Annex V Source last update: 02/03/2026

Allowed cosmetic preservatives

LIST OF PRESERVATIVES ALLOWED IN COSMETIC PRODUCTS

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Records

57 total

Entry

BENZOIC ACID; SODIUM BENZOATE

Benzoic acid and its sodium salt

a) Rinse-off products, except oral care products b) Oral care products c) Leave-on products

CAS

65-85-0 / 532-32-1

200-618-2 / 208-534-8

Max concentration Product type 25/10/2010

Entry

CHLOROBUTANOL

Chlorobutanol

Contains Chlorobutanol

CAS

57-15-8

200-317-6

Max concentration 16/10/2010

Entry

4-HYDROXYBENZOIC ACID / METHYLPARABEN /POTASSIUM ETHYLPARABEN /POTASSIUM PARABEN /SODIUM METHYLPARABEN /SODIUM ETHYLPARABEN /ETHYLPARABEN /SODIUM PARABEN / POT…

4-Hydroxybenzoic acid and its Methyl- and Ethyl-esters, and their salts

CAS

99-96-7 /99-76-3 /36457-19-9 /16782-08-4 /5026-62-0 /35285-68-8 /120-47-8 /114-63-6 /26112-0-2 /69959-44-0

202-804-9 /202-785-7 /253-048-1 /240-830-2 /225-714-1 /252-487-6 /204-399-4 /204-051-1 /247-464-2 /274-235-4

Max concentration 11/08/2020

Entry

12 a

BUTYLPARABEN/PROPYLPARABEN/SODIUM PROPOYLPARABEN/SODIUM BUTYLPARABEN/POTASSIUM BUTYLPARABEN/POTASSIUM PROPYLPARABEN

Butyl 4-hydroxybenzoate and its salts Propyl 4-hydroxybenzoate and its salts

For leave-on products designed for children under three years of age: "Do not use on the nappy area"

CAS

94-26-8/ 94-13-3/ 35285-69-9/ 36457-20-2/ 38566-94-8/ 84930-16-5

202-318-7/ 202-307-7/ 252-488-1/ 253-049-7/ 254-009-1/ 284-597-5

Max concentration 02/08/2021

Entry

Dehydroacetic acid / SODIUM DEHYDROACETATE

3-Acetyl-6-methylpyran-2,4(3H)-dione and its salts

Not to be used in aerosol dispensers (sprays)

CAS

520-45-6 / 4418-26-2 / 16807-48-0

208-293-9 / 224-580-1 / -

Max concentration 16/10/2010

Entry

FORMIC ACID / SODIUM FORMATE

Formic acid and its sodium salt

CAS

64-18-6 / 141-53-7

200-579-1 / 205-488-0

Max concentration 16/10/2010

Entry

Dibromohexamidine isethionate

3,3'-Dibromo-4,4'-hexamethylenedioxydibenzamidine and its salts (including isethionate)

CAS

93856-83-8

299-116-4

Max concentration 16/10/2010

Entry

THIMEROSAL

Thiomersal

Contains Thiomersal

CAS

54-64-8

200-210-4

Max concentration Product type 16/10/2010

Entry

PHENYL MERCURIC ACETATE / PHENYL MERCURIC BENZOATE

Phenylmercuric salts (including borate)

Contains Phenylmercuric compounds

CAS

62-38-4 / 94-43-9

200-532-5 / 202-331-8

Max concentration Product type 16/10/2010

Entry

UNDECYLENIC ACID / POTASSIUM UNDECYLENATE / SODIUM UNDECYLENATE / CALCIUM UNDECYLENATE / MEA-UNDECYLENATE / TEA-UNDECYLENATE

Undec-10-enoic acid and its salts

CAS

112-38-9 / 6159-41-7 / 3398-33-2 / 1322-14-1 / 84471-25-0 / 56532-40-2

203-965-8 / - / 222-264-8 / 215-331-8 / 282-908-9 / 260-247-7

Max concentration 16/10/2010

Entry

Hexetidine

5-Pyrimidinamine, 1,3-bis(2-ethylhexyl)hexahydro-5-methyl-

CAS

141-94-6

205-513-5

Max concentration 16/10/2010

Entry

AMMONIUM BENZOATE / BUTYL BENZOATE / CALCIUM BENZOATE / ETHYL BENZOATE / ISOBUTYL BENZOATE / ISOPROPYL BENZOATE / MAGNESIUM BENZOATE / MEA-BENZOATE / METHYL BE…

Salts of benzoic acid other than that listed under reference number 1 and esters of benzoic acid

CAS

1863-63-4 /2090-05-3 / 582-25-2 / 553-70-8 / 4337-66-0 / 93-58-3 / 93-89-0 / 2315-68-6 / 136-60-7 / 1205-50-3 / 939-48-0 / 93-99-2

217-468-9 / 218-235-4 / 209-481-3 / 209-045-2 / 224-387-2 / 202-259-7 / 202-284-3 / 219-020-8 / 205-252-7 / 204-401-3 / 213-361-6 / 202-293-2

Max concentration 16/10/2010

Entry

PROPIONIC ACID / AMMONIUM PROPIONATE / CALCIUM PROPIONATE / MAGNESIUM PROPIONATE / POTASSIUM PROPIONATE / SODIUM PROPIONATE

Propionic acid and its salts

CAS

79-09-4 / 17496-08-1 / 4075-81-4 / 557-27-7 / 327-62-8 / 137-40-6

201-176-3 / 241-503-7 / 223-795-8 / 209-166-0 / 206-323-5 / 205-290-4

Max concentration 16/10/2010

Entry

5-BROMO-5-NITRO-1,3-DIOXANE

5-Bromo-5-nitro-1,3-dioxane

Avoid formation of nitrosamines

CAS

30007-47-7

250-001-7

Max concentration Product type 02/08/2021

Entry

2-BROMO-2-NITROPROPANE-1,3-DIOL

Bronopol

Avoid formation of nitrosamines

CAS

52-51-7

200-143-0

Max concentration 02/08/2021

Entry

DICHLOROBENZYL ALCOHOL

2,4-Dichlorobenzyl alcohol

CAS

1777-82-8

217-210-5

Max concentration 16/10/2010

Entry

Triclocarban

1-(4-Chlorophenyl)-3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)urea

For toothpaste containing Triclocarban the following labelling is obligatory: ‘Not to be used for children under 6 years of age’.

CAS

101-20-2

202-924-1

Max concentration Product type 04/04/2024

Entry

P-CHLORO-M-CRESOL

Chlorocresol

Not to be used in products applied on mucous membranes

CAS

59-50-7

200-431-6

Max concentration Product type 25/10/2010

Entry

Triclosan

5-Chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol

For toothpaste containing Triclosan the following labelling is obligatory: ‘Not to be used for children under 3 years of age’.

CAS

3380-34-5

222-182-2

Max concentration Product type 04/04/2024

Entry

CHLOROXYLENOL

Chloroxylenol

CAS

88-04-0 / 1321-23-9

201-793-8 / 215-316-6

Max concentration 16/10/2010

Entry

IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA

N,N''-Methylenebis[N'-[3-(hydroxymethyl)-2,5-dioxoimidazolidin-4-yl]urea]

CAS

39236-46-9

254-372-6

Max concentration 02/08/2021

Entry

POLYAMINOPROPYL BIGUANIDE

Polyhexamethylene biguanide hydrochloride

Not to be used in applications that may lead to exposure of the end-user's lungs by inhalation

CAS

32289-58-0 [1]/ 27083-27-8 [2]/ 28757-47-3 [3]/ 133029-32-0 [4]

608-723-9 [1]/ 608-042-7 [2]

Max concentration CMR 28/07/2020

Entry

PHENOXYETHANOL

2-Phenoxyethanol

CAS

122-99-6

204-589-7

Max concentration 28/07/2020

Entry

SALICYLIC ACID, CALCIUM SALICYLATE, MAGNESIUM SALICYLATE, MEA- SALICYLATE, SODIUM SALICYLATE, POTASSIUM SALICYLATE, TEA- SALICYLATE

Salicylic acid and its salts

Salicylic acid: Not to be used for children under 3 years of age** **Solely for products which might be used for children under 3 years of age. Salicylic acid salts: Not to be used for children under 3 years of age*** …

CAS

69-72-7[1]/ 824-35-1[2]/ 18917-89-0[3]/ 59866-70-5[4]/ 54-21-7[5]/ 578-36-9[6]/ 2174-16-5[7]

200-712-3[1]/ 212-525-4[2]/ 242-669-3[3]/ 261-963-2[4]/ 200-198-0[5]/ 209-421-6[6]/ 218-531-3[7]

Max concentration 27/07/2020

Entry

METHENAMINE

Methenamine

CAS

100-97-0

202-905-8

Max concentration 02/08/2021

Entry

CLIMBAZOLE

1-(4-Chlorophenoxy)-1-(imidazol-1-yl)-3,3-dimethylbutan-2-one

(a) Hair lotions (b) Face creams (c) Foot care products (d) Rinse-off shampoo

CAS

38083-17-9

253-775-4

Max concentration Product type 28/07/2020

Entry

DMDM HYDANTOIN

1,3-Bis(hydroxymethyl)-5,5-dimethylimidazolidine-2,4-dione

CAS

6440-58-0

229-222-8

Max concentration 02/08/2021

Entry

BENZYL ALCOHOL

Benzyl alcohol (7)

CAS

100-51-6

202-859-9

Max concentration 26/07/2013

Entry

1-Hydroxy-4-methyl-6-(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)-2 pyridon, piroctone olamine

1-Hydroxy-4-methyl-6-(2,4,4-trimethylpentyl)-2 pyridon and its monoethanolamine salt

a) Rinse-off products b) Other products

CAS

50650-76-5 / 68890-66-4

- / 272-574-2

Max concentration Product type 16/10/2010

Entry

-

Moved or deleted

CAS

16/10/2010

Entry

BROMOCHLOROPHENE

2,2'-Methylenebis(6-bromo-4-chlorophenol)

CAS

15435-29-7

239-446-8

Max concentration 25/10/2010

Entry

O-CYMEN-5-OL

4-Isopropyl-m-cresol

CAS

3228-02-2

221-761-7

Max concentration 16/10/2010

Entry

METHYLCHLOROISOTHIAZOLINONE AND METHYLISOTHIAZOLINONE

Mixture of 5-Chloro-2-methyl-isothiazol-3(2H)-one and 2-Methylisothiazol-3(2H)-one with magnesium chloride and magnesium nitrate

Rinse-off

CAS

26172-55-4, 2682-20-4, 55965-84-9

247-500-7, 220-239-6

Max concentration Product type 28/09/2022

Entry

SORBIC ACID / CALCIUM SORBATE / SODIUM SORBATE / POTASSIUM SORBATE

Hexa-2,4-dienoic acid and its salts

CAS

110-44-1 / 7492-55-9 / 7757-81-5 / 24634-61-5

203-768-7 / 231-321-6 / 231-819-3 / 246-376-1

Max concentration 16/10/2010

Entry

CHLORHEXIDINE / CHLORHEXIDINE DIACETATE / CHLORHEXIDINE DIGLUCONATE / CHLORHEXIDINE DIHYDROCHLORIDE

N,N'-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-3,12-diimino-2,4,11,13-tetraazatetradecanediamidine and its digluconate, diacetate and dihydrochloride

CAS

55-56-1 / 56-95-1 / 18472-51-0 / 3697-42-5

200-238-7 / 200-302-4 / 242-354-0 / 223-026-6

Max concentration 16/10/2010

Entry

PHENOXYISOPROPANOL

1-Phenoxypropan-2-ol (8)

Only for rinse-off products

CAS

770-35-4

212-222-7

Max concentration Product type 09/11/2010

Entry

BEHENTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE (1) / CETRIMONIUM BROMIDE / CETRIMONIUM CHLORIDE (2)/ LAURTRIMONIUM BROMIDE / LAURTRIMONIUM CHLORIDE / STEARTRIMONIUM BROMIDE / STEARTR…

Alkyl (C12-C22) trimethyl ammonium bromide and chloride

CAS

17301-53-0 / 57-09-0 / 112-02-7 / 1119-94-4 / 112-00-5 / 1120-02-1 / 112-03-8

241-327-0 / 200-311-3 / 203-928-6 / 214-290-3 / 203-927-0 / 214-294-5 / 203-929-1

Max concentration 15/01/2015

Entry

DIMETHYL OXAZOLIDINE

4,4-Dimethyl-1,3-oxazolidine

pH > 6

CAS

51200-87-4

257-048-2

Max concentration 16/10/2010

Entry

DIAZOLIDINYL UREA

N-(Hydroxymethyl)-N-(dihydroxymethyl-1,3-dioxo-2,5-imidazolidinyl-4)-N'-(hydroxymethyl)urea

CAS

78491-02-8

278-928-2

Max concentration 02/08/2021

Entry

HEXAMIDINE / HEXAMIDINE DIISETHIONATE / HEXAMIDINE DIPARABEN / HEXAMIDINE PARABEN

Benzenecarboximidamide, 4,4'-(1,6-hexanediylbis(oxy))bis-, and its salts (including isothionate and p-hydroxybenzoate)

CAS

3811-75-4 / 659-40-5 / 93841-83-9 / -

- / 211-533-5 / 299-055-3 / -

Max concentration 25/10/2010

Entry

GLUTARAL

Glutaraldehyde (Pentane-1,5-dial)

Contains glutaral (9)

CAS

111-30-8

203-856-5

Max concentration 25/10/2010

Entry

7-ETHYLBICYCLOOXAZOLIDINE

5-Ethyl-3,7-dioxa-1-azabicyclo[3.3.0] octane

Not to be used in oral products and in products applied on mucous membranes

CAS

7747-35-5

231-810-4

Max concentration 02/08/2021

Entry

chlorphenesin

3-(p-Chlorophenoxy)-propane-1,2-diol

CAS

104-29-0

203-192-6

Max concentration 16/10/2010

Entry

SODIUM HYDROXYMETHYLGLYCINATE

Sodium hydroxymethylamino acetate

Not to be used if the maximum theoretical concentration of releasable formaldehyde, irrespective of the source, if the mixture as placed on the market is ≥ 0,1 % w/w

CAS

70161-44-3

274-357-8

Max concentration 04/11/2021

Entry

SILVER CHLORIDE

Silver chloride deposited on titanium dioxide

20% AgCl (w/w) on TiO2. Not to be used in products for children under 3 years of age, in oral products and in eye and lip products

CAS

7783-90-6

232-033-3

Max concentration 16/10/2010

Entry

Benzethonium Chloride

Benzenemethanaminium, N,N-dimethyl-N-[2-[2-[4-(1,1,3,3,-tetramethylbutyl)phenoxy]ethoxy]ethyl]-, chloride

a) Rinse-off products b) Leave-on products other than oral products

CAS

121-54-0

204-479-9

Max concentration Product type 16/10/2010

Entry

BENZALKONIUM CHLORIDE / BENZALKONIUM BROMIDE / BENZALKONIUM SACCHARINATE

Benzalkonium chloride, bromide and saccharinate (10)

Avoid contact with eyes

CAS

8001-54-5/ 63449-41-2 / 91080-29-4 / 68989-01-5 / 68424-85-1 / 68391-01-5 / 61789-71-7 / 85409-22-9

264-151-6 / 293-522-5 / 273-545-7 / 270-325-2 / 269-919-4 / 263-080-8 / 287-089-1

Max concentration 16/10/2010

Entry

BENZYLHEMIFORMAL

Methanol, (phenylmethoxy)-

Rinse-off products

CAS

14548-60-8

238-588-8

Max concentration Product type 02/08/2021

Entry

IODOPROPYNYL BUTYLCARBAMATE

3-Iodo-2-propynylbutylcarbamate

a) Not to be used for children under three years of age (11) b) and c) Not to be used for children under three years of age (12)

CAS

55406-53-6

259-627-5

Max concentration Product type 16/10/2010

About this annex

Annex V covers preservatives allowed in cosmetic products. These records are useful for reviewing ingredient usage, restrictions and related identifiers.

You can use this section to browse preservatives and compare their related warnings or conditions of use.