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I recently got molds on a formula that worked before
Hello. I am making a DIY body butter formula for my sister’s eczema. This formula has worked for more than a year but I started getting molds from the batches I made since November.
Heated Water Phase: Distilled Water, Glycerin
Heated Oil Phase: Colloidal Oatmeal, Glyceryl Stearate & PEG-100 Stearate, Coconut Oil, Sunflower Oil, Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, isopropyl myristate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Aloe Vera Powder
Cooldown Phase: Cyclomethicone, Liquid Germall Plus (0.5% of the total solution), Vitamin E, Allantoin
I add the Liquid Germall plus at around 40°C (104°F) with ph of 6 to 6.5. I store it in a jar container.
I observe mold growth after around 12 days of making it. Not all jars from the same batch have mold growth.
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6 Replies
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Numerous ways to address this….
1) Add a chelate…this really helps with mold.
2) Add some propanediol and pentylene glycol…will make it a better formula…and give extra hurdles.
3) add a preservative that specializes in mold…above and beyond what you have.
3) What the heck is the pH doing that high? (Hello lactic acid!)
4) OMG…lose some of the bug food. Lose the aloe…and replace the oat stuff with beta glucan. There are no known preservatives that will not fail….when pushed over the edge. Give your preservative a little help, and it will treat you right.
Good luck.
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Thanks! Can I use the Potassium Sorbate and Sodium Benzoate with the rest of the ingredients? I read they’re good for mold but I’m not sure if there will be any untoward interactions with the ingredients I’m currently using. It’s difficult to find beta glucan from where I live, are there any other alternatives. And for the ph, I just I can just leave it at around 6. lol. It will be my first time using buffers.
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From what you describe, saying “Not all jars from the same batch have mold growth,” suggests it may not be a batch issue but could be something related to individual jars becoming contaminated. I would investigate the potential causes.
With your sister having eczema, adding propanediol, pentylene glycol and additional preservatives (Potassium Sorbate and Sodium Benzoate) will aggravate her eczema. Better to make the batch, dispense it into jars, and keep it in the fridge.
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What were challenge test data vs Aspergillus brasiliensis? Or are are you testing?
What is pH?
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Sorry -see you did note pH and application. Don’t think organic acids will help.
As noted aloe and oatmeal (your therapeutic actives?) are working against you as well as order of addition and apparent absence of RM qualification/finished product testing. With such rapid mold development, wonder if bacteria contamination as well.
I appreciate your desire to help you sister but, considering potential infection of psoriatic skin, do not think you have the resources and knowledge necessary to offer a safe product beyond short refrigerated shelf life.
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Potassium sorbate is not good for eczema, trust me… or better still, let your sister test and tell us what she says, haha.
Also if you want to use pot sor you’ll need lower ph like 4-4.5 for efficacy.
Could be jar contamination or incomplete mixing.
Can consider refrigerating and only using for one week or two.
That’s what I do sometimes for my super sensitive skin.
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