Ethylparaben is a powerful cosmetic preservative that belongs to the paraben family, which includes propylparaben, isobutylparaben, methylparaben, and butylparaben. It effectively prevents the growth of bacteria and fungi in cosmetic and personal care formulations. Once one of the most commonly used preservatives in the cosmetic industry, its safety has since become a topic of debate. Parabens have rarely caused allergies in humans but became controversial after failing animal testing. Despite this, Ethylparaben remains one of the most effective preservatives when used in small amounts. In its raw form, it appears as a white or colorless crystalline powder. The chemical formula of Ethylparaben is C9H10O3.
CAS Number: 120-47-8Chem/IUPAC Name: Ethyl 4-hydroxybenzoateEINECS/ELINCS No: 204-399-4COSING REF No: 33899Products with ETHYLPARABEN
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Paridol E
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Dekaben MEP
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Dekaben POEM
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What is ETHYLPARABEN used for?
Ethylparaben is used in cosmetics and personal care products as a preservative. Its popularity arises from its high effectiveness at very low concentrations, ranging from 0.1% to 0.8%. It increases the shelf life of products and maintains stability. It achieves this by preventing the growth of microorganisms like bacteria, mold, and yeast. It can be found in products like creams, lotions, shampoos, deodorants, and makeup. Ethylparaben is mild in nature and has low toxicity. However, due to concerns over endocrine disruption, some consumers prefer alternatives.
Origin
Ethylparaben is synthetically produced by esterifying parahydroxybenzoic acid with ethanol. This process occurs in the presence of a catalyst. The resulting product is then neutralized to remove excess acid. It is then crystallized, filtered, and dried to produce high-purity, cosmetic-grade Ethylparaben.
What does ETHYLPARABEN do in a formulation?
ANTIMICROBIAL|
PRESERVATIVESafety Profile
The safety of Ethylparaben is debated, and it can be a mild skin irritant. However, it is not known to cause allergies at low concentrations. High concentrations or excessive use should be avoided to prevent adverse reactions. Patch testing is necessary.
ETHYLPARABEN alternatives
ETHYLPARABEN technical profile
| Property | Values |
| Boiling Point | 297°C to 298°C |
| Melting Point | 115°C to 118°C |
| Solubility | Slightly soluble in water |