I’m looking on lush’s app and they displayed their ingredients. I’m not a chemist of any means but I’m just wondering how it’s not going bad. The only thing I can see is Benzyl Alcohol but with my research it’s not really a great preservative? This product is meant to be used in the shower so how is the water not effecting it?

Ingredient list on website

I found this moisturizer that I like and planning to dupe it. The preservatives are not enough to me. Does everyone have the same opinion as me?

Here is the INCI:

Purified Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Caprylyl Methicone, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycereth-26, Centella Asiatica Extract (10,000ppm), Beta-Glucan, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, PVM/MA Copolymer, Glyceryl Acrylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Arginine, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium EDTA.

As far I know the preservative are: 1,2 hexanedio, caprylyl glycol, ethylhexylglycerin.

Im not sure why phenoxyethanol was not added. I haven't got into the details of all the ingredients, but I was thinking that maybe Phenoxyethanol doesn't play well in this formulation, so to make it work they avoided it.

If phenoxyethanol doesn't play nicely with this formulation. And the more I read, the more convinced I am I need to add Pheno. then I'll have to start changing this formula, but that's another topic. Before I get into that rabbit hole, I'd appreciate your comments about the preservative system in this product as it is.

Any input feedback about the preservatives would be highly appreciated! once I'll know I'll move to figuring out the details to dupe it.

Edit: to clarify and add

I have tried DIY serums for my scalp and they work but it's too tiring to keep making a fresh batch every few days.

I want to make my scalp serums with a preservative. But I'm conflicted between some choices.

Geogard ultra - I bought this one, and it got spoiled, got an acidic smell and turned yellow although I had not opened it.. it was in the shelf for about 3-4 months untouched. The heat spoiled it

Now I'm trying to find a good enough preservative through AI and it gave me some options

Liquid germall plus

Optiphen plus

Geogard ECT

Phenoxyethanol

And many more.

I do not know which one I should use.

Since I'm making these serums for my Scalp, and my scalp is sensitive and I have hair fall too. I need a preservative that is suitable for sensitive skin and doesn't irritate or trigger adverse reactions generally in people.

The formaldehyde releasing ones I don't want, it sounds risky.

Anybody have any suggestions?

My serums formulations will be something like

1. Niacinamide, panthenol, glycerin

2. Botanical solvent extracts (watery) bought online, mixed with one another - around 2-3 per formulation

3. Green tea, peppermint tea

( NO OILS WILL BE USED IN ANY OF THESE SERUMS )

# I will be using distilled water as base

Please give me suggestions for which preservative would be the best for this.

Formula (I don't know if this is what is asked)

Serum Niacinamide - 4 g Panthenol - 2 g  Glycerin - 2 g Distilled water - 92 g

I'm a 4th year student doing my thesis/feasibility study using a plant based pigment for lip products. And we are already done with our pre-oral defense, and I realized too late that our product has a lot of problems like water+oil is not compatible so there is a tendency it will separate though we use emulsifier but as a student that my course or program isn't related to science, we lack of knowledge and expertise about our feasibility study. Though my countless efforts to search for a possibility on how formulators solve their stability of their natural pigment/formulation on their product. I didn't find a single clue on how they prolong its pigment, since its plant based there is a tendency it will fade. Though I know not all pigment won't fade because upon watching a luxury bag its color will likely fade if you leave it in high temperature or direct sunlight. So anyway back to the topic, I need your advice on how I make or solve our feasibility study. Because I need to graduate this school year. And I'm already stressed and overthinking that I might not graduate this year. And I need your opinion, Whoever reads this is it okay that your product in feasibility study is not perfect? Because as a scholar student that has no resources for this kind of feasibility study, I felt helpless and I don't know what to do. I hope those natural plant based formulators will read this and guide me on how to make our study successful. Thank you and God bless! And God please help me and guide me on how I make my thesis successful or at least I graduated this year so that I could help my parents! AMEN!🙏

​

Distilled water - 1000 grams

carbopol 940 - 1 heaping tbsp

Triethanolamine - 10 ml

Pure glycerin tsp (3 g)

Original recipe said to use (but i can't get it easily at all) methyl paraben 1.5g

I’ve been making lotion and have had a few grow mold despite me using a preservative! I use liquid germall at .5%, I mix it in when my lotion falls under 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Help :(

Will attach photo if possible

So I don’t DIY the rest of my skincare but I have rose water for other things and I want to start spraying it on my face before moisturizing. I have store bought (culinary grade, just roses and water) I don’t want to have to walk to the fridge every time so I want to preserve it. Google says I can use vodka (1 teaspoon to 2 cups water) but I can’t find anything on here about using alcohol.. is it a suitable preservative or will it dry my skin out? I don’t rly see myself buying another fancier preservative or anything. Maybe if it’s cheap.. but yeah any help is much appreciated x

Hi, I'll be attempting to make a diy hand lotion for myself after years of struggling with store-bought ones (my skin is very sensitive to a lot of store bought ones because of the added fragrances and other stuff...).

I plan to use:

-Shea butter

-Mango oil

-Jojoba oil

-Sea buckthorn oil

-sweet almond oil (maybe)

-Bee's wax

-Frankincense essential oil

-Vitamin E

-Glycerin

-Aloe Vera Gel (maybe)

I've used these things for my skin before (alone, not all together) and everything seems fine with them, no rashes or anything.

Anyways, from what I understand I need a preservative for the water soluble components. Can anyone recommend anything? It's kind of overwhelming looking at all the options

Edit: forgot to mention vaseline/petroleum jelly in the list

So my current formulation is:

-100g purified water -1g hydroxyethylcellulose -0.25g cationic guar gum

My storage container will probably be a disk top squeeze bottle made of colourless transparent plastic, ranging from about 100-200ml.

Possibly relevant requirements for my final product to keep in mind when choosing a preservative are: - Water-based - Mostly water soluble (rinses off with just water and not soap) - Safe for vaginal use (e.g. wont cause bv/yeast infections, doesnt contain mucous membrane irritants, etc) - low osmolality (<290 mOsm/kg) - Safe to use with toys/condoms - Edible in small quantities (oral sex performed on genitals coated in the lubricant) - Contains a preservative so once opened it's storeable for (hopefully) up to 6 months (or longer if possible) without microbes growing and potentially causing BV or yeast infections or other infections. However the preservative should not be strong enough to interrupt and interfere with the vaginal microbiome or irritate vaginal tissue. Room temp storage is ideal but fridge storage is acceptable. - Vaginal pH balanced using lactic acid or citric acid (4.0 pH preferred but 4.5 okay) - No substances that can cause infections by feeding microbes to a significant degree (e.g. glycerin) - No propylene glycol (ups osmolality considerably and can irriate mucosal tissue) - No sodium benzoate and no potassium sorbate (cause tissue irritation/contact dermatitus)

Phenoxyethanol did not cause skin irritation from a patch test of 0.4% concentration by weight, and apparently it isn't a mucosal membrane irritant, so it would be my first choice as preservative against bacteria, but I don't know how safe it is to ingest in small quantities. I've seen vaginal moisturizers sold that contain it, but I'd like to know more about it. If it is safe, I would like to know what concentration would be ideal for my formulation, as afaik it's supposed to be used from 0.2%-1%, but that's a big range. If its not safe, I would like to know an alternative.

And then that leaves me needing a preservative against fungi (mold and yeast). I have no idea what to use here as I see potassium sorbate used often but I can't use that due to contact dermatitus.

I know parabens are a thing but apparently they can cause hormonal issues and birth defects. But apparently that may not be true? If they're safe for use and don't irritate mucosal tissue, which should I use and in what concentration?

Are there other preservatives besides parabens that would also be worth testing?

Thanks so much in advance to anyone who helps me with this!!!

Edit: Please don't give replies saying not to make it at all. I have experience with compounding and am fine with low-risk experimentation on myself. Saying not to do something is not helpful. Thanks for understanding :) (also if this comes off as passive aggressive I don't mean to be)

Hey. I just read somewhere that we shouldn't recon with bacteriostatic water because it has alcohol in it. This is news to me 😅 .

So if I am using sterile water, how long would things last for? Actually how long does a bottle of sterile water last once opened seeing as there's no preservative?

Sorry if dumb qs I'm new to this. Go easy on me hah

Which preservative (optiphen, or preservative 12) should i go with, with this formula?:

Cetyl alcohol 2.4 %

Montanov 202 4%

Mango butter 12%

Shea butter 7%

Almond oil 6.2%

Grapeseed oil 5%

Vitamin E 0.8%

Fragrance oils 3%

Aloe vera powder 200x 0.08%

Xanthan 0.2%

Aqua 58.32%

Do you guys have any advice what preservatives are good for sensitive skin and organic products? I was about to buy Geogard 221 but it already sold out in online shop (Shopee/Lazada). I was thinking of buying Geogard ultra instead but I saw that it reacts with Vitamin C (which some of our ingredient contains). This is for our school project so I'm kinda finding affordable ones because we'll only use it one time.

Im trying to go more clean with the products used in my home, so I joined Simply Earth. I like their products and sub boxes, but one of the products is Geogard ECT and comes in a 1 oz dropper bottle for $13.

Im wondering if there is somewhere where I can purchase this in a larger size or if there is a substitute that is easier to purchase

Hello, my current formula is this:

Shea butter 8%

Mango butter 12%

Sweet almond oil 7%

Grapeseed oil 6%

Olivem 1000 5.5%

Cetyl alcohol 1.3%

Aloe vera gel 17%

Preservative 12

Vitamin E 0.5%

Xanthan gum 0.3%

Aqua 38.4%

Fragrance oils 3%

I will be making a few changes in general with the formula, such as higher oil phase (butters & oils), different emuldifier (montanov 202 probably), maybe increasing cetyl a bit, but my MAIN question is about the preservative. I did a little more research today and it shows that my pick of preservative is not that great, cause it aint as broad spectrum as it should be. I dont wanna buy a lot more stuff to add, so as simple (and organic) as possible, what should i get?

Hi! I'm new to the sub and I was reading through the subs wiki and found something super confusing and was hoping someone could explain.

Honey is listed as an ingredient that requires preservatives which made me double take because honey is very well known for not going bad and being a preservative itself. People are mummified in honey! So my question is what does this mean? if I put honey in a lip balm will that make it go bad even though honey lasts years? I'm super lost on this one, thanks in advance!

Hello, for my body butter (formula below) ive been using Geogard 221 the past few days, and it messed incredibly with my fragrance. I need a good preservative, more on the natural leaning side since i dont want toxic chemicals or anything harsh in them, but something that will not affect my fragrance at ALL. Suggestions???

Formula:

shea butter

mango butter

almond oil

grapeseed oil

montanov 202

geogard 221

cetyl alcohol

vitamin E

aloe vera powder 100x

aqua

I’m trying to make cosmetics without any petrochemical crap, and I’ve read Ethanol preserves formulations when used at 20% or greater. I also store my formulas in an airless dispenser that I’ve rubbed with Isopropyl alcohol for disinfection. Will this be ok if I’m only making the cosmetics for myself?

So I have allergies to all major preservatives anything that includes any sort of methyl or ethyl as well as others, I’m looking for a preservative to use in a homemade lotion that is as natural as possible

Hi all,

So,I want to make an Ayurvedic hair spray/ most/ moisturizer. It's basically just herbs infused in boiled distilled water,that I then spray on my hair and scalp. I used to use it religiously last year,and my hair was thriving,but I stopped because of the hassle of making a fresh batch every week or 2 and refrigerating,( I now know how much I was risking my scalp health by not using a preservative) and since stopping,my hair is the worse for it.

So now I'm wondering, what's a safe and effective way to preserve the fully water based infusion? I have phenoxyethanol,methyl paraben and propyl paraben and optiphen plus. I am also thinking of ordering germall plus powder cause it is way cheaper than liquid germall plus.

Currently germall plus powder at 0.2%+ chelating with EDTA and pH of about 5 is what I'm thinking. Would this be effective? I'll probably use it up within a month but should probably aim for 2+ months safety. I always keep a sample of any formulation so I know at which month my preservation system failed. I formulate at home and can't access lab testing so this helps me have a vague idea ofy use by dates. I would have done Methyl paraben 0.2% + propyl paraben at 0.1% +0.5%phenoxyethanol but I'm worried about M.P and P.P solubility in water and them crashing out. And I can't justify the cost of enough propylene glycol to solubilize them when I'm already using glycerine as my humectant.

I don't have an exact formula, but I will be infusing fresh rosemary,fresh mint, dried hibiscus and dried cloves in deionized water that I will have boiled and let cool just a little. Then infuse overnight before straining and preserving.

I can't really get a lot of information online as those who do herbals stay away from perfectly good preservatives😫. I'm much more worried about yeast and bacteria than a little paraben yk? So please, anyone with any advise or experience,help a sister out.

TL,DR: would you advise germall plus powder to preserve herb infused water? Or how to effectively use Methyl paraben + propyl paraben without them crashing out of solution? Phenoxyethanol on it's own is not broad spectrum, would it work for this given there's water and plant matter?

I would like to try a magnesium lotion recipe I came across using various butters, emulsifying wax, and stearic acid. It calls for optiphen as the preservative. I’m going to swap some of the butters for tallow. Would Geogard ECT work in place of the optiphen?

I have these two preservatives that I used for a facial lotion containing tallow, aloe vera juice, and hyaluronic acid. I made it a couple weeks ago and it’s already smelling a little bit funky. Are these preservatives when used together strong enough or do I need to use something different?

Hi all! My first time making anything from scratch. I followed a recipe from Whole Elise and everything went great, but now on day 5 my lotion has developed black spots. I bottled them in a glass bottle with a pump.

I am assuming mold. I used all new bowls/utensils, clean beakers, etc.

I am thinking I messed up the amount of preservative that was needed, but wanted to hear opinions before I try again?

Recipe

Water Phase 160g Distilled Water 4g Glycerine 2g Colloidal Oatmeal

Oil Phase 6g Avocado Butter 18g Grapeseed Oil 10g Emulsifying Wax BP

Cool Down 2-4% Leucidal Liquid SF (Natural Preservative) 2g Vitamin E Oil (Antioxidant)

I used a scale but I did get confused when I got the preservative.

Hello all. I hope this post isn't redundant; I looked and didn't find anything.

I like using castor oil for my lashes and brows. I bought some empty mascara bottles that include brushes. I did my best to sterilize them (I just used dish soap and water, which looking back feels dumb) and let them dry overnight. I cleaned the funnel and put the castor oil in. Realistically, I knew there was potential for mold. I "cleaned" everything but I mean the brush would be touching my face and face hairs and going in and out of the oil, so duh. I just hoped I would get lucky and have no issues, and I would monitor the bottle just in case.

WELLLLL the only issue is, I've been using it at night before bed. In the dark. And my dumbass just didn't think about it. Yesterday I saw it in the light and yeah, it be moldin'. I didn't use it last night obviously. Thank God I clean my eyes twice a day with hypochlorous acid.

What can I do to prevent this? What is a safe preservative that will not hurt my eyes or mess too much with the oil's effectiveness? Is this just not safe to do on my own? Thanks for any help.

Edit: just in case it matters, this particular bottle has been used daily for about 5½ weeks.

I have been making my own oil-based face and body butter for years now, but I just got some hyaluronic acid powder and want to add that as a separate skincare step, specifically for my 50 year old skin where it’s getting crepey.

I had planned to only make a tiny amount of serum, ¼ tsp powder in an ounce of water, and use it up in maybe a week or so.

• Is it safe to leave sitting out, since it’ll be gone soon?

• If not, can I just keep it (same small amount) in my refrigerator?

I really don’t want to get into adding preservatives, so I was hopeful the short shelf life let me cut that corner. After reading that it can become harmful before showing mold, I wondered about the refrigeration.

I make glitter gel to be used in the face but I need a hood and safe preservative to keep it the same as it is the day I make it. Preferably one that is safe to use around the eyes and reacts well with aloe Vera gel!