Preservative - Chemists Corner

Formulating

Preservative

Posted by braveheart on February 12, 2015 at 6:24 pm

I am about to test this combination as a preservative for a body cream:

Potassium Sorbate 1%

Xylitol 1%

Farnesol 0.5%

Phytic acid (IP6) 0.3%

Clove Oil (Eugenia Caryophyllus) 0.2%

What do you think or suggest?

braveheart replied 9 years, 11 months ago 5 Members · 11 Replies
11 Replies

belassi

Member
February 12, 2015 at 11:37 pm

You’re in unknown territory. You will have to challenge test it repeatedly until it fails.
MarkBroussard

Member
February 12, 2015 at 11:43 pm

That’s a relatively high percentage of Potassium Sorbate which can be a skin irritant and cause a flushing reaction in some people. I would recommend that you make a batch at 1% and test it on yourself and few people.
braveheart

Member
February 13, 2015 at 3:06 am

Thanks for the suggestions.
braveheart

Member
February 13, 2015 at 3:12 am

Actually, I am trying to create an alternative to this Ecocert preservative:

Benzyl Alcohol, Salicylic Acid, Glycerine, Sorbic Acid, which is a broad spectrum.
belassi

Member
February 13, 2015 at 3:16 am

Glycerine isn’t a preservative.
Lara

Member
February 13, 2015 at 5:21 am

Ive read recently that glycerin is a preservative enhancer as it is a glycol. Is this right?
belassi

Member
February 13, 2015 at 6:58 am

Some would like to believe that. I don’t. Pretty dubious using salicylic acid too, it is regarded as a therapeutic i.e. anti-acne etc. I would have thought. There are perfectly effective preservatives available that qualify as entitrely natural under European regulations.
Bill_Toge

Member
February 13, 2015 at 8:02 am

@Lara, glycerine is a 1,2,3-triol rather than a glycol, and as @Belassi said, it is not antimicrobial in itself; however, it can be used to reduce the available water and hinder microbial growth

(the catch: you have to use it at 40-50% w/w or higher for it to have any significant effect)

on the other hand, 1,2-diols (propylene, pentylene, caprylyl glycol etc.) DO show some antimicrobial activity, which increases with the length of the carbon chain
braveheart

Member
February 13, 2015 at 8:28 am

I found it here;

I think the actual actives in it are the benzyl alcohol and sorbic acid.
MarkBroussard

Member
February 13, 2015 at 12:50 pm

Benzyl Alcohol, Sorbic Acid and Salicylic Acid all have antimicrobial effects.

If you want to make your own preservative alternative to this you might try:

Benzyl Alchol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Willow Bark Extract and Sodium Levulinate in 1,3-Propanediol.

But, why take a chance making you’re own unproven preservative combination to begin with? …. scratching head.
braveheart

Member
February 13, 2015 at 2:51 pm

I think it became an obsession after over-ordered potassium sorbate and xylitol and not wanting them to waste.

I guess I should just let it go!