Skincare without the upsell.
Be

Benzoic Acid

Benzoic Acid

A mild preservative (also used in food) that protects formulas from yeast and bacteria, most effective at lower pH.

What it does

Benzoic acid and its salt sodium benzoate are gentle, widely accepted preservatives used in both food and cosmetics. They guard against yeast and some bacteria and work best in lower-pH formulas, so they are often paired with other preservatives for full coverage. The role is keeping the product safe over its shelf life.

Also known as

sodium benzoate (salt)

Browse all 668 ingredients — grouped by what they do, each with whatever evidence we can cite.

This page is public so a shared ingredient card always has its sources behind it — and so you can check them without an account.
Want more like this?
Every evidence-based flag cites its source, Drop tells you when your routine is complete, and it helps you simplify — instead of selling you more. The app launches on iOS and Android in October 2026. Rate my routine works today at /rate — no sign-in.