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Beauty ingredient · Preservative

Isopropylparaben

CAS
4191-73-5

A paraben preservative prohibited in EU cosmetics since 2014.

  • Paraben
  • Preservative
  • Expert review pending
High concern Level 3 of 4 How concern levels work

A regulatory warning or restriction somewhere, or strong evidence of harm at typical intake. The concern level sets how many points isopropylparaben costs on a product’s receipt.

What the evidence says

  • Not permitted in cosmetics somewhereRegulatory

    The EU prohibited it in cosmetics because industry provided too little data for its risk to be evaluated. [1]

Evidence tiers say how sure the evidence is, separately from how much it matters. About evidence tiers.

Rules around the world

WhereStatusDetailsDateSource
European Union Banned Prohibited in cosmetic products (Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009). Added in 2014 because the risk could not be evaluated. Jul 30, 2014 [1]
California (US) Banned Not allowed in cosmetics sold in California from January 1, 2025 (AB 2762). Jan 1, 2025 [2]

“Banned” means explicitly prohibited or withdrawn after review; “not permitted” means never authorized there. We use each regulator’s own words.

Names GoodSwap recognizes on labels (3)
  • isopropylparaben
  • isopropyl paraben
  • sodium isopropylparaben

Sources

  1. Commission Regulation (EU) No 358/2014 of 9 April 2014 amending Annexes II and V to Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009

    European Union (Official Journal) · Apr 9, 2014 · Law

    “for these compounds, the human risk cannot be evaluated.”

    eur-lex.europa.eu

  2. California AB 2762 (2020), Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act (Health and Safety Code §108980)

    California Legislative Information · Sep 30, 2020 · Law

    “Commencing January 1, 2025, no person or entity shall manufacture, sell, deliver, hold, or offer for sale, in commerce any cosmetic product that contains any of the following intentionally added ingredients”

    leginfo.legislature.ca.gov