[Damode]

Since you have clay in your recipe, try phenop @0,5 -  1%
Keep temp less than 200degre
But
If your clay percentage is minute
Use optiphen ND @ 1%
Temp at 176 degree Fahrenheit 

Honestly,preservative is determinant of the percentage of your active materials
E. G if water is in higher percentage 
Optiphen plus is your primary option
Or look for effective gram+ and gram- combo
Or
Cosult an in-house formulators

[Damode]

 Phenoxyethanol (and) Caprylyl Glycol (and) Sorbic Acid (what optiphen plus consists of) added separately on ingredients lists, would these be in equal ratios 1:1:1, meaning would it be better to purchase separately and add 33.333% of each
together?

The three cannot give you a reversible reaction, meaning adding three separately cannot have the same activity level as optiphen plus

Sourcing for alternative prevative is dependent on your constituent, but you are not presenting that here

[Damode]

In most cases, labels are not detail E. G I’m using licorice root extract, instead of writing just that, I write the lab content of licorice (vitamin A, amino acid), adding all the lab breakdown of licorice is not the same as adding licorice. Label can only guide you but might not take you to destination.
If you don’t know how to start fresh formula, please consult a in-house formulator, we have them in this forum

[Damode]

Aloe vera juice is not a preservative neither vit E, the later is just to keep your oil and butter blend from rancidity, single phase is better, you will face some complexity in multiple phase 

[Damode]

What about formulating measurements, it’s essential for you to get quality solution

[Damode]

Sometime, food rich in fatty acid can be a culprit, life style is a major concern in acne prone skin

[Damode]

What type of clay, clay differs in attributes when formulating

[Damode]

I’m DAMODE, I studies applied physics as first degree, currently working in technology Incubation and had been in cosmetics for the past five years producing lotion, scrub, African black soap base on request and customer skin needs, I look forward learning more from this forum and contributing if need be.