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Potassium Sorbate

What Potassium Sorbate is & what it does

A gentle preservative effective against mold and yeast, commonly combined with sodium benzoate in low-pH formulas. It is mild and food-grade.

What is Potassium Sorbate and what does it do in sunscreen?

Potassium Sorbate is a gentle preservative that protects a formula against mold and yeast, working best in low-pH, acidic products. In sunscreen it helps keep the product safe and stable over its shelf life, and it is commonly combined with sodium benzoate to broaden the coverage. It is mild and food-grade, which is why it is a popular choice in gentle formulas.

Is Potassium Sorbate safe?

Yes. It is a long-established preservative used in both cosmetics and food, where it is known as the additive E202, and it is well tolerated at the low levels needed to preserve a formula. It is considered mild and works best in acidic products. For most people it causes no problems in a sunscreen or skincare product.

Does Potassium Sorbate clog pores?

Generally no. It is a water-soluble preservative used in tiny amounts, not an oil or wax, so it is not a pore-clogging ingredient. If you are breaking out, the richer emollients and oils elsewhere in the formula are far more likely the cause than a preservative like this.

Is Potassium Sorbate a preservative?

Yes. Potassium Sorbate is a preservative, used to stop mold and yeast from growing, especially in low-pH formulas. It is not a UV filter or an active skincare ingredient, its only job is to keep the product safe and stable. You will often see it paired with sodium benzoate, a common partner that widens the range of microbes covered.

What is Potassium Sorbate on an ingredient list (INCI)?

"Potassium Sorbate" is the INCI name on the label, and the same ingredient is the food additive E202. It is the potassium salt of sorbic acid, and on an ingredient list it usually appears low down, near the other preservatives. Finding it on a sunscreen label is routine and simply means the formula is protected from spoilage.

Sunscreens with Potassium Sorbate

We rate 1148 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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