Preservatives

Preservatives are used to make food, cosmetics or medicine a longer shelf life. Preservatives inhibit the growth of microorganisms and sometimes kill them completely. The formation of bacteria, molds and pathogens is thus prevented.

Preservatives may only be used according to the respective regulation. Without preservatives, there would be significant health risks for the consumer.

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In the cosmetics industry parabens are often used as a preservative. The use of paraben-containing products is controversial, but the paraben is more of a preservative, which is classified as not too worrying. There are much worse preservatives, but also some that perform better.

One thing is for sure: it will not work without conservation. In cosmetics too, a product must be microbiologically stable, no molds, yeasts or bacteria must form after opening that can seriously damage our health. In combination with water, which is present in almost every cosmetic product, these organisms could develop.

The better a product has been produced and packaged, the fewer microorganisms can get into the product and a gentler preservative is sufficient.

Preservatives which belong to the organohalogen compounds have the highest potential for a health hazard. They are often responsible for allergies and irritation and should be avoided if possible.

For sensitive skin, make sure you include gentler preservatives such as Benzyl Salicylate, Potassium Sorbate or Benzyl Alcohol. Due to the quality of the raw materials, the production, the product composition and the packaging, some manufacturers can even do without synthetic preservatives. The preservation is then ensured by using essential oils or alcohol.