Ingredient glossary / Preservative
Benzyl alcohol
On the label: Benzyl Alcohol · Preservative
What it is
An aromatic alcohol used as a preservative and solvent; also one of the 26 fragrance allergens the EU requires to be named on a label.
Preservatives: Preservatives stop bacteria and mould growing in a product that contains water; every water-based product needs one.
Wikidata: Chemical compound. Q52353 →
In the research
179 PubMed papers mention it with skin, cosmetics or hair; the three most recent:
- Benzyl Alcohol: The 2026 American Contact Dermatitis Society Allergen of the Year · Cutis, 2026
- Patch Testing and Psychosocial Burden in Adults With Facial Dermatitis: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study · Cureus, 2026
- Replacing HaCaT keratinocytes with 3D reconstructed human epidermis in a THP-1 coculture dendritic cell activation assay: quantitative skin sensitization potency assessment and str · NAM journal, 2026
A paper is a paper, not a verdict: titles are listed so you can read them, and a study on cells or mice says little about a cream on a face.
Products whose label lists it
2 on the siteMatched from the ingredient list the supplier printed; the position in the list (first or thirtieth) is on each product page.
Made in the USA
Made in the USAOther preservatives
Dew & Balm describes ingredients from the public record and makes no claim about what a product will do for you. Statements about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA. If a product causes a reaction, stop using it; a reaction that spreads or affects breathing is a call to a doctor or 911.