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Natural Preservatives
I’m working on a completely naturally derived shampoo and conditioner bar. It’s mostly anhydrous but because they come into contact with water, it’s recommended to add a preservative. It seems that there are no completely natural broad spectrum preservatives on the market (I disagree that Optiphen Plus is natural). However, I have some Leucidal Liquid, Aspen bark extract, glycerin, and sorbic acid that I’d like to experiment with. The pH of the bars will be around 5.
I’m not a professional so my question is, does anyone have any experience with working with these preservatives or other natural preservatives, and if so, do you have any recommendations for using them in a shampoo or conditioner bar?
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2 Replies
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With no actual knowledge of your formula, and what may be present to bind water, if you have a water activity so low as to be almost nil, why bother with a preservative at all? How can this “mostly anhydrous bar” have a pH, come to think of it?
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Thanks for responding! The only ingredients that are soluble in water in the shampoo bar are glycerin at 2% and a clay powder for color at 1%. The only ingredients soluble in water in the conditioner bar are honeyquat (Hydroxypropyltrimonium Honey) at 4%, bamboo bioferment (Lactobacillus/Arundinaria gigantea Ferment Filtrate) at 8% and 1% clay powder.
I suppose the shampoo bar might not need a preservative but I’ve read in several forums that because shampoo and conditioner bars come into contact with water they need one and I’ve heard of a few cases of bars without proper drainage molding over.
Wouldn’t a product still have a pH if it even has a few ingredients soluble in water? Both bars tested around 5 when I checked with my meter though I haven’t yet learned how to professionally test the pH for more accurate results.
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