Preservatives & Stabilizers
Preservatives prevent microbial growth in cosmetics, and stabilizers protect formulas from oxidation and separation. This category explains why they are used and how safety is assessed.
Preservatives & Stabilizers (8)
EDTA
The chelator that keeps products fresh — it traps the metals that spoil formulas, with a heavy-metal medical past.
Preservatives & StabilizersEthylhexylglycerin
The preservation booster with skin benefits — a mild humectant that makes 'paraben-free' systems actually work.
Preservatives & StabilizersMethylisothiazolinone
The preservative that caused a real allergy epidemic — effective at tiny doses, infamous for leave-on sensitivity.
Preservatives & StabilizersParabens
The most studied cosmetic preservatives ever — safe at legal levels per every major regulator, despite two decades of controversy.
Preservatives & StabilizersPhenoxyethanol
The workhorse cosmetic preservative that replaced parabens — safe at legal limits, controversial at bath-time for infants.
Preservatives & StabilizersPotassium Sorbate
The gentle, effective preservative that keeps food, wine, and cosmetics from molding — among the best safety profiles in its class.
Preservatives & StabilizersSodium Benzoate
The anti-mold workhorse — the preservative in half the skincare aisle, safe at regulated levels with one vitamin-C caveat.
Preservatives & StabilizersSodium Metabisulfite
The sulfite antioxidant that keeps wine and dried fruit fresh — and the most common hidden trigger of sulfite sensitivity.