Chlorhexidine
AKA “55-56-1, Hexadol, Soretol, Fimeil, Sterilon, Tubulicid, Chlorhexidinum, Chlorhexidin, Clorhexidina”
Preservative
Ingredient Facts
Chlorhexidine
AKA: 55-56-1, Hexadol, Soretol, Fimeil, Sterilon, Tubulicid, Chlorhexidinum, Clorhexidina
Preservative · Antimicrobial · EWG: 4
Synthetic
Preservative
Not Clean
2,4,11,13-Tetraazatetradecanediimidamide, N,N''-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-3,12-diimino-; Biguanide, 1,1'-hexamethylenebis(5-(p-chlorophenyl)-
Solubility 800
Formula
C22H30Cl2N10
Mol. Weight
505.40
CAS #
55-56-1
Form
Powder
State
Crystals from methanol; [HSDB]
See origin →
Functions
Antimicrobial
Keeps your product from growing bacteria, mold, or yeast. Without these, that jar of cream becomes a petri dish in about a week.
Oral Care
Preservative
Keeps your product from growing bacteria, mold, or yeast. Without these, that jar of cream becomes a petri dish in about a week.
Fights Bacteria
Traditional Use
Developed in 1945 by chemists at Imperial Chemical Industries as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent. Introduced to skincare and oral care products in the 1950s-1960s to prevent bacterial contamination and reduce microbial growth.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Caution
EWG
4
CIR
Reviewed by CIR
Pregnancy
Caution
CIR Safety Findings
ewg-4
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
0.3%
0%0%
Reg. Limit
EU regulatory limit: 0.3%. Source: EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, Annex V (Preservatives), Entry 42.
Regulatory Agencies
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Chlorhexidine/Chlorhexidine Diacetate/Chlorhexidine Dihydrochloride/Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Note Regarding the Safety Assessment of Chlorhexidine, Chlorhexidine Diacetate, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, and Chlorhexidine Dihydrochloride
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Chlorhexidine
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Chlorhexidine Diacetate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Chlorhexidine Dihydrochloride
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Chlorhexidine
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Chlorhexidine Diacetate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Chlorhexidine Dihydrochloride
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Chlorhexidine in endodontics.
Gomes BP, Vianna ME, Zaia AA, Almeida JF, Souza-Filho FJ et al.
Brazilian dental journal, 2013
Chlorhexidine and its salts
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
Can 1% chlorhexidine diacetate and ethanol stabilize resin-dentin bonds?
Manso AP, Grande RH, Bedran-Russo AK, Reis A, Loguercio AD et al.
Dental materials : official publication of the Academy of Dental Materials, 2014
Comparison of the action of nonoxynol-9 and chlorhexidine on sperm.
Sharman D, Chantler E, Dukes M, Hutchinson FG, Elstein M
Fertility and sterility, 1986
Chlorhexidine Dihydrochloride Shows Anti-tumor Effects in Desmoid Tumors and Colorectal Cancer.
Shin H, Kim Y, Lee Y, Kim J, Ryu YC et al.
Anticancer research, 2024
Should oral chlorhexidine remain in ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention bundles?
Vieira PC, de Oliveira RB, da Silva Mendonça TM
Medicina intensiva, 2022
Povidone Iodine vs Chlorhexidine Gluconate in Alcohol for Preoperative Skin Antisepsis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Widmer AF, Atkinson A, Kuster SP, Wolfensberger A, Klimke S et al.
JAMA, 2024
Povidone Iodine vs Chlorhexidine Gluconate in Alcohol for Preoperative Skin Antisepsis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
Widmer AF, Atkinson A, Kuster SP, Wolfensberger A, Klimke S et al.
JAMA, 2024
Verified Jun 2026
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR