Preservative Recommendation for Lip Balm

For your lip balm formula containing Coconut Oil (47%), Beeswax (30%), Shea Butter (20%), and Cocoa Powder (3%), while oil-based products are less prone to bacterial growth than water-based ones, they can still be susceptible to contamination from mold, yeast, and potentially bacteria introduced during use (e.g., from fingers). Therefore, adding a preservative is a good practice to ensure product stability and hygiene.

Based on your formula which is primarily oil-based, you need a preservative that can be effectively dispersed in oil.

Mild Preserved Eco™ is a suitable choice for your lip balm. It can be dispersed in oil-based formulas like lip balm by blending it with the oil phase. The recommended usage rate for general cosmetic formulas is 1.0-1.5%. Using it at 1% as suggested in the staff reply is within the effective range.

Another suitable option that can be dispersed in oil is Mild Preserved SC10™, also typically used at 1.0-1.5%.

To ensure the safety and stability of your specific formula, especially if producing for sale, it is highly recommended to perform a challenge test to confirm the preservative's effectiveness against a broad spectrum of microorganisms under real-world conditions.