Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating Cosmetic Industry Can I combine two preservatives?

  • Can I combine two preservatives?

    Posted by Bhartisaroha on August 31, 2021 at 2:07 pm

    Can I combine phenoxyethanol and Geogard Ect for my natural shampoo and face wash?…
    What’s should be the ratio for both these preservatives?
    Will that be ok if I use phenoxyethanol-0.5%+ Geogard Ect -0.5% ??

    PhilGeis replied 4 months, 3 weeks ago 4 Members · 4 Replies
  • 4 Replies
  • PhilGeis

    Member
    August 31, 2021 at 4:43 pm

    You can - but the combination is not great.  Benzyl or phenoxy with benzoate AND a chelator will do well in a shampoo.  But “natural”  

  • oldman20

    Member
    November 7, 2023 at 12:46 am

    but why use more than only preservative agent?

  • PhilGeis

    Member
    November 7, 2023 at 6:06 am

    Always use multiple preservatives.

    1) no single preservative has true broad spectrum efficacy

    2) it’s harder for a contaminant to adapt to multiple preservatives vs a single compound

    Phenoxy is prob best 0.5%. ECT is over formulated

Log in to reply.