Pre-mixing Water with Preservative

Yes, you can pre-mix water with a suitable preservative and store it for later use in your skincare formulations. This is a convenient way to prepare your water phase.

As recommended by the staff, if the preservative you regularly use is water-soluble, you can dissolve it in water beforehand. A good option is Phenoxyethanol SA (eq. Optiphen Plus).

• Recommended Usage: You can prepare a stock solution by mixing Phenoxyethanol SA at 1% concentration in water.
• How to Use: When you make your cosmetic formulation, use this pre-mixed water containing the preservative as your water phase. You do not need to add additional preservative to your final formula.
• Storage: According to the product information for Phenoxyethanol SA, the product has a minimum shelf life of 2 years when stored at room temperature, with the bottle cap tightly closed and protected from sunlight or heat. Storing at low temperatures may cause sediment, which can be dissolved by warming. The color may also darken over time or with light exposure, but this does not necessarily affect its efficacy if stored correctly.

By preparing this pre-mixture, you can simplify your formulation process for small batches.