Ingredient glossary / Preservative
Chlorphenesin
On the label: Chlorphenesin · Preservative
What it is
A preservative against fungi and bacteria, limited to 0.3 percent in the EU.
Preservatives: Preservatives stop bacteria and mould growing in a product that contains water; every water-based product needs one.
Wikidata: Chemical compound. Q5103226 →
In the research
27 PubMed papers mention it with skin, cosmetics or hair; the three most recent:
- Cosmetic Allergies: Use of Patch Testing and Molecular Diagnostics to Identify Allergic Responses · Plastic and aesthetic nursing, 2026
- Preservatives in Leave-On Cosmetics Available on the Dutch Market · Contact dermatitis, 2026
- Chlorphenesin-Induced Allergic Contact Dermatitis: An Overlooked Phenomenon? · Dermatitis : contact, atopic, occupational, drug, 2025
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.
Other 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.