Comments on: Should you use self-preserving skin products?

By: Extending the Life of Beauty Products: Which Preservatives are Safe? / Cinco Vidas

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 04:03:30 +0000

[...] for infections like Strep, Tetanus, gangrene, conjunctivitis, or allergic reactions. According to The Beauty Brains, microbes will grow in almost any environment that contains water, so once any product is opened [...]

By: Maeve Smith

Maeve Smith — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 15:03:57 +0000

I am loving this website. 4 years ago I read a book on how to make self preserving beauty products, medicines etc… I read it several times. Hurdle technology is the term used to describe the process of making self preserving products. I am a cosmetologist & a homeopath, I studied Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology & disease for 2 years, so I feel qualified to add my opinion to this excellent website. I work as chief formulator & we manufacture all our skin care range. We are currently going through organic certification. Introduction over with I would like to say this.

As much as i love making preservative free skin care for my self. I would NEVER sell it to the public. The reason for this is simple. In controlled conditions self preserved skincare may be safe but as soon as that product leaves storeroom shelves and is in the hands of your customer it is no longer in a controlled environment and it is at risk of contamination.

So after 6 months trying every which way to develope a self preserved ‘emulsion’ based product I gave up & now I will defend the reason I use preservatives whole heartedly. I don’t use parabens & with the use of low PH and low water I can get away with using as little as 0.7% which is really very little (7mls to a litre) In 4 years I have never had a complaint.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Mon, 31 May 2010 22:53:28 +0000

Suzanne,

Aubury Organics contains citrus grandis seed extract or grapefruit seed extract as its preserving agent… this in pure form has been found to not be a good ‘natural’ preservative and also, as I understand it, there has been some concerns as many batches have been found to have parabens in them.

I think it is important to think about what natural or organic is. I am an aromatherapist and I also make cosmetics for fun. I know that a lot of human intervention goes into extracting an essential oil from the plant/fruit etc. Does that mean it is natural or man made?

Are all natural products good and ‘synthetic’ products bad? At what point in an intervention does a material become synthetic. I love to use more natural products however I actually find some ‘sythetic products’ quite good. I also have no problem with parabens – they are also found in nature.

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 19:50:33 +0000

you should check out Aubrey Organics before you throw out the baby with the bath water on naturally preserved cosmetics.

By: Left Brain

Left Brain — Mon, 25 May 2009 23:00:13 +0000

As long as you’re throwing the product away when it goes rancid, you keep it covered, and avoid contact with water, you should be ok. But when in doubt, throw it out.