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Cosmetic products are as perishable as any other FMCG items that are available in the market. Though cosmetics offer a longer shelf life; they can become easily contaminated by bacteria and fungi in due course. Since most of them are water based or oil based and they also have peptises and carbohydrates, cosmetics are a very good medium for growth of microbes. Also, we store our cosmetics mostly in the bathroom where the environment is warm and moist. Our skin is a natural carrier of abundant microorganisms in addition to the tap water which in turn is not sterile. This water comes in to contact with our cosmetic products either accidentally or even on purpose. Under such circumstances, the most carefully prepared products may become contaminated. Hence, it is important that cosmetic products need the right kind of preservation to prevent microbial growth which spoils the cosmetic product and can lead to infection of the skin.
Natural preservatives such as essential oils and various herbs including rosemary, clove, thyme, cinnamon, tea tree, lavender, neem, grape seed etc., are widely used in many products. These preservatives are more organism specific than the other alternative synthetic ones. This basically means that these preservatives may be effective against one organism but not another. Hence, there is a necessity to carefully blend them and create a collective protective effect against a range of organisms.
Cosmetic manufacturers are constantly on the lookout for alternative as well as eco-certified preservatives due to the growing market demand for paraben-free products. Parabens (which includemethylparaben, propylparaben, isoparaben, and butylparaben) have been found to cause allergic reactions and recently it has been identified that they can increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer. These chemicals can also transfer to the uterine lining and cause reproductive abnormalities. When used in cosmetics, these can actually release small amounts of formaldehyde – which is a skin irritant, cancer-causing agent and damaging to the nervous system.
Hence, there is a demand for alternative and eco friendly preservatives. These alternatives help in providing various cosmetic products the right protection against contamination. They also help in increasing the average shelf life of these products.
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