Usage, Shelf Life, and Testing for Thyme Care in Natural Hair Mask
Asked by: arm_chalotorn
On: July 26, 2017
Product Type:
Cosmetics
Question
I am developing a hair mask formula that uses natural ingredients, specifically boiled, blended, and filtered kaffir lime. I plan to use Thyme Care as a preservative.
Could you please advise on the following:
- What is the recommended usage percentage for
Thyme Care? - What is the expected shelf life for a formula using
Thyme Care? - Given that the formula contains natural ingredients prepared in this manner, is it necessary to perform microbial testing (Challenge Test) on the final product to ensure the preservative is effective?
Answer
Based on the information provided:
- Usage Percentage: The recommended usage rate for Thyme Care is 0.8%.
- Shelf Life: If Thyme Care is effective in controlling microbial growth in your specific formula, the shelf life regarding microbial spoilage can be at least 2 years.
- Important Consideration: Since your hair mask uses natural ingredients (kaffir lime prepared by boiling/blending/filtering), which can easily contain microbes and serve as food for them, it is necessary to perform a Challenge Test (microbial testing) on your final product. This test will confirm whether the 0.8% Thyme Care is sufficient to effectively preserve your specific formula and achieve the desired shelf life against microbial spoilage.
- Scent: Please be aware that Thyme Care has a distinct scent, which might be noticeable in your final product.
Related Products Mentioned
Thyme Care™ (natural preservative)
Cosmetics