Isopropylparaben
AKA “Isopropyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, 4191-73-5, Isopropyl p-hydroxybenzoate, p-Hydroxybenzoic acid isopropyl ester, Benzoic acid, 4-hydroxy-, 1-methylethyl ester, 1-Methylethyl-4-hydroxybenzoate, A6EOX47QK0, DTXSID3052858, 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid”
Preservative
Ingredient Facts
Isopropylparaben
AKA: Isopropyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, 4191-73-5, Isopropyl p-hydroxybenzoate, P-Hydroxybenzoic acid isopropyl ester, Benzoic acid, 4-hydroxy-, 1-methylethyl ester, 1-Methylethyl-4-hydroxybenzoate, A6EOX47QK0, DTXSID3052858, 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid
Preservative · Preservative · EWG: 10
Synthetic
Preservative
Not Clean
The CIR Expert Panel concluded that the following 20 parabens are safe in cosmetics in the present practices of use and concentration described in the safety assessment when the sum of the combined concentration of parabens in any given formulation does not exceed 0.8 %...Isopropylparaben...
Formula
C10H12O3
Mol. Weight
180.20
CAS #
4191-73-5
Form
Powder
See origin →
Functions
Preservative
Keeps your product from growing bacteria, mold, or yeast. Without these, that jar of cream becomes a petri dish in about a week.
Preserves Formula
Reduces Inflammation
Fights Bacteria
UV Protection
Prevents microbial growth
Traditional Use
Synthetic preservative developed in the early 20th century as part of the paraben family. Created to replace earlier antimicrobial agents like phenol and mercury compounds with safer, more effective alternatives for extending cosmetic shelf life.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Safe
Yes
EWG
10
CIR
Safe as used
Pregnancy
Yes
Restricted By
CIR Safety Findings
medical-approval
all-shades-safe
Phototoxicity Concern
Concentration Guide
8.0%
0%11%
Reg. Limit
EU regulatory limit: 8.0%. 0,4% (as acid) for single ester 0,8% (as acid) for mixtures of esters Source: EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, Annex V (Preservatives), Entry 12. Dermal absorption: 0.1%. Source: CIR Safety Assessment (CIR Seq 746).
Regulatory Agencies
🧂Conflict of interest.
Final amended report on the safety assessment of Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Isopropylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben, and Benz
International journal of toxicology, 2008
Final amended report on the safety assessment of Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Isopropylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben, and Benz
International journal of toxicology, 2008
Final amended report on the safety assessment of Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Isopropylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben, and Benz
International journal of toxicology, 2008
Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Benzoate
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Amended Report on the Safety Assessment of Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Isopropylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben and Benzylparaben as used in cosmetic products
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid, and Sodium Benzoate
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Isobutylparaben and Isopropylparaben
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
Safety Assessment of Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid and its Salts, and Benzyl Benzoate
Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel
International Journal of Toxicology
4-Hydroxybenzoic acid rescues multisystemic disease and perinatal lethality in a mouse model of mitochondrial disease.
Corral-Sarasa J, Martínez-Gálvez JM, González-García P, Wendling O, Jiménez-Sánchez L et al.
Cell reports, 2024
4-Hydroxybenzoic Acid
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Isopropylparaben
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Sodium Isopropylparaben
European Commission
EU Cosmetic Ingredient Database (CosIng)
Benzoic acid and its derivatives as naturally occurring compounds in foods and as additives: Uses, exposure, and controversy.
Del Olmo A, Calzada J, Nuñez M
Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 2017
Benzoic acid and its derivatives as naturally occurring compounds in foods and as additives: Uses, exposure, and controversy.
Del Olmo A, Calzada J, Nuñez M
Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 2017
Benzoic acid and its derivatives as naturally occurring compounds in foods and as additives: Uses, exposure, and controversy.
Del Olmo A, Calzada J, Nuñez M
Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, 2017
4-Hydroxybenzoic Acid
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Benzoic Acid
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Isopropylparaben
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
Toluidines, their isomers, salts and halogenated and sulfonated derivatives except 4-hydroxy-2-nitro-toluidine and hydroxyethyl-2-nitro-p-toluidine
Health Canada
Health Canada Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist
Safety Assessment of Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid and its...
Wilbur Johnson, Wilma F Bergfeld, Donald V Belsito, Ronald A Hill, Curtis D Klaassen, Daniel C Liebler + 5 more
International journal of toxicology, 2017
Safety Assessment of Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid and its...
Wilbur Johnson, Wilma F Bergfeld, Donald V Belsito, Ronald A Hill, Curtis D Klaassen, Daniel C Liebler + 5 more
International journal of toxicology, 2017
Verified Jun 2026 · 🧪 = conflict
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR