2024-08-27
A Closer Look at Benzalkonium Chloride
Benzalkonium Chloride qualifies as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial. It works by disrupting the membranes of microbes thus weakening and eventually killing them. Because the action of Benzalkonium Chloride kills microbes, the ingredient is called a Biocide. In cosmetic science we use ingredients like this as both actives (antimicrobials) and preservatives. In the case of preservatives, they can be microbiocidal (biocides) or micro biostatic with biocidal molecules generally being thought of as 'harsher', stronger or more effective. While biocidal preservatives are still used in cosmetics, there is a strong trend towards micro-biostatic technology as we learn more about topics such as antibiotic resistance, the skins microbiome and the environmental impacts of biocides.