undefined 1
undefined 2
undefined 3
undefined 4
Benzylparaben
AKA “Benzyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, Benzyl paraben, Benzyl p-hydroxybenzoate, Nipabenzyl, Benzyl Tegosept, Benzyl parahydroxybenzoate, p-Hydroxybenzoic acid benzyl ester, Benzoic acid”
Synthetic
Ingredient Facts
Benzylparaben
AKA: Benzyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, Benzyl paraben, Benzyl p-hydroxybenzoate, Nipabenzyl, Benzyl Tegosept, Benzyl parahydroxybenzoate, P-Hydroxybenzoic acid benzyl ester, Benzoic acid
Synthetic · Antimicrobial · EWG: 4
Synthetic
Preservative
Synthetic
Clean
Benzylparaben is a preservative that keeps products fresh and prevents bacterial growth, helping extend shelf life and maintain product safety.
Formula
C14H12O3
Mol. Weight
228.24
CAS #
94-18-8
Form
Powder
See origin →
Functions
Antimicrobial
Keeps your product from growing bacteria, mold, or yeast. Without these, that jar of cream becomes a petri dish in about a week.
Fights Bacteria
Traditional Use
Synthesized in the early-to-mid 20th century as a synthetic preservative. Part of the paraben family developed to replace earlier preservatives and prevent microbial contamination in cosmetic formulations.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Melanin-Rich Skin
Suitable
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Caution
EWG
4
CIR
Safe w/Qualifications
Pregnancy
Caution
CIR Safety Findings
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Phototoxicity Concern
Concentration Guide
Dermal absorption: 0.1%. Source: CIR Safety Assessment (CIR Seq 746).
Regulatory Status
USA✔ permitted
EU✔ permitted
JAPAN✔ permitted
CANADA✔ permitted
Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Benzoate
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Final Amended Report on the Safety Assessment of Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Isopropylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben and Benzylparaben as used in cosmetic products
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid, and Sodium Benzoate
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Benzylparaben
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
Safety Assessment of Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid and its Salts, and Benzyl Benzoate
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
→
4-Hydroxybenzoic acid rescues multisystemic disease and perinatal lethality in a mouse model of mitochondrial disease.
Corral-Sarasa J, Martínez-Gálvez JM, González-García P, Wendling O, Jiménez-Sánchez L et al.
Cell reports, 2024
→
4-Hydroxybenzoic Acid
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
→
Benzoic acid and its derivatives as naturally occurring compounds in foods and as additives: Uses, exposure, and controversy.
Del Olmo A, Calzada J, Nuñez M
Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 2017
→
Benzoic acid and its derivatives as naturally occurring compounds in foods and as additives: Uses, exposure, and controversy.
Del Olmo A, Calzada J, Nuñez M
Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 2017
→
Benzoic acid and its derivatives as naturally occurring compounds in foods and as additives: Uses, exposure, and controversy.
Del Olmo A, Calzada J, Nuñez M
Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 2017
→
4-Hydroxybenzoic Acid
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Benzoic Acid
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
Safety Assessment of Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid and its...
Wilbur Johnson, Wilma F Bergfeld, Donald V Belsito, Ronald A Hill, Curtis D Klaassen, Daniel C Liebler + 5 more
International journal of toxicology, 2017
→
Safety Assessment of Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid and its...
Wilbur Johnson, Wilma F Bergfeld, Donald V Belsito, Ronald A Hill, Curtis D Klaassen, Daniel C Liebler + 5 more
International journal of toxicology, 2017
→
Verified Feb 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR