K-Beauty โ€บ Library โ€บ INCI decoder

Potassium Sorbate: what it is in skincare

โšก Quick answer: A mild food-grade preservative that helps stop yeast and mold from growing in a product.

A mild food-grade preservative that helps stop yeast and mold from growing in a product.

What it does

Function: preservative. Preservatives keep water-based formulas safe from microbial growth. Modern, well-tolerated systems are why your essence stays safe for months.

How to spot it on a label

On a Korean product's INCI list, look for Potassium Sorbate. Ingredients are listed high-to-low by amount, so its position hints at how much is in the formula. See all preservatives โ†’

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Related

PhenoxyethanolEthylhexylglycerinChlorphenesinSodium BenzoateBenzoic AcidDehydroacetic Acid
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โœ๏ธ Written & reviewed by the KoreaPlus Editorial team โ€” dermatologist-informed, cosmetic-science researched & source-cited. Last reviewed 2026-06-21.

General educational information using cosmetic structure-function wording โ€” not medical advice. Always patch-test new actives. ยฉ KoreaPlus.