Ingredient glossary / Preservative
Potassium sorbate
On the label: Potassium Sorbate · Preservative
What it is
A mild preservative against mould and yeast, used with sodium benzoate; needs a low pH to work.
Preservatives: Preservatives stop bacteria and mould growing in a product that contains water; every water-based product needs one.
Wikidata: Chemical compound. Q410744 →
In the research
30 PubMed papers mention it with skin, cosmetics or hair; the three most recent:
- Evaluation of Catfish Skin Gelatin-Based Edible Antimicrobial Coating with Lactic Acid and Potassium Sorbate on the Shelf Life and Quality of Fresh Catfish Fillets · Gels (Basel, Switzerland), 2026
- Potassium sorbate induces developmental and microbiome changes in Drosophila melanogaster with attenuated trans-generational toxicity · Frontiers in microbiology, 2026
- Preservatives in Leave-On Cosmetics Available on the Dutch Market · Contact dermatitis, 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
8 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 USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
Made in the USA
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.