Everything that is
alive or once was will go through the natural phase of decay. Decay happens
with or without preservatives.
Water-based skin
care products have a 3-5 day shelf life if left unpreserved.
Health
Risk
- contaminated products can cause far more than irritated skin. These
micro-organisms have caused serious illness and disease ranging from a burning
sensation to strep and staph infections, and can be potentially life
threatening.
Any personal care
product containing a range of ingredients described as natural has the
potential to support the growth of bacteria, fungi and moulds, and can
deteriorate through the process of oxidation.
Preservatives are
necessary for product safety. Without it, not a single cosmetic product with
any level of activity would last longer than 3 days on the shelf before
presenting with microbial infection, which would most certainly cause more harm
than any preservation ingredient. David Steinberg, a previous national
president of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, has gone so far as to trademark
his statement: “Remember, Preservatives are Safer than BacteriaTM”.
Some ingredients
typically used for preservation: Tea Tree Oil, Thyme Essential Oil, Grapefruit
Seed Extract Bitter Orange Extract, cinnamon, lavender, lemon peel, and
rosemary extract. The trouble with these is they have almost no effect as a
preservative in products that contain a higher percentage of natural
ingredients which need to be preserved longer term. The percentage of one of
these ingredients if used for preservation must also be high in order to have
any desired effect, at least 3% per preserving ingredient. Sometimes essential
oils which are used as preservatives can evaporate from the preparation when
left uncovered. Some essential oils, if concentrated, can cause reddening of
the skin and dermatitis.
Ascorbic
Acid [Vitamin C] & Tocopherol [Vitamin E] are sometimes
used as natural preservatives.
Potassium
sorbate inhibits moulds, fungus but only some bacteria,
so it needs to be combined with another preservative.
Naticide
is a broad-spectrum anti-microbial vegetable-based fragrance which also acts as
a preservative. Naticide may be listed on labels as 'fragrance'.
Benzoic
acid [Benzene] for example is organic and is used
as a preservative but it is a known carcinogen! Also be wary of high
percentages of ethanol within a product, particularly when it claims to be
preservative-free. It is being used as a preservative but there may be
long-term side effects, including dehydration.
Parabens
are safe, effective broad spectrum preservatives.
Phenoxyethanol
coupled with Caprylyl Glycol, is a preservative
combination used extensively in the cosmetics industry. It exhibits
broad-spectrum anti-bacterial activity at exceptionally low quantities, and so
is ideal for cosmetic formulations as an all-round preservative, and is
considered a far superior alternative to potentially harmful
formaldehyde-releasing preservatives. Phenoxyethanol is a glycol ether, which
is synthesized to be a “nature identical” compound mimicking the same
properties, function and structure as the naturally derived analogue which
occurs in roses and certain other plants. It is in no way similar to ethanol
alcohol.
Kayla Pretorius
Everything that is alive or once was will go through the natural phase of decay. Decay happens with or without preservatives.
Water-based skin care products have a 3-5 day shelf life if left unpreserved.
Health Risk - contaminated products can cause far more than irritated skin. These micro-organisms have caused serious illness and disease ranging from a burning sensation to strep and staph infections, and can be potentially life threatening.
Any personal care product containing a range of ingredients described as natural has the potential to support the growth of bacteria, fungi and moulds, and can deteriorate through the process of oxidation.
Preservatives are necessary for product safety. Without it, not a single cosmetic product with any level of activity would last longer than 3 days on the shelf before presenting with microbial infection, which would most certainly cause more harm than any preservation ingredient. David Steinberg, a previous national president of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, has gone so far as to trademark his statement: “Remember, Preservatives are Safer than BacteriaTM”.
Some ingredients typically used for preservation: Tea Tree Oil, Thyme Essential Oil, Grapefruit Seed Extract Bitter Orange Extract, cinnamon, lavender, lemon peel, and rosemary extract. The trouble with these is they have almost no effect as a preservative in products that contain a higher percentage of natural ingredients which need to be preserved longer term. The percentage of one of these ingredients if used for preservation must also be high in order to have any desired effect, at least 3% per preserving ingredient. Sometimes essential oils which are used as preservatives can evaporate from the preparation when left uncovered. Some essential oils, if concentrated, can cause reddening of the skin and dermatitis.
Ascorbic Acid [Vitamin C] & Tocopherol [Vitamin E] are sometimes used as natural preservatives.
Potassium sorbate inhibits moulds, fungus but only some bacteria, so it needs to be combined with another preservative.
Naticide is a broad-spectrum anti-microbial vegetable-based fragrance which also acts as a preservative. Naticide may be listed on labels as 'fragrance'.
Benzoic acid [Benzene] for example is organic and is used as a preservative but it is a known carcinogen! Also be wary of high percentages of ethanol within a product, particularly when it claims to be preservative-free. It is being used as a preservative but there may be long-term side effects, including dehydration.
Parabens are safe, effective broad spectrum preservatives.
Phenoxyethanol coupled with Caprylyl Glycol, is a preservative combination used extensively in the cosmetics industry. It exhibits broad-spectrum anti-bacterial activity at exceptionally low quantities, and so is ideal for cosmetic formulations as an all-round preservative, and is considered a far superior alternative to potentially harmful formaldehyde-releasing preservatives. Phenoxyethanol is a glycol ether, which is synthesized to be a “nature identical” compound mimicking the same properties, function and structure as the naturally derived analogue which occurs in roses and certain other plants. It is in no way similar to ethanol alcohol.