A salt of chlorhexidine used as a preservative and antimicrobial, regulated in Annex V.
What it is
Chlorhexidine diacetate is the salt of chlorhexidine, a synthetic bisbiguanide compound, with acetic acid. CosIng lists it as an antimicrobial, oral care ingredient and preservative. In the EU it is covered by an entry in Annex V (allowed preservatives) for chlorhexidine and its salts.
Where it is used
Found in a small number of products, such as oral care products and products that need preservation.
Limits of interpretation
The INCI list shows which ingredients are present, not how much of each. Above 1%, ingredients are listed in descending order of weight; below 1% the order is free.
See the EU regulation section for the applicable limits. The label does not show the concentration actually used.
Functions
- Antimicrobial
- Preventing and/or slowing down microbial growth.
- Oral care
- Providing cosmetic effects to the oral cavity, e.g. cleansing, deodorising, protecting.
- Preservative
- Exclusively or mainly intended to inhibit the development of micro-organisms in the cosmetic product. All authorised preservatives are substances in the positive list of Annex V to the Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009.
EU regulation
- Maximum concentration
- 0.3% (as chlorhexidine)
- As of
- 3 November 2026 · (EC) 2009/1223