Preservative Requirement for Water-Based Formula

Asked by: knndott On: January 20, 2020 Product Type: Cosmetics

Question

Based on the following formula, is it true that a preservative is not needed?

  • Water: 71%
  • Shea butter ultra soft: 5%
  • Sweet Almond Oil: 5%
  • Vitamin B5: 3%
  • MOIST72: 3%
  • WaterLock: 2%
  • Repair Activator: 10%
  • Light Cream Maker™: 1%

Answer

Based on the provided formula, which contains a high percentage of water (71%), a preservative is generally necessary.

Cosmetic formulations with water as a primary component are highly susceptible to microbial growth (bacteria, mold, yeast), which can lead to product spoilage, instability, and potential health risks.

The list of ingredients provided does not appear to include a broad-spectrum preservative sufficient to protect a water-based formula from contamination.

Therefore, for the safety and shelf life of the product, it is highly recommended to add a suitable preservative to this formula. You should choose the type of preservative and its usage rate according to the manufacturer's recommendations and relevant regulations.

Tags

Cream Emulsion Microbial Contamination Preservation Water-based Formulation