Preservative for Water-Free Lip Balm with Honey
Asked by: kixz_zy
On: August 29, 2016
Product Type:
Cosmetics
Question
For a water-free lip balm formulation containing honey, is a preservative necessary? I understand honey has natural properties and I plan to use Vitamin E. However, the product will be packaged in a jar and applied with fingers. Will this application method introduce contamination requiring a preservative? If so, what mild preservative is recommended and at what percentage?
Answer
Regarding making lip balm with honey:
- Spoilage: Honey itself is resistant to microbial growth, especially in a water-free formula. So, the honey ingredient itself is unlikely to cause the lip balm to spoil easily, provided no water is introduced.
- Preservative: Even in a water-free formula, if the lip balm is packaged in a jar and applied with fingers, there is a risk of introducing microbes from the fingers into the product. Therefore, it is recommended to use a mild preservative.
- Recommended Preservative: Mild Preserved Eco (Ethylhexylglycerin + Caprylyl Glycol) is recommended at a concentration of 0.5-1.0%.
- Vitamin E: Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant, which helps prevent the oils in the lip balm from going rancid, but it does not prevent microbial growth like a preservative does.
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