHAROMYCES FERMENT EXTRACT Good
CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS FLOWER/VITIS VINIFERA FRUIT/(CAMELIA SINENSIS/DIOSPYROS KAKI/ZANTHOXYLUM SCHINIFOLIUM) LEAF/POLYGONUM CUSPIDATUM ROOT/CASTANEA CRENATA SHELL/COFFEA ARABICA SEED WATER Good
CHLORHEXIDINE DIACETATE Moderate
CINNAMOMUM CASSIA BARK/(JASMINE/OSMANTHUS FRAGRANS) FLOWER/LYCIUM CHINENSE FRUIT EXTRACT Good
CINNAMOMUM CASSIA BARK/SYZGIUM AROMATICUM BUD/ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS LEAF/THYMUS VULGARIS LEAF OIL Good
CINNAMOMUM CASSIA BARK/SYZGIUM AROMATICUM BUD/ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS LEAF/THYMUS VULGARIS LEAF WATER Good
COCOS NUCIFERA FLOWER NECTAR EXTRACT Good
COLLOIDAL SULFUR Good
CORIANDRUM SATIVUM LEAF EXTRACT Good
CURCUMA LONGA RHIZOME JUICE Good
Calcium Benzoate Good
Calcium Paraben Moderate
Calcium Propionate Good
Calcium Salicylate Moderate
Calcium Sorbate Good
Calcium Undecylenate Good
Caprylhydroxamic Acid Excellent
Capryloyl Sarcosine Moderate
Caprylyl Gallate Moderate
Caprylyl Glycol Linseedate Moderate
Carnosic Acid Moderate
Cassytha Filiformis Powder Moderate
Cetalkonium Chloride Moderate
Cetearalkonium Bromide Moderate
Ceteartrimonium Chloride Moderate
Cetrimonium Bromide Good
Cetylpyridinium Chloride Good
Cetylpyridinium Chloride (CPC) Good
Chamomile Extract (Matricaria Chamomilla Extract) Good
Chloramine T Good
Chlorhexidine Moderate
Chlorhexidine Digluconate Moderate
Chlorhexidine Dihydrochloride Moderate
Chlorhexidine Diundecylenate Moderate
Chloroacetamide Poor
Chlorobutanol Moderate
Chlorophene Poor
Chlorothymol Moderate
Chloroxylenol Good
Chloroxylenol (PCMX) Good
Chlorphenesin Good
Cinnamoylhydroxamic Acid Poor
Citrus Grandis Fruit Extract Good
Citrus Grandis Peel/Seed Extract Good
Citrus Paradisi Seed Extract Moderate
Cocoalkonium Chloride Moderate
Copper PCA Good
DEDM Hydantoin Moderate
DEDM Hydantoin Dilaurate Poor
DIBROMOCYANOACETAMIDE Good
DIMER AMIDE Good
DMDM Hydantoin Moderate
DMDM Hydantoin Moderate
Dehydroacetic Acid Good
Dequalinium Acetate Moderate
Dequalinium Chloride Moderate
Diazolidinyl Urea Moderate
Dibromocyanoacetamide (DBNPA) Poor
Dibromohexamidine Isethionate Good
Dibromopropamidine Diisethionate Good
Dichloro-m-Xylenol Moderate
Dichlorobenzyl Alcohol Good
Dichlorophene Poor
Diiodomethyltolylsulfone Moderate
Dimethyl Oxazolidine Moderate
Dimethylol Ethylene Thiourea Moderate
Dimethylol Urea Poor
Dipotassium EDTA Excellent
Dodecylxylylditrimonium Chloride Moderate
Egg Shell Membrane Extract Moderate
Ethyl Benzoate Good
Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate HCl Good
Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate Laurate Moderate
Ethylhexanoyl Methyl Glycinate Moderate
Ethylparaben Good
Ethylparaben Good
FERULA GALBANIFLUA GUM EXTRACT Good
Ficus benghalensis Bark/Bud Extract Moderate
Fluorosalan Poor
Formic Acid Good
Glucose Oxidase Excellent
Glutaral Poor
Glyceryl Caprylate Excellent
Glyceryl Caprylate/Caprate Excellent
Glyoxal Poor
Grape Seed Extract (Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract) Good
HEDERA HELIX LEAF/STEM EXTRACT Good
HYDROXYDICHLORODIPHENYL ETHER Good
HYDROXYETHOXYPHENYL BUTANONE Good
HYDROXYETHYL ISOBUTYL PIPERIDINE CARBOXYLATE Good
Heptylglycerin Moderate
Hexachlorophene Moderate
Hexamidine Good
Hexamidine Diisethionate Good
Hexamidine Diparaben Moderate
Hexamidine Paraben Good
Hexanediol (1,2-Hexanediol) Excellent
Hexetidine Moderate
Hexyl Lauroyl Argininamide HCl Moderate
Hexyl Lauroyl Argininamide Sulfate Moderate
Hydrogenated Palmtrimonium Chloride Moderate
Hydroxyacetophenone Good
Hydroxydichlorodiphenyl Ether (Diclosan) Moderate
Hydroxyethoxyphenyl Butanone (HEPB / Ethylzingerone) Good
Hydroxyethoxyphenyl Butanone (HEPB) Moderate
Hydroxyethyl Phenoxyacetate Good
Hydroxymethyl Dioxoazabicyclooctane Moderate
Imidazolidinyl Urea Moderate
Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate Good
Isobutyl Benzoate Good
Isobutylparaben Poor
Isodecylparaben Poor
Isopropyl Cresols Good
Isopropylparaben Good
KLUYVEROMYCES/LACTOBACILLUS/CAMELLIA JAPONICA SEED OIL/CAMPHOR BARK EXTRACT FERMENT FILTRATE Good
LACTOBACCILLUS/HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA CALLUS CULTURE FERMENT FILTRATE Good
LACTOBACILLUS/(CINNAMOMUM CASSIA/MAGNOLIA) BARK/(ALPINIA OFFICINARUM/ANGELICA GIGAS) ROOT FERMENT EXTRACT FILTRATE Good
LACTOBACILLUS/APRICOT KERNEL/(ASPARAGUS COCHINCHINENSIS/ACONITUM KOREANUM/ANGELICA DAHURICA/CNIDIUM OFFICINALE) ROOT EXTRACT FERMENT FILTRATE Good
LACTOBACILLUS/HONEYSUCKLE BUD/(EPIMEDIUM KOREANUM/HOUTTUYNIA CORDATA FLOWER/LEAF/STEM)/(ARCTIUM LAPPA/FORSYTHIA FRUIT)/CNIDIUM OFFICINALE RHIZOME/(LICORICE/POLYGONUM CUSPIDATUM RHIZOME/ROOT)/(ANGELICA GIGAS/ARALIA CONTINENTALIS/AUCKLANDIA LAPPA/LITHOSPERMUM ERYTHRORHIZON/PANAX GINSENG/SANGUISORBA OFFICINALIS/SAPOSHNIKOVIA DIVARICATA/SCROPHULARIA BUERGERIANA/SCUTELLARIA BAICALENSIS/SOPHORA FLAVESCENS ROOT)/ZIZYPHUS JUJUBA SEED EXTRACT FERMENT Good
LACTOBACILLUS/LEDUM PALUSTRE/ARTEMISIA CAPILLARIS/HOUTTUYNIA CORDATA/SAURURUS CHINENSIS LEAF EXTRACT FERMENT FILTRATE Good
LACTOBACILLUS/SCUTELLARIA BAICALENSIS ROOT/CAMELLIA SINENSIS LEAF/ARTEMISIA PRINCEPS LEAF/HOUTTUYNIA CORDATA LEAF/CITRUS JUNOS FRUIT EXTRACT FERMENT FILTRATE Good
LACTOCOCCUS/BEAN SEED EXTRACT FERMENT FILTRATE Good
Lactobacillus/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate Good
Laur/Myrist/Palmitamidobutyl Guanidine Acetate Moderate
Lauralkonium Bromide Moderate
Lauralkonium Chloride Moderate
Lauric Arginate Moderate
Laurtrimonium Chloride Good
Laurtrimonium Trichlorophenoxide Poor
Levulinic Acid Excellent
Linoleamide DEA Moderate
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract Moderate
MEA o-Phenylphenate Moderate
MEA-Benzoate Moderate
MEA-Salicylate Moderate
MEA-Undecylenate Moderate
MEK PEROXIDES Good
METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE (MIT) Good
MORINGA OLEIFERA LEAF POWDER Good
MURDANNIA KEISAK EXTRACT Good
MURRAYA KOENIGII LEAF OIL Good
MYCOSPORINE GLYCINE Good
MYRISTALKONIUM CHLORIDE Moderate
MYRISTALKONIUM SACCHARINATE Moderate
MYRISTAMIDOPROPALKONIUM CHLORIDE Good
MYRISTOYL DIPEPTIDE-12 AMIDE Good
MYRTRIMONIUM BROMIDE Moderate
Magnesium Benzoate Moderate
Magnesium Nitrate Good
Magnesium Propionate Moderate
Magnesium Salicylate Moderate
Mercuric Oxide Moderate
Methenamine Moderate
Methenammonium Chloride Moderate
Methyl Benzoate Moderate
Methylchloroisothiazolinone Poor
Methylisothiazolinone Poor
Methylparaben Good
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