Preservatives

Usage Guide to Cosmetic Preservatives & Anti-oxidants

PROPERTIES OF PRESERVATIVES

PRESERVATIVE	ACTIVITY	SOLUBLE IN	pH LIMITS	COMMENTS
Potassium Sorbate K sorbate	Yeast/Fungi	Water	Use at pH 5.5 or less	potential irritant if used over .6% . Odorless/colorless.
Methylparaben	Yeast/Fungi	Hot water	OK at all pHs	De-activated by some PEG compounds. Polysorbate OK. Low irritancy. Odorless/colorless.
Optiphen	Yeast/Fungi/Molds/Bacteria	water	OK at all pHs	None
Phenonip**	Yeast/Fungi Bacteria	Oils preferred; OK to .5% in H2O; use glycerin to get Phenonip into water bases more easily.	OK at all pHs	De-activated by some PEG compounds. Polysorbate OK. Low irritancy. Odorless/colorless.
Rosemary Oil Extract (ROE)	anti-oxidant prevents rancidity only	Oil soluble only; will NOT prevent bacteria, yeast, fungi from growing	no pH limit	may shift color of oil toward yellow. Slightly herbaceous odor.

**Phenonip contains Phenoxyethanol and parabens as active ingredients.

USAGE GUIDELINES FOR PRESERVATIVES

PRESERVATIVE	LOTION	BAR SOAP (LYE-BASED)	LIQUID SOAP	CLAYS & MASQUES
Potassium Sorbate k sorbate	.1%	Not required	in acidic syndet only	.1%
Methylparaben	.05 to .2%	Not required	.1 to .2%	.1 to .2%
Phenonip	.1 to .4%	Not required	.1 to .5%	.1 to .5%
Rosemary Oil Extract (ROE)	.05 to .1% of oils	.05 to .1% of oils	.05 to .1% of oils	.05 to .1% of oils
Citric Acid	.05 to .1%	.05 to .1%	.05 to .1%	.05 to .1%
PRESERVATIVE	MISTS	OILS/SALVES/BALMS	BATH BOMBS/MELTS	BATH SALTS
Potassium Sorbate k sorbate	.1%, acidic only	not required	not required	not required
Methylparaben	.1 to .2%	not required	not required	not required
Phenonip	.1 to .2%	not required	not required	not required
Rosemary Oil Extract (ROE)	not required	.05 to .1% of oils	.05 to .1% of oils	.05 to .1% of oils
Citric Acid	.05 to .1%	not required	Not applicable	not required

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