INGREDIENTS
Preservatives from nature’s basket In the increasingly popular category of natural cosmetics, staying true to nature and helping formulators deliver a naturalbased product can be challenging when it comes to product preservation. To address this challenge, Sami-Sabinsa offers SabiLize-New – a truly natural preservative with proven efficacy.
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osmetic products can easily become contaminated by bacteria and fungi, resulting in a
spoiled product. Most cosmetics are made up of oil, water and other biodegradable ingredients, which present an optimum medium for the growth of microbes. This is why preservatives are vital to maintain the quality of a product and ensure its safe for use on skin. The global cosmetics market is valued at around $460bn and is expected to reach $675bn by the end of 2020, accounting for 6.4% growth per year. Therefore, the increasing market requires continuous monitoring and multidimensional control of toxic ingredients and microbial contamination1. Skin, the largest organ of the body, is
Figure 1: The antioxidant effect on free radicals
constantly exposed to the environment and bears the brunt of invasion of
oxidation phenomena and the formation
natural substances or which are extracts
pathogens, irritants and harsh chemicals2.
of free radicals8. In order to establish an
with antimicrobial properties.
It also harbours symbiotic microbes, which
effective inhibitory property, a preservative
provide protection from pathogenic or
should have broad-spectrum activity
preservatives, natural substances or extracts
harmful organisms3, 4.
and a longer shelf life than the cosmetic
have received a great deal of attention in
product itself 9.
last few years because of their improved
Cosmetic products can become
Compared to conventional synthetic
exposed to or are prone to microbial
The most widely accepted and reliable
contamination during manufacturing
method of preservation includes chemicals
(primary contamination) and/or
that are either synthesised from petroleum
Natural preservatives
during consumer use (secondary
derivatives or are sourced from vegetable
These are ingredients from nature which
contamination)5, 6. Therefore, it is very
extracts, as well as those produced using
are not chemically synthesized or artificially
important to select effective preservatives, which prevent microbial contamination without altering the skin microbiome7.
Table 1: Antimicrobial activity of active factions and SabiLize-New
Active fraction/Blend
Minimum inhibitory concentration11 Staphylococcus aureus
Two distinct groups of preservatives that are generally used to maintain
sustainability profile and safer nature10.
Escherichia coli
Candida albicans
Thyme oil
0.3
0.3
0.7
Monolaurin
0.12
NA
0.25
on microorganisms, and antioxidant
Magnolol
0.08
NA
0.08
preservatives capable of suppressing
SabiLize-New
0.07
0.4
0.07
the skin microbiome include, antimicrobial preservatives, which act
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| JUNE 2020 | P C Review
