Chlorhexidine
molecular structure · PubChem
AKA: 55-56-1, Hexadol, Soretol, Fimeil, Sterilon, Tubulicid, Chlorhexidinum, Clorhexidina
Synthetic
Preservative
Not Clean
2,4,11,13-Tetraazatetradecanediimidamide, N,N''-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-3,12-diimino-; Biguanide, 1,1'-hexamethylenebis(5-(p-chlorophenyl)-
Solubility 800
Formula
C22H30Cl2N10
Mol. Weight
505.40
CAS #
55-56-1
Form
Powder
State
Crystals from methanol; [HSDB]
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.
EWG
4
CIR
Reviewed by CIR
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
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Caution
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewed1 paper →
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed3 reviews →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR