Why Preservatives Matter in Skincare
When it comes to skincare, there’s often a lot of debate around preservatives. Many of us prefer natural, preservative-free products to avoid synthetic ingredients. However, preservatives play an essential role in ensuring the safety and longevity of certain skincare formulations—especially those containing water. At Evasha Skin, I take pride in using only skin safe preservatives when needed. Let’s explore why preservatives are important, what broad-spectrum protection means, and how I prioritize skin safety in my products.
What Are Preservatives and Why Do We Need Them?
Preservatives are ingredients that help prevent the growth of harmful bacteria, mold, and yeast in skincare products, especially those that contain water. Water-based products like lotions and creams are particularly susceptible to contamination, making preservatives necessary to protect the product—and your skin.
In fact, without preservatives, water-based products could spoil quickly, leading to irritation, infections, or worse. While my body butter and oil-based products are naturally preservative-free due to their lack of water, my body cream contains a preservative to ensure safety and effectiveness.
My Preservative of Choice
For my body cream, I’ve chosen Optiphen Plus, a broad-spectrum preservative that offers excellent protection against bacteria, yeast, and mold. This is the first preservative I’ve worked with and its performed well over the years. Let’s explore what broad-spectrum means and take a closer look at the ingredients that make up Optiphen Plus to understand why it's such an effective and safe preservative.
What Does Broad-Spectrum Protection Mean?
Broad-spectrum protection refers to a preservative's ability to defend against a wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria, yeast, and mold. In a product containing water, like my body cream, it's important to protect against all of these potential threats because water can become a breeding ground for harmful contaminants. A broad-spectrum preservative like Optiphen Plus ensures that your product stays fresh, safe, and free of unwanted bacteria or mold for longer periods.
What Is Optiphen Plus Made Of?
Optiphen Plus is made of three key ingredients that work together to provide strong, broad-spectrum protection while remaining gentle on the skin. These ingredients are:
Phenoxyethanol
Caprylyl Glycol
Sorbic Acid
Each of these ingredients plays a specific role in preserving your skincare product and ensuring that it remains safe and effective.
Breaking Down Optiphen Plus: Ingredients and Their Role
1. Phenoxyethanol
What It Is: Phenoxyethanol is a synthetic compound that is widely used in cosmetics and personal care products. It’s a glycol ether, which acts as an effective antibacterial agent.
Where It Comes From: Although it is synthetically produced, phenoxyethanol can also be found naturally in green tea.
Why It Works: As an antimicrobial, phenoxyethanol helps to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria in your body cream. Its broad-spectrum properties make it effective against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. It is also safe for use at low concentrations (usually between 0.5-1%).
2. Caprylyl Glycol
What It Is: Caprylyl glycol is a naturally derived emollient and humectant that also acts as a mild antimicrobialagent.
Where It Comes From: This ingredient is typically derived from coconut or palm oil.
Why It Works: Caprylyl glycol works in conjunction with phenoxyethanol to boost the preservative system's effectiveness. It inhibits the growth of yeast and mold, while also keeping the skin moisturized and smooth due to its humectant properties. It is known for being non-irritating and beneficial for skin hydration.
3. Sorbic Acid
What It Is: Sorbic acid is an organic compound used primarily as a mold inhibitor in both food and cosmetics.
Where It Comes From: Sorbic acid occurs naturally in the rowan berry but is synthetically produced for commercial use.
Why It Works: This ingredient helps prevent the growth of fungi, such as mold and yeast, which can flourish in water-based products. It is a key component of broad-spectrum preservation, ensuring that products like my body cream remain stable and free from contamination.
Why Optiphen Plus Is a Safer Choice
Optiphen Plus stands out because it is paraben-free and formaldehyde-free, two types of preservatives that are often avoided due to their potential health concerns. Instead, the combination of phenoxyethanol, caprylyl glycol, and sorbic acid provides a safer and gentler approach to preserving skincare products.
Why I Use Optiphen Plus in My Body Cream
Water Content: My body cream includes distilled water, which is a key hydrating ingredient. However, any product with water provides the perfect environment for bacterial growth without proper preservation. That’s why using a preservative like Optiphen Plus is non-negotiable for safety and quality.
Longer Shelf Life: With a preservative, my body cream stays safe and effective for months after opening, allowing you to enjoy the nourishing benefits without worry.
Natural and Ecocert-Approved Preservatives in Skincare
At Evasha Skin, I believe in transparency and using only high-quality, safe ingredients. While some products don’t require preservatives, those that do must be protected without compromising on natural integrity. Here are a few other natural preservatives and Ecocert-approved options I love:
1. Leucidal Liquid: Derived from fermented radish root, this natural preservative is often used in water-based formulations for its antibacterial properties.
2. Geogard ECT: A popular Ecocert-approved preservative, Geogard ECT offers broad-spectrum protection and is commonly used in organic skincare. It combines dehydro acetic acid and benzyl alcohol.
3. Potassium Sorbate: A mild, natural preservative often used in conjunction with others for broad-spectrum protection. It’s gentle on the skin and approved for natural formulations.
4. Sodium Benzoate: This is another Ecocert-approved preservative, often used in conjunction with potassium sorbate to extend the shelf life of water-containing products.
Why Vitamin E Oil Is Not a Preservative
A common misconception in the skincare world is that Vitamin E oil acts as a preservative. While it’s a fantastic antioxidant that helps extend the shelf life of oil-based products by preventing them from going rancid, it does not protect against bacteria, mold, or yeast. This is why oil-based products may still remain preservative-free, but water-based products like my body cream require a more robust solution.
Choosing Safety Without Compromise
At Evasha Skin, I’m committed to creating natural, effective skincare products that prioritize both your skin’s health and the safety of the formulas. While most of my products are preservative-free, my body cream uses a preservative to ensure long-lasting safety and broad-spectrum protection. Rest assured, the preservative choices I make are always with your skin's well-being in mind. As I continue to evolve my product line, I plan to transition to a preservative like Leucidal Liquid, which is derived from fermented radish root and is a natural, plant-based option. This will help me maintain the use of ALL-natural ingredients across my product range, further aligning with my mission of offering safe, nourishing, and eco-friendly skincare.
DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this blog post is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical or professional advice. While I strive to use safe, natural ingredients in my products, individual results may vary, and skin sensitivities can differ. Always perform a patch test before using new skincare products, and consult with a dermatologist or healthcare professional if you have any concerns or conditions. Please note that while I share my experiences and knowledge, this information is based on my personal research and product development. For specific questions regarding ingredient safety or skin conditions, professional advice should be sought.
