The sodium salt of butylparaben, used as a preservative and regulated in Annex V.
What it is
Sodium butylparaben is sodium butyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, the sodium salt of butylparaben, a paraben ester; it is more soluble in water than butylparaben itself. CosIng lists it as a preservative. In the EU it is covered by entries in Annex V (allowed preservatives).
Where it is used
Appears on the ingredient lists of a small number of products.
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 and conditions, which include a warning for leave-on products designed for children under three. The label does not show the concentration actually used.
Functions
- 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
- - 0,14% (as acid) for the sum of the individual concentrations - 0,8% (as acid) for mixtures of substances mentioned in entry 12 and 12a, here the sum of the individual concentrations of butyl and propylparaben and their salts does not exceed 0,14%
- Conditions and warnings
- For leave-on products designed for children under three years of age: "Do not use on the nappy area"
- As of
- 3 November 2026 · (EC) 2014/1004
- Maximum concentration
- 0,4% (as acid) for single ester 0,8% (as acid) for mixtures of esters
- As of
- 3 November 2026 · (EC) 2014/1004