Nowadays many people choose to follow a healthy lifestyle – people concerned about health and well-being for themselves and their families. It is natural then to want to extend these healthy habits to other aspects of day to day life, like the choice of cosmetics to use.
At the same time, we turn to the Internet and social media for information, or follow our favorite blog, we are also confronted with bad stories about parabens and other preservatives. This scares the health-concerned consumer and transmits the idea that cosmetics without preservatives are the right and safe choice. So are they?
While preservatives are actually the least exciting ingredients in creams, we simply have to accept the fact that they are a “must have” to prevent bacteria or fungi from developing in them. The best we can do is choose which preservatives we want to allow on our faces (and thankfully there are some natural ones out there).
Nevertheless, ill-informed consumers demanding “preservative-free” creams, have created a somewhat unpleasant situation in the natural-cosmetics industry, where formulators, in order to sell their creations, started introducing products that are (supposedly) “preservative-free”.
To better understand the issue, just compare it with what happens to food if left out of the fridge for a few days… How is it then possible that “preservative-free” creams (made with organic compounds, just like food) continue to smell and look good after months in a hot and humid bathroom? Right?
Let’s see. While products without water (such as a body butter made up only of oils and fat soluble extracts) do not always require preservatives, the same does not apply to cosmetics made with water, such as cleansers, gels and creams. If made without preservatives, they will spoil.
How can companies then claim they sell “preservative-free” cosmetics? Simple: either those cosmetics are the exception, or it is a legal omission. The trick is in the definition of the word “preservative”.
Many ingredients have more than one property. They have stronger, main properties and other less effective, secondary properties. It depends what kind of properties the ingredient has and if it is mainly registered as a preservative under legal regulations in force (which vary from one country to another). In other words, the ingredient used is a preservative, but it is not always described as such by legislation (such as salt in the food industry).
Unfortunately, many companies take advantage of this lack of knowledge among consumers and, through marketing campaigns, promote their products as “preservative-free”, deceiving clients and creating a vicious cycle of looking for and offering the wrong concept.
Deception aside, there is a more pressing concern arising from this misconception, as we can also find that some products actually have no preservatives at all. Usually made by very enthusiastic but poorly educated hobbyists, these products are especially dangerous since they not only contain water, but being made with the “natural vibe” in mind, also contain a lot of organic matter. This makes a perfect mix for bacteria and fungi to proliferate.
The first responsibility of any cosmetics formulator is consumer safety. Companies should not remove preservatives due to commercial pressure or misconceptions. Any cosmetic that contains water should undergo phase of stability and preservation tests to ensure that the final product is safe.
If you want to make sure you choose the best skincare, don’t just follow the latest buzz or trends like “preservative-free”. Make well-informed decisions and, if you have a chance to work with a certified artisan formulator, let them do their chemistry mojo in the safest way possible. Your skin will thank you for that.