Database/Preservative/Magnesium Benzoate
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Magnesium Benzoate natural?

Mostly not. Mineral magnesium ion is natural; benzoate is explicitly a petrochemical benzene derivative.

INCI nameMagnesium Benzoate
CAS553-70-8
FormulaC14H10MgO4 · 266.53 Da
FunctionPreservative
FeedstockMade from a magnesium source and benzoic acid,…

How we scored it

Mg2+ (mineral, natural) 24.31 Da; 2x benzoate (petrochemical, benzene derivative) 242.24 Da; 266.55 total; 24.31/266.53 = 0.09.
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.

Where it comes from

Made from a magnesium source and benzoic acid, a petrochemical benzene derivative. The magnesium counter-ion is mineral-derived.

In plain English

A magnesium salt of benzoic acid used as a preservative. The magnesium is mineral-derived; the benzoic acid portion is petrochemical.

CosIng definition: Magnesium Benzoate is the magnesium salt of Benzoic Acid. It conforms to the formula:

Natural alternatives with the same function

Calcium Undecylenate 100% natural origin

The calcium salt of a fatty acid derived from castor oil. Used to help control microbial growth and…

 Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate HCl 100% natural origin

A preservative and conditioning ingredient built from an amino acid, coconut fatty acid, and alcohol. Used in cosmetics…

 Lactobacillus/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate 100% natural origin

Radish root that has been fermented by Lactobacillus, the lactic acid bacteria also used in yoghurt and pickles,…

 Monarda Fistulosa Extract 100% natural origin

An extract made from the whole wild bergamot plant, a mint-family herb. Used for its scent and preservative-boosting…

 Murraya Koenigii Leaf Oil 100% natural origin

The aromatic oil steam-distilled from curry leaves (Murraya koenigii). It is listed with a preservative function. It is…

 Nobiletin 100% natural origin

A natural antioxidant extracted from citrus peel, particularly Okinawan shiikuwasa and tangerine. Used in skincare to help protect…

Structure

2D structure of Magnesium Benzoate

magnesium dibenzoate

PubChem CID 62371 ↗

References

  1. 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
  2. 2Magnesium Benzoate. PubChem CID 62371. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3MAGNESIUM BENZOATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4MAGNESIUM BENZOATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=MAGNESIUM%20BENZOATE