Sodium Methylparaben
molecular structure · PubChem
AKA: Methylparaben sodium, Sodium methyl paraben, Paratexin ms, Paridol mna, Nipagin m sodium, Solbrol m sodium salt, Sodium salt, Ns 3500s
Synthetic
Preservative
Not Clean
Sodium 4-(methoxycarbonyl)phenolate
Formula
C8H7NaO3
Mol. Weight
174.13
CAS #
5026-62-0
Form
Powder
State
White, hygroscopic 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
Antimicrobial
Fights Acne
Prevents microbial growth
Traditional Use
The sodium salt form of methylparaben, developed in the early 20th century. Used as a synthetic preservative to extend shelf life of cosmetic and personal care products.
EWG
4
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
Restricted By
CIR Safety Findings
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Phototoxicity Concern
Concentration Guide
8.0%
0%11%
Reg. Limit
EU regulatory limit: 8.0%. 0,4% (as acid) for single ester 0,8% (as acid) for mixtures of esters Source: EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, Annex V (Preservatives), Entry 12. Dermal absorption: 0.1%. Source: CIR Safety Assessment (CIR Seq 746).
Regulatory Agencies
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
The paper trail
🔬Peer-reviewednone on file
⚖️Regulatory1 listing →
🛡️Safety-assessed0 reviews
Counts, not a verdict. A listing isn't a study. The trail, you decide.
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR