Preservation in Water Essence Formulations

Regarding your question about making these water essence formulations without adding any preservatives:

Neither of the formulations you provided can be considered truly "preservative-free" because the main active blends already contain ingredients that provide antimicrobial protection necessary for product stability and safety.

1. Formulation 1:

   • This formulation uses 96% of the blend containing Bifida Ferment Filtrate, 1,2-Hexanediol, and Hydroxyacetophenone (likely referring to a product like Bifida Repair Complex™).
   • According to the product information, this blend is preserved by ingredients such as 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, and Tropolone.
   • Therefore, the final formulation does contain a preservation system provided by this blend. The 4% Galactooligosaccharide (GOS), which is a sugar and prone to microbial growth in water, will be protected by this system.

2. Formulation 2:

   • This formulation uses 90% of the blend containing Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, 1,2-Hexanediol, and Hydroxyacetophenone (likely referring to a product like MYFerment™ Balance).
   • While this blend may be marketed as free from traditional preservatives, its INCI name lists 1,2-Hexanediol and Hydroxyacetophenone.
   • 1,2-Hexanediol is known for its ability to fight germs and act as a preservative booster. Hydroxyacetophenone also functions as a preservative booster.
   • These ingredients provide the necessary antimicrobial stability for the formulation, including the 10% Hydro Gel (Biosaccharide Gum-1), which would otherwise require preservation in a water-based product.

In summary, while you may not be adding additional preservatives separately, the key ingredients you are using already contain components that function to protect the formulations from microbial contamination. It is crucial to perform challenge testing on your final formulations to ensure their safety and stability over time.