Chlorhexidine
AKA “Hexadol, Soretol, Fimeil, Sterilon, Tubulicid, Chlorhexidinum, Chlorhexidin, Clorhexidina”
Synthetic
Ingredient Facts
Chlorhexidine
AKA: Hexadol, Soretol, Fimeil, Sterilon, Tubulicid, Chlorhexidinum, Clorhexidina
Synthetic · Antimicrobial · EWG: 4
Synthetic
Preservative
Synthetic
Clean
A powerful antimicrobial agent that helps prevent bacterial growth and contamination in formulas, keeping your product fresh and effective.
Solubility 800
Formula
C22H30Cl2N10
Mol. Weight
505.40
CAS #
55-56-1
Form
Powder
State
Crystals from methanol; [HSDB]
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.
Oral Care
Preservative
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
Developed in 1945 by chemists at Imperial Chemical Industries as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent. Introduced to skincare and oral care products in the 1950s-1960s to prevent bacterial contamination and reduce microbial growth.
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
ewg-4
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
0.3%
0%0%
Reg. Limit
EU regulatory limit: 0.3%. Source: EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, Annex V (Preservatives), Entry 42.
Regulatory Agencies
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Chlorhexidine/Chlorhexidine Diacetate/Chlorhexidine Dihydrochloride/Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Note Regarding the Safety Assessment of Chlorhexidine, Chlorhexidine Diacetate, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, and Chlorhexidine Dihydrochloride
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Verified Feb 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR