How to Use NaturePreserve™ Ultra Preservative in Cream
Question
I have a cream formula and want to use NaturePreserve™ Ultra (Gluconolactone & Sodium Benzoate) as a preservative. It is a powder ingredient. How should I incorporate it into my cream formula? Specifically, do I need to dissolve the powder in a separate amount of water before adding it, or can I dissolve it directly in the water phase of my cream formula? What should I do if my cream formula is anhydrous (contains no water)?
Answer
How to Use NaturePreserve™ Ultra in Cream
Based on the product information for NaturePreserve™ Ultra (Gluconolactone & Sodium Benzoate), it is a powder that is soluble in water and should be mixed into the water phase of your formula.
If you are making 100g of cream and using 2g of NaturePreserve™ Ultra (which is a 2% usage rate, within the recommended range of 0.75-2.0%), you should dissolve this 2g of powder directly into the water portion that is already part of your 100g cream formula.
You do not need to add a separate, specific amount of water just to dissolve the NaturePreserve™. The amount of water needed for dissolution is simply the amount of water present in your cream formula. Ensure that your formula contains a water phase for the NaturePreserve™ to dissolve into.
If your cream formula is anhydrous (contains no water), then NaturePreserve™ Ultra is not suitable, as it requires a water phase for dissolution. In that case, you would need to select a different preservative compatible with oil-based systems.
