Ingredient glossary
Benzoic Acid
On your shelf ✓What Benzoic Acid does for your skin, who it suits, and what to watch for.
INCI: Benzoic Acid · Also: Benzenecarboxylic Acid
In short: Benzoic Acid delivers preservation and antimicrobial, suits most skin types, and the evidence behind it is strong. One thing to know: needs the right pH to work.
- What it does
- Preservation, antimicrobial
- Best for
- Most skin types
- Watch out
- Needs the right pH to work
- Evidence
- Strong
The molecule
The Glow take
Quiet, essential, and nothing to fear.
Benzoic Acid keeps a product safe to use from the first pump to the last, at tiny amounts. Not something you pay a premium for.
— Maya
What it does
- preservation
- antimicrobial
strong evidenceAntimicrobial performance and the pH dependence are well established and the EU sets the permitted level. It is a preservative, so none of that is a claim about skin.
On a label: usually effective at 0.1-0.5%.
Who it's for, and who should skip it
Tends to suit
- all
Approach with care
- very sensitive
- Clogs poresLow
- Irritation riskLow
- pH-dependentIts effect depends on the product's pH
How it fits each skin type
- DrySuits
- CombinationSuits
- OilySuits
- SensitiveTake care
Where it fits in your routine
Benzoic Acid, answered
Is Benzoic Acid safe during pregnancy?
Yes. Benzoic Acid is considered safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. As with anything, if you are unsure it is worth a quick word with your doctor or midwife.
Who should avoid Benzoic Acid?
Approach Benzoic Acid with care if any of these apply to you: very sensitive.
What concentration of Benzoic Acid actually works?
Benzoic Acid tends to do its job in the 0.1 to 0.5% range. Much lower and it is likely underdosed.
This, for every label you own
One ingredient is easy. A full label is where it gets confusing. The Ingredient Decoder reads any product and tells you the honest truth, ingredient by ingredient.
Sources & how we reviewed this
- EU Regulation 1223/2009-AnnexV-entry-1summary page only, the document itself was not read