Magnesium Benzoate
AKA: Magnesium dibenzoate, 553-70-8, Benzoic acid, Magnesium salt, Benzoic acid magnesium salt (2:1), MAGNESIUM BENZOATE [MI]
Plant-Derived Synthetic
Preservative
Not Clean
Magnesium dibenzoate
Formula
C14H10MgO4
Mol. Weight
266.53
CAS #
553-70-8
Form
Powder
Functions
Preservative
Keeps your product from growing bacteria, mold, or yeast. Without these, that jar of cream becomes a petri dish in about a week.
Anti-Inflammatory
Fights Acne
Antioxidant
Prevents microbial growth
Traditional Use
A synthetic salt developed in the 20th century as a preservative and antimicrobial agent in cosmetics; replaces traditional plant-based preservation methods with a more stable chemical alternative.
EWG
3
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
CIR Safety Findings
Not Phototoxic
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
0.5%
0%1%
Reg. Limit
EU regulatory limit: 0.5%. Source: EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, Annex V (Preservatives), Entry 1a.
Regulatory Agencies
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewed1 paper →
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed1 review →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR