Understanding Preservatives in Skincare Products: Balancing Safety and Shelf Life

Preservatives play a crucial role in skincare products, preventing microbial growth, extending product shelf life, and ensuring the safety and efficacy of the skincare products we use. The moisture and nutrients in skincare products provide an ideal environment for microbial growth. Without preservatives, products are prone to spoilage, and using spoiled skincare products may lead to skin infections, allergies, and other issues.

Common preservatives include benzoic acid and its salts, parabens, and imidazolidinyl urea. As consumers increasingly prioritise skincare product safety, newer, gentler preservatives are being adopted, such as phenoxyethanol and ethylhexylglycerin. These newer preservatives have lower irritation potential, ensuring product safety while minimising skin irritation.

When selecting skincare products, there is no need to overly worry about preservatives. Products from reputable brands strictly control the amount of preservatives added to ensure they remain within safe limits. Additionally, modern skincare formulations increasingly prioritise mildness, opting for less irritating preservatives or using natural antimicrobial ingredients like polyols and essential oils to partially replace traditional preservatives. As long as products are purchased from reputable sources, they can be used with confidence.