Overview of Preservatives - updated Dec 23 2007

This is a list of the various preservatives I have found on soaping supply websites. There are more out there, definitely, but these are the ones that are the most available. Find one that you feel comfortable using. As I am more comfortable using non-paraben and non-formaldehyde releasing preservatives I have added more information to the preservatives that fulfill these requirements, but if you need more information about any of the preservatives, please check out the links at the bottom of this post. Let me know if there are any more preservatives that I have missed and I will add them to my list!

An important note: Vitamin E, Grapefruit Seed Extract and essential oils are anti-oxidants. That means they will keep your oil from going bad but will NOT protect against bacteria and fungus. If you don't use preservatives your products will only be good for 1-2 weeks, even in the fridge. They may look ok, but there are lots of bacteria you cannot see or smell.


Contains no Parabens and releases no Formaldehyde:

Cosmocil CQ
INCI: Water, polyaminopropyl biguanide
Effective against: Bacteria (incl. Gram), yeast and fungi. Not active enough against yeast and mold to be able to be used on its own.
Contains parabens: No
Releases Formaldehyde: No

Note: Do not use Cosmocil CQ in a beeswax-borax emulsification system or in natural liquid soaps. The preservative will coagulate and become brown.

Usage Guidelines: Cosmcocil CQ is stable in heat to 140°C/284°F and may be added to your water phase prior to processing. Standard use rates are .2 to 1.5%. Typical use rate is 1.0%. It is effective in pH 4 to pH 10 media. Its solubility is in water, ethyl alcohol, glycerine and propylene glycol. It is not miscible in oil.



Optiphen
INCI: Phenoxyethanol (and) Caprylyl Glycol
Effective against: Gram-positive and Gram-Negative bacteria, yeast, and mold
Contains parabens: No
Releases Formaldehyde: No

Usage Guidelines: Optiphen is a unique liquid preservative formulation which consists of phenoxyethanol and an emollient base. For use in a variety of formulas such as aqueous, anhydrous and emulsion products. Optiphen is a clear liquid preservative that can be easily added directly to the formulation during pre- or post-emulsification, at or below 80°C/176°F. Optiphen has no pH restrictions in formulating, and is compatible with most ingredients used in the personal care industry. Recommended Use Levels: 0.5 - 1.5%



Preservatives that contain Parabens and / or releases Formaldehyde:

Germaben (II, II E)
INCI: Propylene Glycol (and) Diazolidinyl Urea (and) Methylparaben (and) Propylparaben
Effective against: Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well as yeast and mold
Contains parabens: Yes
Releases Formaldehyde: Yes


Germall
INCI: Diazolidinyl Urea (and) Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
Effective against: Everything
Contains parabens: No
Releases Formaldehyde: Yes


Liquapar Oil
INCI: Isopropylparaben (and) Isobutylparaben (and) Butylparaben
Effective against: Gram-positive bacteria, yeast and mold
Contains parabens: Yes
Releases Formaldehyde: No


Liquapar Optima
INCI: Phenoxyethanol (and) Methylparaben (and) Isopropylparaben (and) Isobutylparaben (and) Butylparaben
Effective against: Gram-positive bacteria, yeast and mold
Contains parabens: Yes
Releases Formaldehyde: No


Phenonip
INCI: Phenoxyethanol (and) Methylparaben (and) Ethylparaben (and) Butylparaben (and) Propylparaben (and) Isobutylparaben
Effective against: Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, yeasts and molds
Contains parabens: Yes
Releases Formaldehyde: No


Suttocide A
INCI: Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate
Effective against: Gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, yeast and mold, even at low concentrations
Contains parabens: Yes
Releases Formaldehyde: Yes (but contains no formal-dehyde donors)


For all of these preservatives, please follow the instructions carefully. Some require that temperatures are under a certain level, some require a particular range of pH-values.  Please be careful and keep both yourself and your customers safe!

Sources: MMS, Lotioncrafter, Snowdrift Farms

Busy, busy

I have been slacking off a bit on the blogging lately. The reason is that I have a huge translation project going on (oh yey, concrete bridges! How fun!) in addition to my full-time work and preparing to move across the planet. A bit busy. :)

I am still working on trying to find a safe preservative that will not allow all kinds of bacteria but still be paraben-free and non-formaldehyde releasing. It is not as easy as I thought. I have found an alternative for most of the products I have planned to make, only the scrubs and deodorants left to work on. Scrubs need preservative because you use them in the shower or tub and put your wet hands into them and that way you get water into them which can cause all kinds of nasties to grow.

I will try to be more regular in my blogging though I am feeling a bit overwhelmed right now.

Shattered Illusions

*Sigh*. When I first started becoming interested in making my own natural beauty products I had a vision of being able to do so without using preservatives. I would make lotions, shampoo and scrubs and only use Grapeseed Extract for preservative. I have now learned that this is exceedingly dangerous.

Apparently, all the GSE (Grapeseed Extract) or Vitamin-E does is to keep the oils in the formula from going rancid. It does not keep the product from growing mold, yeast and bacteria. ICK! If a product has the least bit of water in it or is used in the shower it needs a real preservative. So much for being all natural, I guess.

I am quite bummed from learning this. I now have a choice of a) only making products that have no water in them and that are not to be used in the shower, or b)use a preservative or c)not use preservative and make whatever I want and then be sued or have people getting sick and dying from my products.

The lesser evil seems to be using the preservative. But which one is the best one for my use? Which one has less dangerous chemicals in it? This article may help you, as it has helped me. I haven't decided yet, but I have found more info to research, at least.

What do you think about this?