murphyHexamidine Diisethionate
AKA: 659-40-5, Hexamidine isethionate, Hexomedin, Hexamidine isetionate, Laryngomedin N
Synthetic
Preservative
Clean
2-Hydroxyethanesulphonic acid, compound with 4,4'-[hexane-1,6-diylbis(oxy)]bis[benzenecarboxamidine] (2:1)
Formula
C24H38N4O10S2
Mol. Weight
606.70
CAS #
659-40-5
Form
Powder
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Caution
Functions
Anti-Seborrheic
Antimicrobial
Keeps your product from growing bacteria, mold, or yeast. Without these, that jar of cream becomes a petri dish in about a week.
Preservative
Keeps your product from growing bacteria, mold, or yeast. Without these, that jar of cream becomes a petri dish in about a week.
Controls excess oil
Fights acne
Causing bacteria
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.
EWG
1
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Caution
CIR Safety Findings
Not Phototoxic
Animal test found no phototoxicity in the CIR safety assessment (CIR 365)
Not a Sensitizer
3 studies / 3 not sensitizing / plus 2 case reports (CIR 365)
Mixed Eye Irritation Results
3 studies / 1 irritating / 2 not irritating / reactions slight (CIR 365)
Mixed Skin Irritation Results
7 studies / 2 irritating / 1 mixed / 4 not irritating / reactions slight (CIR 365)
Dermal Absorption 2%
Sprague-Dawley rats (n=21) / in vivo / 0.1% [14C]Hexamidine Diisethionate 56 μg/cm2 on 5 × 5 cm shaved back occluded / 96 h (CIR 365)
Concentration Guide
0%50%100%
Reg. limit 0.1%
EU regulatory limit: 0.1%. Source: EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, Annex V (Preservatives), Entry 47.
Regulatory Agencies
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR