Benzalkonium Chloride

The details

Benzalkonium Chloride (aka BAC) is a preservative that has been around since the 1930's. It is also a surfactant that gives it mild cleansing and antistatic properties. BAC works because it carries a positive electrical charge that attract the negative charge of microbe cells (like a magnet). Once BAC sticks to a microbe, it breaks the microbe cell's outer wall and scrambles its proteins to kill it. The maximum usage percentage for this ingredient is 0.1% in both the EU and Chinese cosmetic regulations. The CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be a safe antimicrobial agent in concentrations up to 0.1% and it is permitted up to 3% in rinse off hair products. BAC can be irritating at higher concentrations but a true allergy to it is pretty rare. Be sure to patch test if you have a damaged skin barrier or just sensitive skin. Because it's a cation, it is incompatible with anionic surfactants like SLS (they neutralize each other).

Effects

Found in (2 products)

Neutrogena

Oil-Free Acne Wash With Salicylic Acid

Face Washes

Oil-freeReef safeAlcohol-free+5

Neutrogena

Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub

Exfoliators

Oil-freeAlcohol-freeParaben-free+4