Sodium benzoate is a salt of benzoic acid used as a preservative in cosmetic and skincare formulations to inhibit the growth of bacteria, yeast, and fungi, particularly in acidic products. It is most effective at a pH below 5.
| Reported effect | How often | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Skin irritation | Uncommon | Mild redness or stinging, more likely at higher concentrations or on sensitive/broken skin. |
Contact urticaria (non-immunologic) | Rare | Transient localized hives or itching upon direct skin contact, typically resolving quickly. |
Allergic contact dermatitis | Rare | True sensitization is uncommon; reported in isolated cases. |
Pseudoallergic/intolerance reactions | Very rare | Mostly documented with ingestion rather than topical use. |
Frequencies reflect typical cosmetic use reported in the literature, not a guarantee for your skin.