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Sorbic Acid

What Sorbic Acid is & what it does

A preservative effective against mold and yeast in low-pH formulas. It is gentle and commonly used in natural-leaning systems.

What is Sorbic Acid and what does it do in sunscreen?

Sorbic Acid is a preservative that protects a formula from mold and yeast, the spoilage organisms that can grow in water-containing products. It works best in low-pH formulas, which is why it is common in natural-leaning and gentle preservative systems. By keeping a sunscreen free of microbial growth, it helps the product stay safe and stable over its shelf life.

Is Sorbic Acid safe?

Yes. It is a well-established preservative used at low levels in cosmetics and is also cleared as a food preservative, where it appears as E200. It is regarded as gentle and is one of the milder options brands reach for, though as with any preservative a small number of people can be sensitive to it.

Is Sorbic Acid a paraben?

No. Sorbic Acid is an entirely different preservative, unrelated to the parabens. It is an organic acid that targets mold and yeast and is also used to preserve food. People avoiding parabens do not need to avoid Sorbic Acid on that basis.

Does Sorbic Acid clog pores?

Generally no. It is a preservative used in tiny amounts to keep the formula safe, not an oil or emollient, so it is not a pore-clogging ingredient. Our data does not flag it as comedogenic.

Is Sorbic Acid natural?

It can be either. Sorbic Acid occurs naturally in some berries, but the cosmetic and food-grade ingredient is usually produced synthetically for purity and consistency. Whether labeled natural or synthetic, it is the same molecule doing the same gentle preserving job.

Sunscreens with Sorbic Acid

We rate 202 sunscreens that contain it, showing the top 10 by overall score:

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