Preservatives
What are they?
Preservatives are ingredients that are added to products such as foods, cosmetics and personal care products to help prevent spoilage. They protect product quality and, therefore, protect consumer health.
Preservatives can be either naturally occurring or man-made substances and are usually effective in low concentrations.
What’s the myth?
There is a misconception that preservative-free products are preferable to products containing preservatives.
This could be for a couple of reasons: some feel that the more chemicals in a product, the worse it is for your health; others have concerns over specific preservatives, such as parabens – despite no evidence that these ingredients cause harm at the levels used.
FACT: The use of preservatives is essential in most cosmetic and personal care products
There are two main ways in which spoilage of cosmetic and personal care products occur:
Antimicrobial preservatives help prevent microorganisms from surviving and multiplying in a product to levels where they could affect your health. Antioxidants are preservatives that help prevent oxidation from occurring.
There are only a few types of products that don’t need preservatives. These can include some waterless, oil-based products, such as baby oil and waxy lip-balm (since bacteria, yeasts and mould only grow when there is a certain amount of water available). Some water-containing products also contain ingredients which have preservative properties, but that are not classified as “preservatives”, such as alcohol.
This short clip illustrates the importance of preservatives: www.thefactsabout.co.uk/files/53200814540preservatives.wmv
The International Cooperation on Cosmetics Regulation (ICCR - an international collaboration of cosmetics product regulators and industry), published a helpful FAQ on Preservatives in Cosmetics in December 2015.
FACT: Preservative-free products need to be treated carefully
Products that are not self-preserving, but that are manufactured to be genuinely “preservative-free”, have limitations regarding their shelf-life, storage and often their cost.
Preservative-free products must be manufactured under strictly controlled conditions to ensure microorganisms are not introduced during the process. They also need to be transported without encountering extremes of temperature, especially heat. In addition, these products must be refrigerated immediately after opening and used within a short timeframe since contact with skin and introduction of moisture will begin the process of product deterioration.
FACT: Preservatives help protect consumer health
Once a product is open, it is difficult to avoid microorganisms getting in. At low levels, these microorganisms may not cause any harm. However, if a product becomes heavily contaminated it could cause skin irritation or potentially lead to an infection, especially if the product is used around the eyes or on broken skin.
Preservatives help prevent microorganisms from surviving in a product, or from multiplying. Without preservatives, most cosmetic and personal care products would need to be refrigerated to extend their shelf-life beyond a couple of weeks.
FACT: The use of preservatives prolongs shelf-life
Most cosmetic and personal care products are designed to have a much longer shelf-life than the time it would normally take to use the product up. This would not be possible for most products without the use of preservatives.
Longer-lasting products means less expense in purchasing replacements, as well as less risk of adverse health effects from products that have gone off.
FACT: Inadequate preservation could be to blame for contamination in recalled cosmetic products
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has taken action against cosmetic products that were found to have unacceptably high levels of microbial contamination.[1][2]
Three cosmetic products were recalled following a 2013 ACCC product safety survey: Nude by Nature Liquid Mineral Foundation and two Australian Lavender Essentials products, Lavender Eye Cream and Lavender Face Moisturiser. The ACCC stated that these products could potentially place consumers at risk of serious infection, depending on the microorganisms present, and that inadequate preservation could be to blame. The ACCC highlighted the importance of hygienic manufacturing practices and use of effective preservatives in preventing microbial contamination.
FACT: Simple practices can help prolong the life of your products and protect your health
Correct product use and storage is important. The tips below will help ensure your products stay in top condition and pose no threat to your health:
The bottom line? Preservatives are important ingredients that protect human health and extend product shelf-life.
Sources
[1] Noone, R., 2013, “Consumers warned to stop using recalled cosmetics immediately by Australian Competition and Consumer Commission”, The Daily Telegraph, 1 August. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/consumers-warned-to-stop-using-recalled-cosmetics-immediately-by-australian-competition-and-consumer-commission/story-fni0cx12-1226689352398
[2] Product Safety Recalls Australia, https://www.productsafety.gov.au; https://www.productsafety.gov.au/news/cosmetics-recalled-after-failing-accc-testing
What are they?
Preservatives are ingredients that are added to products such as foods, cosmetics and personal care products to help prevent spoilage. They protect product quality and, therefore, protect consumer health.
Preservatives can be either naturally occurring or man-made substances and are usually effective in low concentrations.
What’s the myth?
There is a misconception that preservative-free products are preferable to products containing preservatives.
This could be for a couple of reasons: some feel that the more chemicals in a product, the worse it is for your health; others have concerns over specific preservatives, such as parabens – despite no evidence that these ingredients cause harm at the levels used.
FACT: The use of preservatives is essential in most cosmetic and personal care products
There are two main ways in which spoilage of cosmetic and personal care products occur:
- Microorganisms (such as bacteria, yeasts and mould) can get into products once they are open, potentially causing contamination if they are able to live and multiply in the product. Microorganisms can enter the product from the air, from human skin, from water, and from applicators.
- Certain ingredients in personal care and cosmetic products can also spoil when exposed to oxygen in the air. Oxidation can cause products to become rancid, lose their consistency, and smell bad.
Antimicrobial preservatives help prevent microorganisms from surviving and multiplying in a product to levels where they could affect your health. Antioxidants are preservatives that help prevent oxidation from occurring.
There are only a few types of products that don’t need preservatives. These can include some waterless, oil-based products, such as baby oil and waxy lip-balm (since bacteria, yeasts and mould only grow when there is a certain amount of water available). Some water-containing products also contain ingredients which have preservative properties, but that are not classified as “preservatives”, such as alcohol.
This short clip illustrates the importance of preservatives: www.thefactsabout.co.uk/files/53200814540preservatives.wmv
The International Cooperation on Cosmetics Regulation (ICCR - an international collaboration of cosmetics product regulators and industry), published a helpful FAQ on Preservatives in Cosmetics in December 2015.
FACT: Preservative-free products need to be treated carefully
Products that are not self-preserving, but that are manufactured to be genuinely “preservative-free”, have limitations regarding their shelf-life, storage and often their cost.
Preservative-free products must be manufactured under strictly controlled conditions to ensure microorganisms are not introduced during the process. They also need to be transported without encountering extremes of temperature, especially heat. In addition, these products must be refrigerated immediately after opening and used within a short timeframe since contact with skin and introduction of moisture will begin the process of product deterioration.
FACT: Preservatives help protect consumer health
Once a product is open, it is difficult to avoid microorganisms getting in. At low levels, these microorganisms may not cause any harm. However, if a product becomes heavily contaminated it could cause skin irritation or potentially lead to an infection, especially if the product is used around the eyes or on broken skin.
Preservatives help prevent microorganisms from surviving in a product, or from multiplying. Without preservatives, most cosmetic and personal care products would need to be refrigerated to extend their shelf-life beyond a couple of weeks.
FACT: The use of preservatives prolongs shelf-life
Most cosmetic and personal care products are designed to have a much longer shelf-life than the time it would normally take to use the product up. This would not be possible for most products without the use of preservatives.
Longer-lasting products means less expense in purchasing replacements, as well as less risk of adverse health effects from products that have gone off.
FACT: Inadequate preservation could be to blame for contamination in recalled cosmetic products
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has taken action against cosmetic products that were found to have unacceptably high levels of microbial contamination.[1][2]
Three cosmetic products were recalled following a 2013 ACCC product safety survey: Nude by Nature Liquid Mineral Foundation and two Australian Lavender Essentials products, Lavender Eye Cream and Lavender Face Moisturiser. The ACCC stated that these products could potentially place consumers at risk of serious infection, depending on the microorganisms present, and that inadequate preservation could be to blame. The ACCC highlighted the importance of hygienic manufacturing practices and use of effective preservatives in preventing microbial contamination.
FACT: Simple practices can help prolong the life of your products and protect your health
Correct product use and storage is important. The tips below will help ensure your products stay in top condition and pose no threat to your health:
- Keep products tightly closed when not in use
- Check product before use for any changes in colour, smell or texture – these may indicate a product has gone off.
- Use the product within the recommended time – although changes in colour, smell or texture can indicate product spoilage, sometimes there is little to indicate that potentially dangerous levels of microorganisms are present
- Avoid keeping products in extremes of temperature, such as in direct sunlight or where they will freeze
- Use clean hands or an applicator to apply cosmetics
- Wash all applicators thoroughly with a mild soap or detergent and allow to dry before use, and replace applicators regularly
- Avoid sharing products with another person
- Always read the instructions, including any warnings for use
- Don’t dilute products or mix products (unless the product instructions say to do so!)
The bottom line? Preservatives are important ingredients that protect human health and extend product shelf-life.
Sources
[1] Noone, R., 2013, “Consumers warned to stop using recalled cosmetics immediately by Australian Competition and Consumer Commission”, The Daily Telegraph, 1 August. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/consumers-warned-to-stop-using-recalled-cosmetics-immediately-by-australian-competition-and-consumer-commission/story-fni0cx12-1226689352398
[2] Product Safety Recalls Australia, https://www.productsafety.gov.au; https://www.productsafety.gov.au/news/cosmetics-recalled-after-failing-accc-testing
