Preservatives

I use a preservative in any water-based product which currently is my lotion.  Here's why:

If I make a product for myself or I sell to a close friend who I know will use the product within about six weeks then there's no need for a preservative.  The life of a natural product can also be extended by keeping it in a cool, dark place such as the fridge.  However I do not know where the majority of my product sold online, in shops, or at trunk shows will end up, therefore I have to assume there's a chance the product will sit for months and months somewhere before it gets used.  I would be horrified if the end user opened up their lotion and it looked like this:

photo brambleberry.com

Therefore, the most safe and responsible way to preserve a water-based product is with a preservative.  I use Optiphen.  It is a paraben-free preservative that is used in a lot of facial (and body) products.  I know a lot of my customers like using my lotions on their face, so even though it's a little more pricewise, I went with this preservative. 

Also, the preservative is less than 1% of the total ingredients in any water-based product.  I know there are a lot of preservative-free Nazis out there and I get it, but you have to be EXTREMELY careful that a preservative-free product is not going to end up growing a microbe in your product that can and will actually harm someone.  I learned when I had shingles and my skin needed healing that not every "organic" or "preservative-free" product sitting on the shelf at Whole Foods is in fact therapeutic for the skin.  I purchased a facial cleanser from a popular organic brand for example, (and I love their stuff so it made me sad) and several months later when I went to use it, it was rancid, had separated, and had some mold around the edge of the lid.  I had the wherewithal to toss it and not use it.  I'm all about keeping things as "natural" as possible, but my education has led me to understand that unless you're making your own product or buying from a local, reliable source - like someone you know, then you need a preservative.  If you are a person that wants a 100% preservative-free product, for whatever reason, then I respect that and my lotions are unfortunately not for you.  Please be good to yourself and keep an awareness as you find a product that is right for you.

We do much more harm to our bodies by not exercising, eating processed food in lieu of a plant-based diet, drinking alcohol excessively, and exposing our skin to the sun than a less than 1% addition of a topically applied preservative as far as I'm concerned. 

***Never buy a cosmetic that does not provide you with a list of the ingredients in that product!  FDA labeling guidelines are very strict.  Ingredients must be listed in order from the highest to lowest percentage.  Setting aside the fact that anyone caught making beauty product without proper labeling could get slapped with a fine, it is important that you know what you are using.  If you go to a fair or a cute little trinket shop and the seller is unable to provide you with a list of ingredients then walk away.