What preservatives are authorized in organic cosmetics?
What preservatives are authorized in organic cosmetics?
What makes the quality of cosmetic products these days is above all their composition . Only problem: understanding what is written on product labels is not always easy.
Especially when we find ourselves faced with chemical names that mean nothing to us!
These names often represent preservatives , or alcohols . They can be of natural origin or not: it all depends on their source.
When we talk about natural preservatives, it's a bit of a shortcut. Indeed, many preservatives are found in nature.
But there is a problem: generally, these preservatives are present in too small quantities for us to be able to find what we need for a treatment.
So-called “ natural ” preservatives are therefore sometimes manufactured preservatives, but whose strain is entirely natural.
Preservatives in natural cosmetics are therefore something special.
But what about the organic cosmetics sector ?
What rules apply in this niche area?
You are aware that organic is strictly governed by rules. These rules are imposed by certain organizations such as Ecocert, and make it possible to define what is acceptable and what is not.
So, the question arises: regarding organic products, what preservatives are allowed?
Green Spa, your organic and natural care provider , tells you all about it!
Preservatives which act on the aqueous phase
First of all, you should know that the preservatives are not the same, depending on the nature of the cosmetic.
Cosmetics made with a water base do not have the same preservatives as cosmetics with an oil base . Quite simply because the material is not the same, it does not react in the same way depending on the ingredients.
Regarding the conservation of an aqueous phase , only certain cosmetics are authorized. Discover the precise list!
Alcohol (ethanol)
Ethanol is an alcohol, which is often used in cosmetics. Contrary to popular belief, it is a perfectly harmless preservative, which is very inactive from a biological point of view.
Only undenatured ethanol is authorized for organic cosmetics. It has very appreciable conservation properties , which adapt to care with an aqueous base.
Sorbic acid
This acid is a natural preservative from rowan berries, which acts as a true anti-microbial.
Lotions , creams and liquid deodorants, it is a very effective preservative which has very few side effects, even at a high concentration.
Salicylic acid
Better known, salicylic acid is a preservative which has the advantage of effectively fighting acne.
Like all preservatives, it is limited to a certain concentration in cosmetic products, to avoid the appearance of side effects.
Benzyl Alcohol
Benzyl Alcohol (also called benzyl alcohol ) is used in non-organic cosmetics , but is also very common in organic cosmetics.
It has the particularity of preventing the development of bacteria in creams and scrubs, but also of effectively tightening the pores of the skin.
Leucidal
A natural and innovative preservative, it is also called Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate.
It is a natural preservative from the fermentation of radish roots. Still new on the market, its price is a little higher than the others: which explains why we don't often see it on labels .
Sodium benzoate
Finally, sodium benzoate (also called benzoic acid) is a preservative that should not be missed in organic cosmetics.
It is an anti-microbial and anti-fungal preservative, which is suitable for all types of cosmetics.
Preservatives which act on the oily phase
And when it comes to organic massage oils , what kind of preservatives can you expect?
Tocopherol
To prevent the formation of free radicals in organic cosmetics with an oily phase, Tocopherol is an essential preservative.
Highly concentrated in vitamin E, it is suitable for all skin types.
Tocopheryl
A simple derivative of Tocopherol, Tocopheryl is also a preservative with stunning antioxidant properties .
Generally derived from wheat germ, soybean or sunflower oil, it is a natural preservative rich in vitamin C for oily products.