That Natural Oil Syndrome…

“Go Natural” or “Go Green”

“Go Natural” or “Go Green”.  After many years of using skin care products in my own salon, wanting the best for my clients and myself I wanted to help aging and problematic skin, however determining what was best for overall skin health.

Not for me…

I knew I didn’t want to use creams loaded with a bunch of synthetics or harmful chemicals, and I felt I wanted a naturally preserved product as well.  After all, the synthetic preservatives have been getting slammed for some time.  The negative press forced me to take a closer look at going natural.  The new generation buzz words: “Go Natural” or “Go Green”

Media makes it hard

I have found so many retailers offering some fantastic skincare products.  The pictures are enticing you to buy them.  And, this has been me in the past too!

Yes, products smell so good when you first crack the lid on the jar, you just can’t wait to try them out.  Who else uses them for a while and after about 2/3rd’s of the way through the product, this happens…  There’s a funky smell or they seem to be separating.  What happened?

Preservatives

The differences in preservatives?  I learned there are definitely two divided camps on this issue.  In order to draw my own conclusion on this matter, I examined both sides.  Are the only options “Go Natural” or “Go Green”?

Is it really about a bad or good preservative?

Preservatives are necessary due to creams and lotions being formulated with water to help emulsify the ingredients.

This gives the product the lovely texture we know and love.  Even though the thought of a naturally preserved product sounds perfect it comes with other problems.  Going with a natural product can provide a haven for yeast, mould, bacteria and fungi.

So the natural ingredients we strive for may not be the best for us!

When is there no need for preservatives?

The only time you can typically get away from preservatives is when there is no water added.  For example, with thick body butter scrubs.  These are strictly melted and whipped together to create the product.

They are not emulsified, so water is unnecessary.  However, I still look for a bit of natural preservative in these due to the fact body scrubs are used where?  ….That’s right, in your shower!

What’s in the shower?….That’s right, water!

Take a minute

Many of us don’t stop to think about it.  I know I haven’t in the past!  And I am sure, neither have you!

So, when using these close to water or dipping wet hands into the jar, water has now been introduced and all the nasties can begin to grow.  This includes naturally created shampoos and conditioners Naturally Preserved.

A change of lifestyle

I get the need to purify your life and remove as many chemicals from your products as you can.  I am in full agreement with this lifestyle.  It is great to protect our bodies from further contamination.

We just need to be aware of the downsides to purchasing products which are naturally preserved.  For those who prefer this method for their skin care.  Be aware, when products are preservative free, they are typically very expensive to produce.

Why are they more expensive?

The preservative free products must be manufactured in small batches, of course this adds to the cost.

In many cases they are only produced once the order is placed, because they don’t have the shelf life.  These are great products for those who are patient and can wait for their special cream.  But, it is difficult to mass produce these on a higher commercial level.  Meaning, this can be a hindrance for growing a business or for a consumer needing their product immediately.

How to store preservative free?

Unfortunately, preservative free products must be stored in the refrigerator immediately after opening.

These products must be made in the most sterile environment possible, and I do mean sterile.  So, purchasing from a trusted source is essential.  They also typically cannot be shipped during hot summer months. They also should be used up within a few days to a week, despite what you may have been told by the seller.

If they say they can withstand longer then you may call into question whether or not it is truly preservative free.

Sometimes preservatives are left off the ingredient list by the unscrupulous or are masked under the label “other ingredients” or “fragrance”.  Anything below 1% ratio is allowed by the FDA to be listed this way.  This allows big brands to get away with all these preservatives in their products.

Bacteria

Constant dipping of fingers, steam from the bathroom or getting any kind of moisture inside the jar, will begin deteriorating the product!  This leads to bacteria, which will multiply at an astounding rate!  This can be prevented if products are in an airless pump.

Also, refrigeration will not stop nasties from growing; it will only slow the rate a bit.  Just look at food stored in the refrigerator, if forgotten after a few days or a week, you go back and find something fuzzy resembling a Chia pet or smelling rank.

This same principal applies to your skin cream.  In an airless pump the product could sustain longer, how long is not known exactly.

Products will go off!

Some times I am told my cream has gone yellow.  When I ask enough questions I find out, it is over 6 months old.  Or, it has been kept in the car.  This is NOT a good place to keep products!!

Consider a preservative free product or naturally preserved product cannot fight off the nasties as well as a synthetically preserved product.  Once you introduce the open jar into your bathroom you will see environmental changes to your products.  The same applies when leaving a product in a car.  You will see these environmental changes rapidly cause bacteria to grow in the product.

Why is LA Skincare not preservative free?

The special handling, extremely short shelf life of preservative free skin care products, pretty much help determine these weren’t quite for me.

So, I looked in to naturally preserved skincare for my BRAND.

It is still naturally preserved…  “Go Natural” or “Go Green” – right?

Natural preservatives, can buy a bit more time in way of product life, usually up to 6 months shelf life.

There are some natural preservatives that have been shown to be quite effective but they are not indestructible to air and water contamination, whereby this essentially can make them ineffective to deterioration or oxidation.

Discover your paraben and chemically free skincare range at www.laskincare.co.uk

With love

Louisa x