Chlorhexidine Digluconate
AKA “Hibiclens, Chlorhexidine gluconate, 18472-51-0, Dyna-hex, Bioscrub, Hibistat, Microderm, Periochip, Periogard”
Preservative
Ingredient Facts
Chlorhexidine digluconate
AKA: Hibiclens, Chlorhexidine gluconate, 18472-51-0, Dyna-hex, Bioscrub, Hibistat, Microderm, Periochip, Periogard
Preservative · Antimicrobial · EWG: 4
Synthetic
Preservative
Not Clean
D-Gluconic acid, compound with N,N''-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-3,12-diimino-2,4,11,13-tetraazatetradecanediamidine (2:1)
Formula
C34H54Cl2N10O14
Mol. Weight
897.80
CAS #
18472-51-0
Form
Liquid
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
A gluconate salt of chlorhexidine developed to increase water solubility and antimicrobial efficacy. Widely adopted from the 1970s onward in oral rinses, wound care, and antimicrobial skincare formulations.
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 Digluconate
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Chlorhexidine Digluconate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
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