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Sodium Salicylate
AKA “54-21-7, Enterosalicyl, Kerasalicyl, Alysine, Benzoic acid, 2-hydroxy-, monosodium salt, Natrum salicylicum, salicylate sodium, Salicylic acid sodium salt, Monosodium 2-hydroxybenzoate”
Synthetic
Ingredient Facts
Sodium salicylate
AKA: 54-21-7, Enterosalicyl, Kerasalicyl, Alysine, Benzoic acid, 2-hydroxy-, Monosodium salt, Natrum salicylicum, Salicylate sodium, Salicylic acid sodium salt, Monosodium 2-hydroxybenzoate
Synthetic · Skin Conditioning · EWG: 1
Synthetic
Skin Conditioner
Chemical Exfoliant
Synthetic
Clean
A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent that is less effective than equal doses of ASPIRIN in relieving pain and reducing fever. However, individuals who are hypersensitive to ASPIRIN may tolerate sodium salicylate. In general, this salicylate produces the same adverse reactions as ASPIRIN, but there is less occult gastrointestinal bleeding. (From AMA Drug Evaluations Annual, 1992, p120)
Formula
C7H5NaO3
Mol. Weight
160.10
CAS #
54-21-7
Form
Liquid
See origin →
Functions
Skin Conditioning
A catch-all term for ingredients that improve how skin looks and feels — softer, smoother, more supple. The workhorse behind most moisturizers.
Makes Alcohol Undrinkable
Preserves Formula
Prevents microbial growth
Traditional Use
This CAS number corresponds to sodium salicylate, derived from salicylic acid which has been used in skincare since the early 1900s for exfoliation and acne treatment, though this specific sodium salt is primarily used as a preservative.
Skin Types
●all-skin-types
Best For
General
EWG
1
CIR
Insufficient
Pregnancy
—
CIR Safety Findings
Not Phototoxic
all-shades-safe
Concentration Guide
0.5%
0%1%
Reg. Limit
EU regulatory limit: 0.5%. Not to be used for children under 3 years of age (2) Source: EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, Annex V (Preservatives), Entry 3.
Regulatory Status
USAunder review
CANADA✔ permitted
Regulatory Agencies
Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Benzoate
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
→
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)
→
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
→
Sodium Salicylate
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG Skin Deep Cosmetics Database
→
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
Data: PubChem · CosIng · EWG · CIR