murphyPotassium Paraben
AKA: Potassium 4-hydroxybenzoate, 16782-08-4, Potassium p-hydroxybenzoate, MONOPOTASSIUM P-HYDROXYBENZOATE, 4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID POTASSIUM SALT
Synthetic
Preservative
Not Clean
OriginSynthesized from para-hydroxybenzoic acid, a compound in the paraben chemical family. Produced through esterification of para-hydroxybenzoic acid with potassium hydroxide as the base.
The CIR Expert Panel concluded that the following 20 parabens are safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration described in the safety assessment when the sum of the combined concentration of parabens in any given formulation does not exceed 0.8 %...Potassium Paraben...
Formula
C7H5KO3
Mol. Weight
176.21
CAS #
16782-08-4
Form
Powder
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
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
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewed1 paper →
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed0 reviews
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
EWG
4
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
Restricted By
Concentration Guide
0%50%100%
Reg. limit 0.4%
CIR lists it as not reported to be in use.
CIR · report published 2020
EU regulatory limit: 0.4% (as acid) for a single ester, 0.8% (as acid) for mixtures of esters. Source: EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, Annex V (Preservatives), Entry 12.
Regulatory Agencies
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR