Preservative - Chemists Corner

Formulating

Preservative

Posted by mktan54 on July 23, 2015 at 1:57 am

Hi All!!

I am Michelle. Would like to ask what kind of preservative that is suitable for hair gels, as it needs to be clear. Below are the list of the preservative that i have tried.

Preservatives:-

1) Methylisothiazolinone (Microcare MT)

2) Phenoxyethanol & Ethylhexylglycerin (Microcare PEHG)

3) Ethylhexylglycerin & 1,3-Propanediol (Saliguard EZ)

Main Ingredient:-

Carbomer

Polysorbate 20 - 1.5%

Denatured alcohol

PVP - 1%

Methylisothiazolinone after 3mths stability it is still very clear however my client would like to avoid this preservative.
For Phenoxyethanol & Ethylhexylglycerin by week 3 or 4 into the stability (Room and 45C temp) it starts to become blur.
Ethylhexylglycerin & 1,3-Propanediol, it pass the 3 mth stabiltiy testing but once i leave it (both room and 45C stability samples) at room temperature for another 3 mths we found that it becomes blur.

Should i increase the solubilizer? Any other preservative that is good with clear products? Or that i can give it a try?
Thank you!
Bill_Toge replied 8 years, 9 months ago 5 Members · 14 Replies
14 Replies

OldPerry

Member
July 23, 2015 at 1:36 pm

A blend of DMDM Hydantoin & Methylparaben would work great.
mktan54

Member
July 27, 2015 at 3:15 am

We are eliminating those preservative now. Our client do not want any paraben or DMDMH in the ingredient.. that is why i am having a hard time.
OldPerry

Member
July 27, 2015 at 5:39 pm

What % level of the preservatives have you tried?

Microcare PEHG should work if you use it at a high enough level.

Also, have you micro tested the hazy samples to see if you are having a micro problem?
mktan54

Member
July 28, 2015 at 2:10 am

@Perry
PEHG using at 0.6% and 0.8%, did challenge test it passed for both. Check again on the micro test there was no count.
OldPerry

Member
July 28, 2015 at 4:56 pm

Well, it doesn’t sound like a preservation problem then. You didn’t list fragrance as an ingredient. Is that something you are using? Or maybe your supply of PVP or Polyquat 11 is not a high enough quality.
Chemist77

Member
July 29, 2015 at 1:06 am

Sometimes the order of addition of PVP & Polquats to carbomer can make a difference. Are you adding before or after neutralization??
mktan54

Member
July 29, 2015 at 9:21 am

@Perry
Yes i am using fragrance, i solubilize it with polysorbate 20. I am thinking of increasing the solubilizer?

@Chemist77
Really? i was wondering if my sequence would play a role. I put my PVP & PQ11 after neutralization. I notice my other blends if i dont neutralize it first it will produce some white lumps. I am suppose to put it before or after?
Thank you.
Chemist77

Member
July 29, 2015 at 10:26 am

Yeah it has to be post neutralization.
David

Member
July 29, 2015 at 2:42 pm

First you need to make a test without the fragrance.
OldPerry

Member
July 30, 2015 at 1:21 am

It’s most likely a fragrance issue. Maybe Polysorbate 20 will not be suitable. You could try Oleth 40 or Polysorbate 80 or something else.

But like @David said, you need to test your formula without fragrance to determine whether that is the problem. It most likely is.
mktan54

Member
July 30, 2015 at 5:39 am

@David @Perry

Ok i will try it out! Thank you!
Bill_Toge

Member
July 30, 2015 at 11:45 am

for what it’s worth: both phenoxyethanol and ethylhexylglycerin have low solubility in water, and are better suited to creams and emulsions rather than clear gels
mktan54

Member
July 31, 2015 at 2:10 am

@Bill_Toge
Oh, ok, thanks for the info! I didnt know that! Can you recommend any other preservative that is good for clear gel? Other than Methylisothiazolinone and Methylchloroisothiazolinone.
Bill_Toge

Member
July 31, 2015 at 8:35 pm

@mktan54 try Liquid Germall Plus (INCI: Propylene Glycol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate)

Polyquaternium-11 - 5%