--- title: How to preserve a cosmetic product | ECSA Chemicals description: Learn effective strategies for preserving cosmetic products, including traditional and natural preservatives, to ensure safety and extended shelf life. | ECSA Chemicals image: https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Banner-3-Jun-06-2025-08-18-15-1340-AM.png --- ### Select your language [Deutsch](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/de/wie-man-ein-kosmetisches-produkt-konserviert)  |  [Français](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/fr/comment-conserver-un-produit-cosmetique)  |  [Italiano](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/it/come-conservare-un-prodotto-cosmetico) [![ecsa chemicals](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/hubfs/ECSA_Chemicals_April2025/Images/logo.svg) ![ecsa chemicals](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/hubfs/ECSA_Chemicals_April2025/Images/logo-sticky.svg)](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/) - [Industrial Chemicals](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/industrial-chemicals/) - [Pharma & Nutrition](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/pharma-nutrition/) - [Flavours & Fragrances](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/flavours-fragrances/) - [Cosmetics & Detergents](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/cosmetics-detergents/) - [Content Hub](https://blog-chemicals.ecsa.ch/en/ecsa-chemicals) - [About us](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/about-us/) En - En - Products - [Industrial Chemicals](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/industrial-chemicals/) - [Pharma & Nutrition](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/pharma-nutrition/) - [Flavours & Fragrances](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/flavours-fragrances/) - [Cosmetics & Detergents](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/cosmetics-detergents/) - [Content Hub](https://blog-chemicals.ecsa.ch/en/ecsa-chemicals) - About us - [ECSA world](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/about-us/the-ecsa-world/) - [Certifications & Quality](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/about-us/quality-and-certifications/) - [Security & environment](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/about-us/safety-and-the-environment/) - [Infrastuctures logistics & services](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/about-us/infrastructure-logistics-and-services/) - [Career](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/about-us/career/) - [We Are ECSA](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/about-us/we-are-ecsa/) - [Catalogs](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/catalogues/) Follow us This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. Search - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. # How to preserve a cosmetic product - [Home](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/) - [Content Hub - Ecsa chemicals](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/en) - How to preserve a cosmetic product 06 May 2021 Cosmetics, like any product containing water and organic/inorganic compounds, require **preservation against microbial contamination** to guarantee consumer’s safety and to increase their shelf-life. **Natural products rich in bioavailable nutrients**, tend to be more prone to microbe growth than conventional ones. The **most common strategy** is based on the **application of antimicrobial agents**, either by using synthetic or natural compounds or even multifunctional ingredients. ![](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Banner-3-Jun-06-2025-08-18-15-1340-AM.png?width=1200&height=250&name=Banner-3-Jun-06-2025-08-18-15-1340-AM.png) The ideal preservative does not exist and, as a formulator, you must do **deep research and trials to find the right combination** for product and consumer. The time to preserve all kinds of products with a blend of phenoxyethanol and parabens is over, and the preservative selection should be based on several criteria: - **Spectrum activity**: the ideal preservative should be able to kill all types of microorganisms that are yeasts, molds, Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. But in general, chemicals active against bacteria are not active against yeasts and molds, and vice versa. - **Compatibility** with the other ingredients of the cosmetic formulation: some ingredients could lower the antimicrobial activity (ex. thiazolinones are inactivated by bisulfites and secondary amines). - **Effectiveness at low concentrations**: lower concentrations reduce the chances of irritation or other toxicity concerns. If 0.8% phenoxyethanol is not effective, don’t increase to 1%, try with a different preservative. - **Company and product philosophy**: companies can blacklist some raw materials for marketing purposes, but consumer’s safety must guide the choice. - **Solubility**: as microorganisms grow in the water phase, the more water-soluble and the less oil-soluble the preservative is, the better it will function. - **pH of the finished product**: make sur you consider a potential pH drift of ±10% over the shelf life. A slight increase in pH could dramatically decrease the activity of antimicrobials. The activity of benzoic acid is 94% at pH 3, only 1.5% at pH 6! With organic acids, to decrease the pH instead to improve the quantity of acid could be the solution. - **Cost**: it should always be secondary. The cost of a recall and the damage to a company’s reputation is too high a price to pay for an inexpensive preservative that fails. - **Regulatory**: preservatives must be allowed in the countries where the product is sold and used within any restrictions of use. ![](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/banner-Jun-06-2025-08-18-08-7118-AM.png?width=1200&height=250&name=banner-Jun-06-2025-08-18-08-7118-AM.png) #### Traditional Preservatives | **Types** | **Features** | **INCI example** | | --- | --- | --- | | **PARABENS** | Good protection against bacteria and fungi Cost-effective Low dosage Inactivated by nonionics | [METHYLPARABEN MP 000685](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/prodotto/mp-000685/)  [ETHYLPARABEN MP 002985](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/prodotto/mp-002985/) | | **ORGANIC ACIDS AND THEIR SALTS** | Good protection against fungi Effective only at pH\<5 Compliance with eco-label standards | [POTASSIUM SORBATE MP 032664](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/prodotto/mp-032664/) [SODIUM BENZOATE MP 030023](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/prodotto/mp-030023/) [SODIUM DEHYDROACETATE MP 018041](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/prodotto/mp-018041/) | | **ALCOHOLS** | Less pH dependent then organic acid Active against Gram+ | [BENZYL ALCOHOL MP 017665](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/prodotto/mp-017665/) | | **FORMALDEHYDE RELEASERS** | Good protection against bacteria, weak fungal activity Very low levels required Can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions | [IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA MP 015826](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/prodotto/mp-015826/) | | **PHENOL DERIVATIVES** | Most active against G- bacteria It is always used in combination with other preservatives If the level is too low, it acts as a nutrient for bacteria Stable to heat up to 85°C and useful from pH 3 to 10 Inactivated by highly ethoxylated compounds | [PHENOXYETHANOL MP 010038](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/prodotto/mp-010038/) | | **HALOGENATED COMPOUNDS** | Most active against fungi It seems to work best in systems with high levels of silicones. Chlorphenesin is inactivated by polysorbates | [CHLORPHENESIN MP 017781](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/prodotto/mp-017781/) | [![](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Tabella-cosmetics-Jun-06-2025-08-18-03-2772-AM.png?width=669&height=776&name=Tabella-cosmetics-Jun-06-2025-08-18-03-2772-AM.png)](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Tabella-cosmetics-Jun-06-2025-08-18-03-2772-AM.png) #### GREEN ALTERNATIVES FOR COSMETIC PRESERVATION ![](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Banner-2-3.png?width=1200&height=250&name=Banner-2-3.png) There is a trend to have formulation preservative strategies that stay away from using traditional preservatives. We’ll look at some **natural preservation** options below: - **Hurdle technology** – The idea is to combine materials and factors that inhibit microbial growth. Some of the factors involved in hurdle technology include low pH, low water activity, chelating agents ([EDTA MP 018671](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/prodotto/mp-018671/), phytic acid), airtight packaging (airless, aerosol). - **PRESERVATIVE BOOSTERS** - can help disrupt growth by interfering with the microbial cell membranes. The most common are: ETHYLHEXYGLYCERIN, [CAPRYLYL GLYCOL MP 028248](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/prodotto/mp-028248/),[GLUCONOLACTONE MP 033456](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/prodotto/mp-033456/), [PROPANEDIOL MP 024636](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/prodotto/mp-024636/). Other fragrance components have some preservative boosting activity: LEVULINIC ACID GA 180282, p-ANISIC ACID. - **NATURAL INGREDIENTS** that have some antimicrobial functionality: [TEA TREE OIL MP 032151](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/prodotto/mp-032151/), ROSEMARY EXTRACT. - [**NEW FROM ECSA: INDIGUARD-N** is a natural originated antimicrobial for cosmetics that combines extracts of Gallnut, Terminalia Chebula Fruit, Dendrobium Nobile, and Chinese pepper.](mailto:cosmetic@ecsa.ch) Admittedly, preserving products using only natural ingredients is difficult. Be sure to test your preservative system with a challenge test before and after stability. ***ECSA Chemicals offers a wide range of effective preservatives that optimally protect your cosmetic products and meet current technical requirements and market trends.*** ***Contact us for further information and tips*** [Contact us](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/contacts/) --- #### Share: - [Follow us on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/how-to-preserve-a-cosmetic-product) - [Follow us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/how-to-preserve-a-cosmetic-product&text=How%20to%20preserve%20a%20cosmetic%20product) - [Follow us on Linkedin](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/how-to-preserve-a-cosmetic-product) - [Follow us on Pinterest](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/how-to-preserve-a-cosmetic-product&text=How%20to%20preserve%20a%20cosmetic%20productdescription=Cosmetics,%20like%20any%20product%20containing%20water%20and%20organic/inorganic%20compounds,%20require%20preservation%20against%20microbial%20contamination%20to%20guarantee%20consumer’s[...]&media=https://27166650.fs1.hubspotusercontent-eu1.net/hubfs/27166650/Imported_Blog_Media/Banner-3-Jun-06-2025-08-18-15-1340-AM.png) #### [Allyl hexanoate and heptanoate Previous post](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/allyl-hexanoate-and-heptanoate) #### [“Good Manufacturing Practice” Authorization Next post](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/good-manufacturing-practice-authorization) #### You might also be interested in: ### [Methyl Cedryl Ketone: a woody and leathery note](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/methyl-cedryl-ketone-a-woody-and-leathery-note) [Purchase advice](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/tag/purchase-advice) ### [D-L Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate: Antioxidant and Stabilizer for Cosmetic Formulations](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/d-l-alpha-tocopheryl-acetate-antioxidant-and-stabilizer-for-cosmetic-formulations) [Purchase advice](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/tag/purchase-advice) ### [Hydrochloric acid: applications and safety regulations](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/hydrochloric-acid-applications-and-safety-regulations) [Purchase advice](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/tag/purchase-advice) ## Stay connected ### Receive the latest information and news from the chemistry world [![ecsa chemicals](https://blog.ecsa-chemicals.ch/hubfs/ECSA_Chemicals_April2025/Images/logo.svg "ecsa chemicals")](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/) Social Associations and partners - [RSPO](https://www.rspo.org/) - [AssICC](https://www.assicconline.it/) - [Scienceindustries](https://www.scienceindustries.ch/) - [FECC](https://www.fecc.org/) - [Sedex](https://www.sedex.com/) - [IFEAT](https://ifeat.org/) - [SEPAWA](https://www.sepawa.com/) - [Bio Suisse](https://www.bio-suisse.ch/) - [World Chemical Distributor Directory](https://chemical-distributors.com/) - [EFEO](https://www.efeo.eu/) - [Cosmetica Italia](https://www.cosmeticaitalia.it/) - [Bioagricert](https://www.bioagricert.org/) - [Farma industria](https://www.farmaindustriaticino.ch/) - [Carlo Erba Reagents](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/carlo-erba-reagents/) - [Contact us](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/contact/) - [Catalogs](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/catalogues/) - [Suppliers](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/suppliers/) - [Career](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/about-us/career/) - [We Are ECSA](https://ecsa-chemicals.ch/en/about-us/we-are-ecsa/) 2026 ECSA Group. 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