Database/Preservative/Potassium Methylparaben
Mostly petroleum · ISO 16128

Is Potassium Methylparaben natural?

Mostly not. Potassium is mineral; the methylparaben anion derives from phenol (Kolbe-Schmitt carboxylation to p-hydroxybenzoic acid) and methanol, both petrochemical.

INCI namePotassium Methylparaben
CAS26112-07-2
FormulaC8H7KO3 · 190.24 Da
FunctionPreservative
FeedstockDominant route: p-hydroxybenzoic acid from petrochemical phenol is…

How we scored it

Mineral: K 39 Da; petrochemical: methylparaben anion C8H7O3 151 Da (phenol, methanol); total 190; 39/190 = 0.21.
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

Dominant route: p-hydroxybenzoic acid from petrochemical phenol is esterified with methanol and neutralised with potassium hydroxide. Fermentation-derived p-hydroxybenzoic acid exists but is not commercially significant.

In plain English

The potassium salt of methylparaben, a preservative that stops bacteria and moulds growing in water-containing products. It is made in a chemical plant from petroleum-derived phenol and methanol; the potassium part is a mineral.

CosIng definition: Potassium Methylparaben is the potassium salt of Methylparaben that 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 Potassium Methylparaben

potassium 4-methoxycarbonylphenolate

PubChem CID 23663677 ↗

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. 2Potassium Methylparaben. PubChem CID 23663677. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3POTASSIUM METHYLPARABEN. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4POTASSIUM METHYLPARABEN. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=POTASSIUM%20METHYLPARABEN