Sediment and Spoilage Risk in Water-Based Formula (Toner) with Allantoin

Based on the formula and observations, the sediment you are seeing is most likely Allantoin precipitating out of the solution. Allantoin has limited solubility in water, and at 20°C, its solubility is quite low (around 0.5% at 30°C, less at lower temperatures). Your concentration of 0.2% is close to this limit, making it prone to precipitation, especially with temperature fluctuations.

Regarding whether the product is spoiled, after only 3 days, it might not be microbiologically spoiled yet. However, the absence of a preservative in a water-based formula makes it highly susceptible to bacterial and fungal growth. Without a preservative, the product will likely spoil quickly, especially when stored outside of refrigeration.

As the staff mentioned, for water-based formulas like this, it is crucial to add a preservative from the beginning to prevent microbial contamination.

The cloudiness and increased sediment observed after adding Phenoxyethanol later also indicate formulation instability, likely related to solubility or compatibility issues when adding ingredients out of sequence or without proper dispersion.

In summary, while the sediment is likely a solubility issue with Allantoin rather than microbial spoilage at this moment, the lack of a preservative means the product is at high risk of spoiling very soon. It is not recommended to use products without proper preservation.