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Ingredients list and preservatives
Hello everyone,
I hope you’re all doing well during this time.
I am currently working on some lotion and was looking to add an extract, but I noticed that the extract is preserved with Potassium Sorbate and Sodium Benzoate. I am currently using Optiphen Plus (phenoxyethanol, caprylyl glycol, and sorbic acid) as my preservative for the lotion.My question is what effects, if any, will combining these preservatives have? Also, if I were to create an ingredients list, will I also have to list the preservatives from the extract?Many thanks,Sasse
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4 Replies
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Even if you plan to use the extract at a couple percent, the preservatives are only in the extract at 1% tops themselves. So your final concentration of those preservatives will be negligible.
As for labeling, here’s what the FDA says about ‘incidental ingredients’
Definition:
Any processing aid added and removed or converted to a declared ingredient
or
Any ingredient of another ingredient or processing aid present at an insignificant level and having no technical or functional effectNeed not be declared
A substance added to a cosmetic as a component of a cosmetic ingredient and having no technical or functional effect in the finished cosmetic. Example: Preservative of a raw material added to a cosmetic as an ingredient at a concentration which reduces the preservative to a level at which it is no longer effective. -
@EVchem - I don’t exactly agree with this position. The company I worked for took the position (and I agree) that if you know an ingredient is added to a raw material, it should be included in your list of ingredients.
Incidental ingredients are things that are not purposefully added to a raw material (e.g. 1,4 dioxane when making ethoxylated materials). You don’t have to list residual ingredients but you should list anything that is added on purpose.
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Depends probably on the regulations of the country you’re selling.Here around, if it’s known to be present, then it has to be listed. Although, this is likely ignored by some. -
Thank you all so much for taking the time to comment! I’ve learned a lot.
I will just go ahead and find extracts that are preserved with some of the ingredients in my main preservative so I won’t have to list extra preservatives. I think this will be the best option.
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