Functional / Support

Sodium Benzoate

Often labeled as: Preservative
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The acidic environment protector.

๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ
Overall Safety Safe
๐Ÿ‘ถ
Pregnancy Safety Safe
๐Ÿ•ณ๏ธ
Comedogenic (0-5) 0 / 5
โšก
Irritancy (0-5) 1 / 5

๐ŸŽฏ At a Glance

๐Ÿ”ฌ How It Actually Works

The sodium salt of benzoic acid. It is an effective preservative against bacteria and fungi, but only works if the product has a low (acidic) pH.

๐Ÿ’– Why your skin loves it

Prevents bacterial contamination in your serums and toners.

๐Ÿ’ก Pro Tip

You will often find this in Vitamin C or exfoliating acid serums due to their naturally low pH.

โš–๏ธ Myth vs. Fact

The Myth

Mixed with Vitamin C, it creates toxic benzene.

The Science

This requires high heat, UV light, and specific metallic catalysts not present in standard skincare storage.

๐Ÿงด Formulations featuring Sodium Benzoate

โ˜… 9.4
Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser
COSRX
Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser
Cleanser

The absolute legendary pioneer of low-pH skin washing across Malaysia and Southeast Asia. COSRX completely dismantled old-school high-pH alkaline cleansing loops by launching this physiological pH 5.5 wash. It utilizes an ultra-mild, non-stripping anionic-amphoteric surfactant matrix (Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate and Cocamidopropyl Betaine) to lift surface dirt softly. It leaves the critical moisture lipid bricks completely untouched. Packed with **0.5% Styrax Japonicus botanical extract** and natural **Tea Tree Oil**, it targets acne bacteria corridors during washing, rinsing away to leave a thoroughly clean, perfectly balanced fresh satin baseline.

โ˜… 9.5
Gentle Skin Cleanser
Cetaphil
Gentle Skin Cleanser
Cleanser

The absolute gold-standard global benchmark for clinically compromised or hypersensitive skin barriers. Galderma masterfully upgraded this legendary formula, eliminating traditional sulfates and parabens entirely. It relies on a minimalist fatty alcohol vehicle paired with a tiny, non-foaming micro-dose of an ultra-mild surfactant (Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate). This configuration creates a soothing, lotion-like buffer that glides across raw, weeping, or inflamed cells without extracting the critical intercellular lipids. Packed with 1% Niacinamide and Panthenol, it leaves a noticeable humectant conditioning protective mesh over cells, entirely eliminating immediate post-wash dry flaking loops.

โ˜… 9.2
๐Ÿงด
Aiken
Vita-C Bright Gel Cleanser
Cleanser

A highly practical, non-alkaline brightening gel cleanser. It bypasses harsh saponified fatty acids entirely, opting for a gentle sulfate and betaine surfactant blend operating at a skin-identical pH of 5.5. The infusion of stable Ascorbyl Glucoside and Niacinamide offers real antioxidant support during the wash phase to lift sallow undertones, while Sodium PCA leaves a soft, conditioning hydration baseline behind.