Methyl para-hydroxybenzoate

Methyl para-hydroxybenzoate (methylparaben) is the methyl ester of p-hydroxybenzoic acid. It is a long-used cosmetic preservative valued for broad antifungal activity, good safety at cosmetic use levels, and formulation robustness over pH ~4–8 (optimal ~4.5–6.5). Compared with its sodium salt, the free ester is less water-soluble but is the more...