Preservative

Benzyl Alcohol

INCI · Benzyl Alcohol

Revelika safety grade

Overview

A naturally occurring aromatic alcohol used as a mild preservative and solvent to protect formulas from microbial growth. It also appears naturally in some essential oils.

Who it's for

Common in preservative systems, including some marketed as 'natural'.

Cautions

A recognized fragrance allergen that can irritate sensitive skin; a preservative rather than an active.

Suitability
Suits skin type
Dry Oily Combination Sensitive Acne-prone Mature Normal
Concentration
Concentration0 – 10%
Effective from
Max safe
In the glossary
Frequently asked
What does Benzyl Alcohol do in skincare?

A naturally occurring aromatic alcohol used as a mild preservative and solvent to protect formulas from microbial growth. It also appears naturally in some essential oils.

Is Benzyl Alcohol considered safe for skin?

A recognized fragrance allergen that can irritate sensitive skin; a preservative rather than an active.

RRevelika

A science-forward beauty ingredient encyclopedia. Every entry is written from published research and graded conservatively before it publishes.

Editorial standard

Content is educational, not medical advice. When evidence is uncertain we say so — and we default to caution on pregnancy safety.

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