Similar Posts


Before commenting, please read our Comment Policy.


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

50 Comments

  1. This is such wonderful news. Thank you for this info Irina. It is invaluable! I have a query though, so one should stay away from personal care products with sodium benzoate & Vit C in it, but can you layer or use different products on let’s say your face where one contains Vit C and another sodium benzoate? 🤔

      1. Stephanie says:

        So sodium benzoate is 100 % safe correct?

        Especially in deodorants mixed with essential oils? Directly in contact with our lymph nodes.

        Because essential oils do contain vitamin c.

        I would just like to make sure.

        I appreciate your help.

        1. Stephanie: there is no such thing as 100% safe. What can be safe for one person can be poison for others. With this said. I don’t think there is any concern about mixing essential oils with sodium benzoate. ~Irina

  2. Thank you for this, much appreciated!

  3. Leah Underhill says:

    Should I be concerned by the combination of benzoic and citrus acid used in this product?

    Shampoo – ingredients list.

    aqua
    decyl glucoside
    xanthan gum
    aloe barbadensis leaf juice powder
    citric acid
    benzoic acid
    dehydroacetic acid
    organic simmondsia chinensis oil
    d-panthenol (pro vitamin b5)
    phenoxyethanol
    inulin (aqua alpha-glucan oligosaccharide pre biotic)

    Thank you! ( just purchased your consumer superpower)

      1. Hi,

        Im thinking of trying this product that has the following ingredients:

        Triticum vulgare/aestivum (wheat) sprout extract, purified water, fructose, glycerol, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate.

        My question is that wheatgrass contains vitamin C and whether it is a concern since sodium benzoate is added in.

        Thanks!

        Lin

  4. Thanks a lot for your valuable information

  5. Thanks a lot gor your detailed explanation. The ginger garlic paste i use for cooking has sodium benzoate and citric acid. Though it increases temperature while i cook, can i assume this combination as safe?

    1. Maria Simmons says:

      Hi, Rupa! We appreciate your interest and trust! If you want to know the details that are not described in the post, you are more than welcome to book a consultation with Irina: https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/services/

  6. Lena Taylor says:

    Hi & thank you for such a clarifying post. If I’m understanding correctly, it would not be wise to mix a vitamin c serum – ascorbic acid as the active with a hydrating serum that contains sodium benzoate? This might create a “benzene situation?”
    Thank you!

      1. Should I be concerned by the combination of sodium benzoate and E-ascorbic acid used in this product ?

        Sunscreen-ingredients list.

        Aqua, Titanium Dioxide, Suncat DE TM, Sodium Polyacrylate, Glycerin, Zinc Oxide, Xylitol, Phospholipids, Caprylic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Hyaluronic Acid, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, D-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate, Calendula Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Himalayan Thermal Water, SODIUM BENZOATE, E-ASCORBIC ACID, Sodium Levulinate, Phenoxyehtanol, IFRA Certified Allergen Free Fragrance, Allantoin, Melanin.

        Thank you!

  7. Hi Irina,
    I was wondering, given more Vitamin C derivatives are now used in skincare some of them actually mix with sodium benzoate and/or benzoic acid with these latter being listed near the bottom of the list. Do you know if derivatives like ethyl ascorbic acid are safe to layer with other products containing them. Is there a skin reaction that occurs that makes us known to the danger? I’ve only used the derivative and have tried to research and most articles note that skin penetration has low risk for any danger.

    1. Hi, Angela: I agree with you that the risks are very minimum. ~Irina

    2. Is there a concern about products combining sodium benzoate with sodium ascorbyl phosphate?

      And does this apply to C12-15 alkyl Benzoate? What about benzyl alcohol?

      Thanks.

      1. There is only concern when it is combined with a form of a vitamin C. ~Irina

  8. KenStacey says:

    Irina, what wipe preservative would you recommend in this case? I followed this article from your previous post on Phenoxyethanol – which is a common preservative,

    Would sodium benzoate be alright i.e if not better than phenoxyethanol? Maybe the better question is what preserve should I look for in wipes?

  9. Hello, i use sunscreen that contains benzoic acid, on mornings. İs it okay to use vitamin c on evenings after cleaning sunscreen from my face?

  10. Hi! Thank you so much for this, it’s been so helpful. Would taking an iron supplement with sodium benzoate and also eating vitamin c -rich foods to help with absorption be problematic?

    Thanks,
    Kathleen

    1. Hi, Kathleen: I don’t recommend taking sodium benzoate internally. Could you find a supplement without sodium benzoate preservatives? ~Irina

  11. Would the body shop strawberry shampoo be a problem cause it has strawberry juice and sodium benzoate and I’m guessing strawberry juice has Vit C.

    Aqua/Water/Eau, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Citric Acid, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Ammonium Hydroxide, Sodium Chloride, Propylene Glycol, Parfum/Fragrance, Sodium Benzoate, Hexylene Glycol, Polyquaternium-10, Glycerin, Fragaria Vesca Juice/Strawberry Juice, Salicylic Acid, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Limonene, Sodium Acetate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, CI 14700/Red 4, CI 17200/Red 33.

    1. That’s an interesting one. I am not so sure how much of that strawberry juice is actually in the shampoo and how much of vitamin C is preserved in the juice. But the way, this shampoo does not adhere to the safety standards that I set up for I Read Labels For You. ~Irina

  12. Hello,

    What about nail polish.
    Should I be concerned about this nail polish

    Ingredients : BUTYL ACETATE, ETHYL ACETATE, NITROCELLULOSE, ADIPIC ACID/NEOPENTYL GLYCOL/TRIMELLITIC ANHYDRIDE COPOLYMER, PLANT BASED NON DENATURED ALCOHOL ETHYL ACETATE, TRIBUTYL CITRATE,ISOSORBIDE DICAPRYLATE/CAPRATE, BUTYL ACETATE, STEARALKONIUM BENTONITE, ISOPROPYL, PLANT BASED NON DENATURED ALCOHOL, PHOSPHORIC ACID, ACETYL TRIBUTYL CITRATE, CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC TRIGLYCERIDE, PRUNUS CERASUS (BITTER CHERRY) FLOWER EXTRACT (PRUNUS CERASUS FLOWER EXTRACT), CITRIC ACID, DIACETONE ALCOHOL, WATER (AQUA), GLYCERIN, PUNICA GRANATUM FRUIT EXTRACT, PRUNUS AMYGDALUS DULCIS (SWEET ALMOND) OIL (PRUNUS AMYGDALUS DULCIS OIL), PERSEA GRATISSIMA (AVOCADO) OIL (PERSEA GRATISSIMA OIL), POTASSIUM SORBATE, EQUISETUM ARVENSE LEAF EXTRACT, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, SILICA, SODIUM BENZOATE, TOCOPHEROL

    1. Hi, Marija: from the perspective of sodium benzoate and ascorbic acid interaction, I believe that this product is okay. ~Irina

  13. Recently we bought a gripe water for our 2 month old with following inactive ingredients
    Citric acid, potassium benzoate , potassium citrate and potassium sorbate..is it safe to use for my son? Or should I worry about formation of benzene in this? Thank you

  14. For the Mad Hippie Vitamin C
    Water Deionized, Vitamin C (Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate), Alkyl Benzoate, Vegetable Glycerin, Water, Glycerin, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Anisate, Clary Sage (Salvia Sclarea), Grapefruit (Citrus Grandis), Hyaluronic acid, Amorphophallus Konjac Root Powder, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf, Vitamin E (Tocotrienol), Ferulic acid, Chamomile Flower Extract (Recutita Matricaria), Sodium Phytate, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose

    Is this safe?
    The 2nd ingredient is Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate and the 3rd ingredient is Alkyl Benzoate, so high amounts of both. Reached out to the company and they said the Alkyl Benzoate is derived from coconut. Not sure if that makes a difference.

    Thank you for this article! It’s wonderful 🙂

  15. Hello. Is it okay to use this face wash that has this ingredients
    Ingredients
    Aqua (Water)
    , Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Benzyl Alcohol, Glycol Distearate, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Laureth-4, Sodium Benzoate, Dipropylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium Citrate, Propylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Parfum (Fragrance), Retinyl Palmitate, Disodium Phosphate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Hydroxycitronellal, Citronellol, Sorbitol, Sodium Hydroxide, Limonene, Linalool, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Denatonium Benzoate, Tocopherol, Benzoic Acid, Ci 19140 (Yellow 5), Ci 42090 (Blue 1)

  16. Ever since the reports of Benzene have been in suncreen, I’ve been on the look out for Sodium Benzoate everywhere!

    Lately I’ve been using two Mario Badescu products and I’m a bit nervous they’re unsafe. Typically I use the Witch Hazel Toner, Cellufirm Drops and Vitamin C Serum – and they all have Sodium Benzoate. Although my skin has been looking *great* lately, I DEFINITELY do not want to continue usage if they’re cancer causing.

    The product I guess I’m most concerned about is the Vitamin C serum? Here are the ingredients:
    Propylene Glycol, Aqua (Water, Eau), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hexylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, PEG-25 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Soluble Collagen, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Hydroxyacetophenone, Triethanolamine, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Silver Citrate, Zeolite, Sodium Benzoate

    What are your thoughts? Cease and desist?

    1. Maria Simmons says:

      Hi Emma! The product you mentioned contains ethoxylated ingredients, namely PEG-25 and PEG-40, that we do not recommend on our website. If you need a more detailed consultation, Irina will be happy to help you: https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/services/

  17. How about the sodium benzoate in novaferrum liquid iron supplements for kids? Pediatricians recommend taking novaferrum with vitamin c foods like oranges for iron absorption. Does the combination result in the formation of carinogenic benzene?

  18. Hi Irina,
    I was wondering, is there a concern for the combination of Ascorbyl Palmitate and Sodium Benzoate in skincare products? I was unable to find any research about this form of Vit C.

    1. Maria Simmons says:

      Hi, Raza! Thank you for the question! Ascorbyl Palmitate is a kind of Vitamin C, and we do not recommend the combination of Vitamin C with Sodium Benzoate. I hope this helps!

  19. Brittany B says:

    Hello Irina!

    I was so interested to read this article as I have been studying Sodium Benzoate and how it interacts with Ascorbic Acid for some time now. I’m a skincare enthusiast and I’ve been obsessed with ingredients for a while. I try my hardest to only use the purest products (no parabens, alcohols, overall harsh ingredients etc.) Thus, once I learned how the two ingredients (in the same formulation) could cause Benzene, I was FLOORED and I instantly put it on my list of bad ingredients (based on individualized situation), mainly because I use A LOT of Vitamin C (in the form of ascorbic acid) products daily. After doing some research I learned that not only do A TON of products contain Sodium Benzoate, but also ingredients like: Benzoic Acid and a number of other “Ben” ingredients (many having a Benzene ring in their core or makeup). I was overwhelmed by how many products I had to eliminate and even more alarmed by a few VITAMIN C products that had the both ingredients inside. All that being said, I would love to hear your thoughts on the following question: In your opinion should I be concerned about using products with Sodium Benzoate in them since I would more than likely follow up with an Ascorbic Acid product? Wouldn’t that be similar to mixing the two ingredients and creating the cocktail on the surface of skin that would be absorbed?

    Any advice would be more than appreciated! I’ve been racking my brain over this question for the longest time and constantly eliminating products with Sodium Benzoate in them.

    Thank you so very much for your time and assistance!

    1. Maria Simmons says:

      Hi, Brittany! Thank you for reaching out to I Read Labels for You! Good job with your healthy living journey! As for your question, we have talked to chemists and did research into scientific sources, but we have not found any evidence proving that benzene formation on the skin after the subsequent use of ascorbic acid is possible. We hope this helps!

      1. Hello Maria!

        Thank you, thank you, thank you so very much for your kind words and reply! This information definitely helps!!

        I TRULY appreciate your time and assistance!!

        Sincerely,

        Brittany B.

        1. Maria Simmons says:

          Of course! You are so very welcome!

  20. Thank you for this! I was afraid to drink my Aloe Vera juice because it contains Sodium Benzoate and Citric Acid. Thanks for clearing everything up!

    1. Maria Simmons says:

      Thank you for your kind feedback, Kaylee! You are very welcome!

  21. I am breastfeeding and very careful about what I put on and in my body. The one treat I allowed myself (with doctor’s OK) is an almost daily latte. I just discovered this place uses Torani vanilla syrup which has sodium benzoate and citric acid. I am panicking that I’ve inadvertently harmed my baby by drinking this regularly…

    1. Maria Simmons says:

      Hi, Ali! Our “Sodium Benzoate & Citric Acid Myth” blog post emphasizes in the introduction and conclusion that “Benzene may form only when sodium benzoate and ascorbic acid are present in the same product. It must be ascorbic acid for this to occur, NOT citric acid.” May we ask about the cause of your anxiety?