Potassium Benzoate
molecular structure · PubChem
AKA: 582-25-2, Benzoic acid, Potassium salt, INS NO.212, E--212
Synthetic
Preservative
Clean
See also: Benzoic Acid (broader); Sodium Benzoate (related).
Formula
C7H5KO2
Mol. Weight
160.21
CAS #
582-25-2
Form
Powder
State
Pellets or Large Crystals
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.
Preserves Formula
Prevents microbial growth
Traditional Use
A synthetic preservative first synthesized in the late 19th century. Developed to replace natural preservatives like salt and vinegar with a more effective, shelf-stable antimicrobial agent.
EWG
1
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-reviewednone on file
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed2 reviews →
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR