Good Cosmetic Ingredient

Potassium Paraben

INCI: POTASSIUM PARABEN

CAS Number
16782-08-4
Function
Preservative
Safety Rating
GOOD

Regulatory Status

🇪🇺 EU Status permitted
EU Max Conc. 0.4%
🇺🇸 US Status permitted
US Notes Permitted; parabens are GRAS for food use and allowed in cosmetics. No specific FDA cosmetic concentration limit, but industry follows CIR guidance

For full compliance data across 55 jurisdictions, use the Substance Compliance tool.

Safety Data

Margin of Safety (MoS)
adequate
Dermal Absorption
moderate
Sensitization
low

Calculate MoS for your specific formulation with the MoS Calculator.

Expert Verdict

Potassium paraben is permitted in both EU and US cosmetics. EU restrictions on propyl and butylparaben in leave-on products for children under 3 years do not apply to potassium paraben. Five parabens (isopropyl, isobutyl, phenyl, benzyl, pentyl) are EU-banned; potassium paraben is not among them. SCCS considers authorized concentrations safe despite ongoing endocrine disruption debate.

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Concern Level: Low

Regulatory Flags

preservative

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Potassium Paraben safe in cosmetics?

Potassium paraben is permitted in both EU and US cosmetics. EU restrictions on propyl and butylparaben in leave-on products for children under 3 years do not apply to potassium paraben. Five parabens (isopropyl, isobutyl, phenyl, benzyl, pentyl) are EU-banned; potassium paraben is not among them. SCCS considers authorized concentrations safe despite ongoing endocrine disruption debate. The EU classifies Potassium Paraben as "permitted". Safety rating: GOOD.

Is Potassium Paraben allowed in the EU?

Potassium Paraben EU regulatory status: permitted. Maximum allowed concentration: 0.4%. This is based on EU Regulation 1223/2009 and its amendments.

What does Potassium Paraben do in cosmetics?

Potassium Paraben functions as: Preservative. It is classified as a cosmetic ingredient in our database. CAS number: 16782-08-4.

What is the Margin of Safety for Potassium Paraben?

adequate The Margin of Safety (MoS) is calculated using SCCS methodology. A MoS above 100 is generally considered safe. Use the MoS Calculator tool to calculate MoS for your specific formulation and product category.

Compliance Tools

Check Potassium Paraben compliance across multiple jurisdictions:

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Ingredient Decoder
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82 Allergen Checker
Check for EU declarable fragrance allergens
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Substance Compliance
Check compliance across 55 jurisdictions
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MoS Calculator
Calculate Margin of Safety using SCCS methodology
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Heavy Metal Limits
Compare limits across jurisdictions

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