23/07/2023
General and Technical Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Preservatives in Cosmetics
1. What are preservatives?
Preservatives are ingredients/substances that have the ability to prevent or decrease microbial growth
in a cosmetic. Preservatives protect products from contamination of microorganisms, like bacteria and
fungi, during storage and use by the consumer. They can prolong the shelf-life of cosmetic products.
2. Why are preservatives needed in cosmetics?
Preservatives are present in cosmetics to reduce the risk of microbial contamination of the product
and to ensure the product remains suitable and safe during shelf-life and the period of their use by
consumers. Without the use of preservatives, cosmetic products - just like food and other products
handled directly by consumers - can become contaminated with microorganisms, leading to product
spoilage, loss of product performance, and possibly irritation, infections or other adverse health reactions to the consumer.
Cosmetics stipulates that no pathogenic bacteria (like Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) should be detected in the product. Once the pathogenic bacteria appear, it will not only affect the appearance and smell, but also cause inflammation, contact dermatitis or eczema in the contact. So preservatives are actually an essential part of the product.
But everything has two sides. Preservatives can prevent the growth of bacteria, but if preservatives with prohibited ingredients are used, they will cause damage to the skin. Commonly used preservatives are paraben preservatives, which include methylparaben, ethyl, propyl, butyl, isopropyl, isobutyl, benzyl and salts. According to the order of A, B, C, D, the higher the front, the higher the safety factor, and the lower the back, the better the anti-corrosion effect. Methyl ester and ethyl ester are safe at a limited concentration. Propyl ester and butyl ester are ingredients that should be used with caution, and will be banned in the future. In order to achieve the purpose of testing "qualified", some businesses blindly pursue anti-corrosion effects and take risks and choose later ingredients. These cautionary prohibited ingredients preservatives can cause contact dermatitis and eczema if used improperly.
