Sodium Benzoate
Preservative · INCI: Sodium Benzoate
Reviewed by Elysiana Aguilar, master esthetician
How we read it
Not a pore-clogger. Considered safe for acne-prone skin.
Is Sodium Benzoate comedogenic?
No. Sodium Benzoate isn't considered pore-clogging, and we read it as safe to use on acne-prone skin. That doesn't make it right for everyone, but congestion isn't the thing to watch for with it.
Why we read it this way
Sodium benzoate is the sodium salt of benzoic acid, a preservative that holds back yeast and mold in water-based formulas. It dissolves readily in water and works best in products on the acidic side. We read it as not pore-clogging.
The nuance
It is the same preservative used in food, which is why the name looks familiar. It is often paired with potassium sorbate, and both are water-soluble salts used in small amounts near the end of a label.
Where it shows up
Shampoos, body washes, facial cleansers, toners, micellar waters and light lotions, particularly those sold as paraben-free or natural.
Related ingredients
One ingredient rarely tells the whole story. The acne ingredient checker reads everything in a product at once, and there is more on what comedogenic means. Also in the guides: What acne actually is.