Ingredient glossary

Propylparaben

INCI: Propylparaben

Quietly necessary

A preservative doing an unglamorous but essential job: keeping the product safe to use. Not something you pay extra for.

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What it does

  • preservation

strong evidenceToxicology and regulatory reviews support propylparaben safety within restricted cosmetic levels, though it shares public reputation issues with parabens in general.

On a label: usually effective at 0.05-0.3%.

Who it's for, and who should skip it

Tends to suit

  • all

Approach with care

  • paraben sensitive
  • Clogs poresLow
  • Irritation riskLow

Pregnancy: Check with your doctor before using during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Plays well with

  • other parabens

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Educational information about a cosmetic ingredient, not medical advice.