Use of Preservatives in Skincare Products
To Preserve or not to Preserve…That is the Question. But is it Really??
There is so much talk and hype these days – both good and bad – about the use of preservatives in “natural” skincare products. Because of this, we’ve decided to provide an overview with some information for you to review and arm yourself with an informed decision.
Preservatives in skincare products
So, what is a preservative anyway? Preservatives are naturally occurring or synthetically produced chemicals added to skincare products to protect the formulation’s integrity and the health of your skin. It seems that preservatives have gotten a bad rap these days, and products promoting “preservative-free” appear to be healthier or cleaner for the skin – but in all actuality, it's just the opposite!
Think about it…food has a shelf life. Why? Because it goes bad – leave a loaf of bread on the counter for too long and it starts sprouting fuzzy mold. Would you eat that? Yuck!! Same goes for skincare.
CosmeticsInfo.org explains it this way: “Without preservatives, cosmetic products, just like food, can become contaminated, leading to product spoilage and possibly irritation or infections. Microbial contamination of products, especially those used around the eyes and on the skin, can cause significant problems. Preservatives help prevent such problems.”
Skincare products can - and do - go bad for a variety of reasons. According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), skincare products can degrade over time if they need to be scooped out with fingers (which introduces microorganisms as well as moisture), thereby making it easier for bacteria and fungi (yeast) to grow. The FDA notes that temperature changes and exposure to sunlight and air can cause products to smell and change their color and/or texture.
Unpreserved product: Initial Mold Growth, 4 Months After Product Was Purchased (Photo credit: soapqueen.com)How and why are preservatives beneficial?
So how and why are preservatives beneficial? Preservatives prevent the proliferation of microbes and the consequent decomposition of skincare formulations through microbial growth or undesirable chemical changes. Although preservatives are sometimes viewed as toxic (and they should be!), they are present to serve a purpose: to protect YOU and your skincare from mold, bacteria, fungi, microbial growth (none of which are healthy or safe for your skin).
Which skincare products require preservatives?
Anhydrous products – those containing no water – such as body butters, balms, bath bombs, or soaps (which have a pH level that doesn’t allow mold or bacteria growth) do not need a preservative. On the other hand, water or water-based products that have a shelf life longer than a week, as well as products that can or will be introduced to water (i.e., scrubs), must be preserved and protected.
According to a 2018 paper by Noureddine Halla, Isabel P. Fernandes and Maria Filomena Barreiro published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), “Water is an ideal growth factor for microorganisms … Cosmetics (skincare), like any product containing water and organic/inorganic compounds, require preservation against microbial contamination to guarantee consumers' safety and to increase their shelf life.”
Cases of severe infections have been linked to bacteria contamination in skincare products. One example, according to The New York Times, occurred in the 1950’s with a bacteria-contaminated facial lotion that caused a small outbreak of blindness. This was one of the many instances that led to the widespread use of preservatives in skincare products.
The risk of using preservatives is significantly less than that of using unpreserved water-based products. At some point, I recall reading that mold, fungus, and bacteria can grow and multiply every 20 minutes! Now, whether or not that rate of speed is accurate, bottom line: any and all mold is no bueno!!
Common misconceptions about "natural" preservatives
There is a common misperception that vitamin E, grapefruit seed extracts, and/or rosemary extracts are preservatives…they are not! However, they are antioxidants, which extend the shelf life of oils and butters in products by slowing down the rancidity, but they do not protect or prevent against microbial growth. The only way to prevent this dangerous situation is to use a preservative.
It's not just about preservatives...it's about safety
Preservatives are an integral part of keeping your skincare products safe for use - it's all about safely, effectively, and naturally preserving products. There are many, many options that are effective without the use of some of the more controversial ingredients such as parabens. And, albeit there are adverse opinions regarding preservatives such as Phenonip due to its incorporation of parabens, some preservatives such as this are actually extremely effective and safe (due to the minimal concentration levels used in skincare products). But, alas, there are many, many non-controversial options from which to choose. So, just remember, it’s not an “all or nothing” approach.
Considerations when choosing preservatives in skincare products
Careful thought, research, and consideration must go into choosing the right (most effective and safest) preservative:
- Is it broad spectrum–meaning, does it prevent the growth of more than one organism?
- Does it provide a good shelf life?
- Is it compatible with the ingredients, pH, and packaging of the product?
- Does it comply with the law and regulations for cosmetics?
All of the above factors must be considered to ensure the proper preservation system is selected.
The Taboodoir approach to the use of preservatives
At Taboodoir, while we avoid the use of preservatives whenever possible, we DO recognize the necessity of an effective preservation system to protect you and your skin from the yucky and unwanted growth of the undesirable "fur" in your products!!! Therefore, we have carefully selected a line of safe, broad-spectrum preservatives, approved for natural skincare formulations, that are free of parabens and formaldehyde. SO, you can be assured the protection of your product is just as beautiful as the product itself!
As always, feel free to reach out for more information on this topic or with any other questions you may have - we are always happy to help...our service is just as important as your satisfaction with our products!
Cheers and be well!
Nan
Disclaimer:
The content provided here is for informational purposes only. This blog is not intended to substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider for any questions or concerns you may have regarding a medical condition.
Use of Preservatives in Skincare Products
To Preserve or not to Preserve…That is the Question. But is it Really??
There is so much talk and hype these days – both good and bad – about the use of preservatives in “natural” skincare products. Because of this, we’ve decided to provide an overview with some information for you to review and arm yourself with an informed decision.
Preservatives in skincare products
So, what is a preservative anyway? Preservatives are naturally occurring or synthetically produced chemicals added to skincare products to protect the formulation’s integrity and the health of your skin. It seems that preservatives have gotten a bad rap these days, and products promoting “preservative-free” appear to be healthier or cleaner for the skin – but in all actuality, it's just the opposite!
Think about it…food has a shelf life. Why? Because it goes bad – leave a loaf of bread on the counter for too long and it starts sprouting fuzzy mold. Would you eat that? Yuck!! Same goes for skincare.
CosmeticsInfo.org explains it this way: “Without preservatives, cosmetic products, just like food, can become contaminated, leading to product spoilage and possibly irritation or infections. Microbial contamination of products, especially those used around the eyes and on the skin, can cause significant problems. Preservatives help prevent such problems.”
Skincare products can - and do - go bad for a variety of reasons. According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), skincare products can degrade over time if they need to be scooped out with fingers (which introduces microorganisms as well as moisture), thereby making it easier for bacteria and fungi (yeast) to grow. The FDA notes that temperature changes and exposure to sunlight and air can cause products to smell and change their color and/or texture.
Unpreserved product: Initial Mold Growth, 4 Months After Product Was Purchased (Photo credit: soapqueen.com)How and why are preservatives beneficial?
So how and why are preservatives beneficial? Preservatives prevent the proliferation of microbes and the consequent decomposition of skincare formulations through microbial growth or undesirable chemical changes. Although preservatives are sometimes viewed as toxic (and they should be!), they are present to serve a purpose: to protect YOU and your skincare from mold, bacteria, fungi, microbial growth (none of which are healthy or safe for your skin).
Which skincare products require preservatives?
Anhydrous products – those containing no water – such as body butters, balms, bath bombs, or soaps (which have a pH level that doesn’t allow mold or bacteria growth) do not need a preservative. On the other hand, water or water-based products that have a shelf life longer than a week, as well as products that can or will be introduced to water (i.e., scrubs), must be preserved and protected.
According to a 2018 paper by Noureddine Halla, Isabel P. Fernandes and Maria Filomena Barreiro published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), “Water is an ideal growth factor for microorganisms … Cosmetics (skincare), like any product containing water and organic/inorganic compounds, require preservation against microbial contamination to guarantee consumers' safety and to increase their shelf life.”
Cases of severe infections have been linked to bacteria contamination in skincare products. One example, according to The New York Times, occurred in the 1950’s with a bacteria-contaminated facial lotion that caused a small outbreak of blindness. This was one of the many instances that led to the widespread use of preservatives in skincare products.
The risk of using preservatives is significantly less than that of using unpreserved water-based products. At some point, I recall reading that mold, fungus, and bacteria can grow and multiply every 20 minutes! Now, whether or not that rate of speed is accurate, bottom line: any and all mold is no bueno!!
Common misconceptions about "natural" preservatives
There is a common misperception that vitamin E, grapefruit seed extracts, and/or rosemary extracts are preservatives…they are not! However, they are antioxidants, which extend the shelf life of oils and butters in products by slowing down the rancidity, but they do not protect or prevent against microbial growth. The only way to prevent this dangerous situation is to use a preservative.
It's not just about preservatives...it's about safety
Preservatives are an integral part of keeping your skincare products safe for use - it's all about safely, effectively, and naturally preserving products. There are many, many options that are effective without the use of some of the more controversial ingredients such as parabens. And, albeit there are adverse opinions regarding preservatives such as Phenonip due to its incorporation of parabens, some preservatives such as this are actually extremely effective and safe (due to the minimal concentration levels used in skincare products). But, alas, there are many, many non-controversial options from which to choose. So, just remember, it’s not an “all or nothing” approach.
Considerations when choosing preservatives in skincare products
Careful thought, research, and consideration must go into choosing the right (most effective and safest) preservative:
- Is it broad spectrum–meaning, does it prevent the growth of more than one organism?
- Does it provide a good shelf life?
- Is it compatible with the ingredients, pH, and packaging of the product?
- Does it comply with the law and regulations for cosmetics?
All of the above factors must be considered to ensure the proper preservation system is selected.
The Taboodoir approach to the use of preservatives
At Taboodoir, while we avoid the use of preservatives whenever possible, we DO recognize the necessity of an effective preservation system to protect you and your skin from the yucky and unwanted growth of the undesirable "fur" in your products!!! Therefore, we have carefully selected a line of safe, broad-spectrum preservatives, approved for natural skincare formulations, that are free of parabens and formaldehyde. SO, you can be assured the protection of your product is just as beautiful as the product itself!
As always, feel free to reach out for more information on this topic or with any other questions you may have - we are always happy to help...our service is just as important as your satisfaction with our products!
Cheers and be well!
Nan
Disclaimer:
The content provided here is for informational purposes only. This blog is not intended to substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider for any questions or concerns you may have regarding a medical condition.