Benzoyl peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide suppliers and sourcing guide
Benzoyl peroxide is an organic peroxide made by reacting benzoyl chloride with hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydroxide. It is a white crystalline solid that can decompose violently when dry, heated or contaminated, so it is shipped and handled wet, typically as hydrous benzoyl peroxide with about 25% water. Drug and cosmetic makers usually buy pharmacopeial hydrous grades or ready-made aqueous dispersions; food grades are blended with carriers for flour and whey bleaching.
- Category
- Cosmetic actives
- Also known as
- dibenzoyl peroxide · hydrous benzoyl peroxide · BPO · CAS 94-36-0
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of benzoyl peroxide
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Hydrous benzoyl peroxide (USP)
Wet powder with about 70 to 77 percent benzoyl peroxide and the balance water, the standard pharmaceutical form.
Aqueous dispersions
Benzoyl peroxide pre-milled and suspended in water with dispersants, which avoids handling the powder.
Food-grade blends
Benzoyl peroxide diluted with carriers such as calcium sulfate or starch for bleaching flour and whey.
Micronized grades
Finer particle grades for smoother gels and creams; particle size is part of the specification.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Assay (iodometric titration)
- Benzoyl peroxide content by iodometric titration, reported on an as-is and dried basis.
- Water content
- Water level, which must stay in range for safe handling and to calculate the active charge.
- Benzoic acid
- Benzoic acid, the main decomposition product, by HPLC.
- Particle size
- Particle size distribution for micronized powders and dispersions.
- Heavy metals
- Lead and other metals against the pharmacopeial or food-chemical limit.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Store benzoyl peroxide as an oxidizer: in its original vented container, cool, out of sunlight and away from heat, reducing agents, metals and combustibles, following the supplier safety data sheet. Never let the hydrous material dry out. Shelf life and recommended storage temperatures are set by the supplier.
Lots and expiry dates
Record the assay and water content of each lot and recalculate the charge accordingly. Older lots lose potency and form benzoic acid, so retest before use and rotate oldest first.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
Health Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist permits benzoyl peroxide in cosmetics only in nail products for professional use, at up to 10%, with required warnings.
Source: canada.ca (opens in a new tab)21 CFR 333.310 lists benzoyl peroxide, 2.5 to 10 percent, as a permitted active ingredient in the OTC topical drug monograph in part 333.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)21 CFR 184.1157 affirms benzoyl peroxide as GRAS as a direct food ingredient used as a bleaching agent in food.
Source: ecfr.gov (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Benzoyl peroxide suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking benzoyl peroxide suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell benzoyl peroxide? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of benzoyl peroxide can brands buy?
Common forms include hydrous benzoyl peroxide (USP), aqueous dispersions, food-grade blends and micronized grades. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for benzoyl peroxide include?
Expect assay (iodometric titration), water content, benzoic acid, particle size and heavy metals, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should benzoyl peroxide be stored?
Store benzoyl peroxide as an oxidizer: in its original vented container, cool, out of sunlight and away from heat, reducing agents, metals and combustibles, following the supplier safety data sheet. Never let the hydrous material dry out. Shelf life and recommended storage temperatures are set by the supplier.
What is the regulatory status of benzoyl peroxide?
Health Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist permits benzoyl peroxide in cosmetics only in nail products for professional use, at up to 10%, with required warnings. 21 CFR 333.310 lists benzoyl peroxide, 2.5 to 10 percent, as a permitted active ingredient in the OTC topical drug monograph in part 333. 21 CFR 184.1157 affirms benzoyl peroxide as GRAS as a direct food ingredient used as a bleaching agent in food.
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