Guest guest Posted August 29, 2000 Report Share Posted August 29, 2000 Isn't Potassium Sorbate a natural preservative? I know a lot of people use it in their lotions (including me), and I was under the impression that it's natural. Marilyn in Texas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 29, 2000 Report Share Posted August 29, 2000 In a message dated 8/28/00 10:03:14 PM Pacific Daylight Time, marilyna@... writes: << Isn't Potassium Sorbate a natural preservative? I know a lot of people use it in their lotions (including me), and I was under the impression that it's natural. Marilyn in Texas >> Hi Marilyn, There is a long answer to this question, but I will try to be brief. Potassium sorbate is a preservative that is used in foods quite a bit. It is relatively safe. There are alot of people that want potassium sorbate to be a preservative in cosmetics (and I have been one of them!)---and it is to some extent. It works best in combination with sodium benzoate or gum benzoin. You also need to pay attention to the pH of whatever you are preserving, since it needs to be less than 4 or so to be effective. As far as what it is effective against........that really needs to be researched to a much greater degree than it has been, but it appears to inhibit mold /fungus and some bacteria. But under what conditions? For how long? Which bacteria? I did a Medline search and really couldn't find anything that would make me feel comfortable using it as a preservative that I could trust. I have a cream with the potassium sorbate/sodium benzoate that " appears " OK after two months, but who knows what could be growing in there that I can't see??? As Pat says, if there is a natural preservative that is effective against the " bad guys " , why aren't the " natural " manufacturers using it? Anyway, that's why I use a preservative that has been tested and proven to be effective---Germall plus. (Also,I have had absolutely no negative reactions to the Germall). Since this has been a big issue for me also, I couldn't resist responding to you. I hope you find it helpful and not discouraging! I know how we all want to use ingredients as natural as possible, but sometimes we really have to weigh the pros and cons of natural vs. synthetic and make informed decisions as best we can. You may want to do a Medline search yourself or talk to some cosmetic chemists for their opinion. Sorry this turned out long afterall!! Angie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 29, 2000 Report Share Posted September 29, 2000 >Date: Thu, 28 Sep 2000 23:10:59 -0700 > " Brent Ferguson " <toiletries@...> >From: Spellbound Botanicals <admin@...> >Subject: Re: " natural preservatives " > >At 06:08 PM 9/28/00 -0700, you wrote: >>Hello Everyone, >> >>Dr. Bronner's, Pure-Castile Soap bar, label states: " Natural Preservatives: >>We use three plant derivatives: Rosemary Extract, Vitamin E (i.e. >>Tocopherols-derived from soybeans) and Vitamin C (i.e. Ascorbic >>Acid-derived from corn) as anti oxidants to prevent rancidity. This system, >>a recent advance in natural preservation, enables us to avoid the use of >>synthetic chelating agents. " >> >>What do you think? >> >>Brent Ferguson >>The Healthful Source ® > > >The key to that is that they call them " anti-oxidants " and are using them >to prevent rancidity. ROE vitamin E and vitamin C are probably added to >their base oils before making the soap bar (to keep oils from going rancid). > >Nothing about any of them has a preservative quality (kills >pathogens/bacteria), just anti-rancidity properties. > >BHT is one chemical antioxidant many use in soap, and tetrasodium EDTA is >the chelating agent that helps the BHT do it's job. > >hth Tamara Zyganiuk www.spellboundbotanicals.com July 1 Issue of " The Spellbinder " is Online NOW Coming soon: " Spellbound Botanicals " E-store Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 29, 2000 Report Share Posted September 29, 2000 <<Methinks he's not in compliance with FDA regulations! Or, was, cuz he's dead now, I believe.>> OH NO!! You mean the FDA killed him??? We'd better behave, folks!! (kidding, just kidding!! I couldn't resist a bad joke) B in TN www.LathersBy.com Everyone has a photographic memory. Some don't have film. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 29, 2000 Report Share Posted September 29, 2000 Methinks he's not in compliance with FDA regulations! Or, was, cuz he's dead now, I believe. cindi Brent Ferguson wrote: > > Hello Everyone, > > Dr. Bronner's, Pure-Castile Soap bar, label states: " Natural Preservatives: > We use three plant derivatives: Rosemary Extract, Vitamin E (i.e. > Tocopherols-derived from soybeans) and Vitamin C (i.e. Ascorbic > Acid-derived from corn) as anti oxidants to prevent rancidity. This system, > a recent advance in natural preservation, enables us to avoid the use of > synthetic chelating agents. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 29, 2000 Report Share Posted September 29, 2000 > Dr. Bronner's, Pure-Castile Soap bar, label states: " Natural Preservatives: > We use three plant derivatives: Rosemary Extract, Vitamin E (i.e. > Tocopherols-derived from soybeans) and Vitamin C (i.e. Ascorbic > Acid-derived from corn) as anti oxidants to prevent rancidity. This system, > a recent advance in natural preservation, enables us to avoid the use of > synthetic chelating agents. " > > What do you think? I think it is misleading and nothing more than a marketing ploy that promotes false information at the consumers expense. Soap doesn't need a preservative. None of the ingredients listed above is a preservative, they are all antioxidants. I wonder what other misinformation the good doctor(?) has on his labels? Pat. Peace, Joy, Serenity. www.houseofscents.com Cosmeticinfo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 15, 2001 Report Share Posted September 15, 2001 At 10:46 PM 9/15/01 +0000, you wrote: >I was told by someone who runs a very successful herbal skin care business >that the essential oils of Benzoin and Myrrh are excellent preservatives and >they are all natural being tree resins. > >Can anybody tell me if this is correct? I would assume that other people >would be using this if it was true! bingo on that second sentence. they aren't. period. also, Benzoin is a known sensitizer, and should not be used on broken skin. Your source for superb Essential Oils, Aromatherapy Accessories, Information, Books and more! Visit us at: <http://www.naturesgift.com> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 16, 2001 Report Share Posted September 16, 2001 I can confirm that I have run across commentary on both Benzoin and myrrh being used as a fixative in perfumes in several other locations where I have done research on EO's, both online and at the library...sorry I don't have the sites at my fingertips, but can dig them out if anyone wants to email me directly for them. Marg > >Can anybody tell me if this is correct? I would assume that other > people > >would be using this if it was true! > > bingo on that second sentence. > > they aren't. period. > > also, Benzoin is a known sensitizer, and should not be used on broken > skin. > > Your source for superb Essential Oils, Aromatherapy > Accessories, Information, Books and more! > Visit us at: <http://www.naturesgift.com> > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 21, 2002 Report Share Posted March 21, 2002 Sorry everyone! I just did a little search in the archives on natural preservatives and berts bees (ya I know I shoulda done that first). I understand if no one wants to go there. Should I totally give up on naturally preserving my creams? I really hate to. Any new ideas on the fragrance? Thanks, ~ >From: " Deering " <endeeringdesigns@...> >Reply- > >Subject: natural preservatives >Date: Fri, 22 Mar 2002 00:33:26 -0500 > > >I checked out the Burts Bees web site, they only use natural preservatives >according to their ingrediant lists. Grapefruit seed extract and vitamin E >from what I could tell. Is there any reason why this wouldn't work? I >really >want to make creams and lotions but I don't want to use a chemical >preservative. I may be selling these as well, any other suggestions on >natural preservatives? > >Oh, and while we're on the subject of Burts Bees, has anyone come across a >copy of their baby bee apricot fragrance? It's so yummy!! > >Thank you very muchly! > >~ > > >_________________________________________________________________ >Join the world’s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. >http://www.hotmail.com > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 21, 2002 Report Share Posted March 21, 2002 Nope, they use synthetic preservatives like everyone else - they just don't label them according to accepted industry names all the time. The primary preservative that they use is what they call " glucose & glucose oxidase & lactoperoxidase " . It's made by a British chemical company. Needless to say, that's not the INCI name. It's not as natural as it sounds either - its as synthetic as ultramarine blue. Notice that on their lotions they say that they're " 97% natural " - what do you think that 3% is? Unfortunately, as Aveda found out several years ago (much to their dismay), it's not an especially effective preservative. That's why Aveda now uses mainstream preservatives. Grapefruit seed extract has been proven in numerous clinical tests to be a scam. Pure extract doesn't work. However, most of the commercially available products are adulterated with various anti- microbials such as triclosan and benzalkonium chloride. If you search the list archives you'll find abstracts of some of those studies. Vitamin E is not a preservative, it is an antioxidant. There are NO, repeat NO, effective natural preservatives that provide even minimal security for cosmetics. Believe me, all the chemical companies are looking for one - it's kind of the Holy Grail of the cosmetic chemistry industry. If one existed, it'd be on the market in a heartbeat. Jules in Vancouver BC > > I checked out the Burts Bees web site, they only use natural preservatives > according to their ingrediant lists. Grapefruit seed extract and vitamin E > from what I could tell. Is there any reason why this wouldn't work? I really > want to make creams and lotions but I don't want to use a chemical > preservative. I may be selling these as well, any other suggestions on > natural preservatives? > > Oh, and while we're on the subject of Burts Bees, has anyone come across a > copy of their baby bee apricot fragrance? It's so yummy!! > > Thank you very muchly! > > ~ > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Join the world's largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. > http://www.hotmail.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 22, 2002 Report Share Posted March 22, 2002 , I am into soapmaking and vitamin E is a natural perservative. Sunflower and wheat germ oil contain high quanties of vitamin E. Any chance one of these oils would work in facial products. I know the wheat germ oil is very thick so maybe it isn't non-comedogenic. Check out www.colebrothers.com/soap/oils.html. They have one of the nicer sites for oil properites. Hope this helps in some way. SD Re: natural preservatives > Sorry everyone! > > I just did a little search in the archives on natural preservatives and > berts bees (ya I know I shoulda done that first). I understand if no one > wants to go there. Should I totally give up on naturally preserving my > creams? I really hate to. > > Any new ideas on the fragrance? > > Thanks, > ~ > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 22, 2002 Report Share Posted March 22, 2002 I may be wrong, but I don't think so. Vitamin E in NOT a preservative, it is an anti-oxidant meaning it prevents your oils from going rancid, it does not " preserve " your product. Re: natural preservatives > Sorry everyone! > > I just did a little search in the archives on natural preservatives and > berts bees (ya I know I shoulda done that first). I understand if no one > wants to go there. Should I totally give up on naturally preserving my > creams? I really hate to. > > Any new ideas on the fragrance? > > Thanks, > ~ > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 22, 2002 Report Share Posted March 22, 2002 thanks Jules I couldn't have said it better my self. De Re: natural preservatives Nope, they use synthetic preservatives like everyone else - they just don't label them according to accepted industry names all the time. The primary preservative that they use is what they call " glucose & glucose oxidase & lactoperoxidase " . It's made by a British chemical company. Needless to say, that's not the INCI name. It's not as natural as it sounds either - its as synthetic as ultramarine blue. Notice that on their lotions they say that they're " 97% natural " - what do you think that 3% is? Unfortunately, as Aveda found out several years ago (much to their dismay), it's not an especially effective preservative. That's why Aveda now uses mainstream preservatives. Grapefruit seed extract has been proven in numerous clinical tests to be a scam. Pure extract doesn't work. However, most of the commercially available products are adulterated with various anti- microbials such as triclosan and benzalkonium chloride. If you search the list archives you'll find abstracts of some of those studies. Vitamin E is not a preservative, it is an antioxidant. There are NO, repeat NO, effective natural preservatives that provide even minimal security for cosmetics. Believe me, all the chemical companies are looking for one - it's kind of the Holy Grail of the cosmetic chemistry industry. If one existed, it'd be on the market in a heartbeat. Jules in Vancouver BC > > I checked out the Burts Bees web site, they only use natural preservatives > according to their ingrediant lists. Grapefruit seed extract and vitamin E > from what I could tell. Is there any reason why this wouldn't work? I really > want to make creams and lotions but I don't want to use a chemical > preservative. I may be selling these as well, any other suggestions on > natural preservatives? > > Oh, and while we're on the subject of Burts Bees, has anyone come across a > copy of their baby bee apricot fragrance? It's so yummy!! > > Thank you very muchly! > > ~ > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Join the world's largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. > http://www.hotmail.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 22, 2002 Report Share Posted March 22, 2002 In a message dated 3/22/02 6:16:40 AM Pacific Standard Time, fiveftnutn@... writes: > Actually, Vitamin E is an anti-oxidant not a preservative. As Jules has pointed out, there is no such thing as a natural preservative. It is indeed, the Holy Grail the industry and all crafters are looking for. But it is still unfound at this moment. lynn in valencia lavender bluffs bath and body " A little touch of heaven in your bath " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2002 Report Share Posted March 23, 2002 In a message dated 3/23/02 8:20:26 AM Central Standard Time, fiveftnutn@... writes: > De, > I may not be correct but that is what I just read about vitamin E. I will > do some more searching. > I feed my dog an " all natural " dog food and it says it uses Vit E and other natural products as a preservative. Hmmmm, but the food is dry. Kay, Stoli & Levitt (the handsome foster boy) Please visit our Soap for Hope site <A HREF= " http://www.weim.net/stoli/ " >Soap for hope</A> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2002 Report Share Posted March 23, 2002 De, I may not be correct but that is what I just read about vitamin E. I will do some more searching. SD Re: natural preservatives > > > > Sorry everyone! > > > > I just did a little search in the archives on natural preservatives and > > berts bees (ya I know I shoulda done that first). I understand if no one > > wants to go there. Should I totally give up on naturally preserving my > > creams? I really hate to. > > > > Any new ideas on the fragrance? > > > > Thanks, > > ~ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2002 Report Share Posted March 23, 2002 I was just talking to a friend if mine about dog food. She used to own a pet food store and she said the natural stuff was preserved with vit. E and A. It had a shelf life of a year and a half. Yes it was *dry* dog food, but it still had some moisture content in it. How would that last if they didn't have some sort of preservative at work? ~ >From: silverstoli@... >Reply- > >Subject: Re: natural preservatives >Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2002 13:43:11 EST > >In a message dated 3/23/02 8:20:26 AM Central Standard Time, >fiveftnutn@... writes: > > > > De, > > I may not be correct but that is what I just read about vitamin E. I >will > > do some more searching. > > > >I feed my dog an " all natural " dog food and it says it uses Vit E and other >natural products as a preservative. Hmmmm, but the food is dry. > Kay, Stoli & Levitt (the handsome foster boy) >Please visit our Soap for Hope site > <A HREF= " http://www.weim.net/stoli/ " >Soap for hope</A> > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 24, 2002 Report Share Posted March 24, 2002 De is right - Vitamin E is only an antioxidant - it is not a preservative. Jules > De, > I may not be correct but that is what I just read about vitamin E. I will > do some more searching. > SD > Re: natural preservatives > > > > > > > Sorry everyone! > > > > > > I just did a little search in the archives on natural preservatives > and > > > berts bees (ya I know I shoulda done that first). I understand if no > one > > > wants to go there. Should I totally give up on naturally preserving my > > > creams? I really hate to. > > > > > > Any new ideas on the fragrance? > > > > > > Thanks, > > > ~ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 24, 2002 Report Share Posted March 24, 2002 Hi all, can anyone tell me if there a difference between using Vitamin E oil (or capsules) and Vitamin E-T50? Selket wrote: Message: 19 Date: Sun, 24 Mar 2002 09:28:30 -0000 From: " gardengoddessjules " Subject: Re: natural preservatives De is right - Vitamin E is only an antioxidant - it is not a preservative. Jules --------------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 24, 2002 Report Share Posted March 24, 2002 I haven't come across the papers I have that said Vit E was a preservative but I did find the following: Evening Primrose " provides essential fatty acids that are reported to help inhibit bacterial growth and encourage antibodies so the skin is better able to defend against infection and inflammation. " Why can this not work as a preservative in your product as well? Sunflower Oil " contains Vit E so it naturally resist going rancid (Vit E is a preservative) " Wheat Germ Oil " rich in Vit E. Some people use it as a preservative in vegetable oils, soaps and toiletries, and others totally disagree... " This comes straight from www.colebrothers.com/soap/oils.html. If I am wrong you may email the Cole Brothers. They are the ones who posted this info. Since I am not professionally educated in the science field I can only hope that what they are posting is scientifically correct. Hopes this helps in some way. SD Re: natural preservatives > >Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2002 13:43:11 EST > > > >In a message dated 3/23/02 8:20:26 AM Central Standard Time, > >fiveftnutn@... writes: > > > > > > > De, > > > I may not be correct but that is what I just read about vitamin E. I > >will > > > do some more searching. > > > > > > >I feed my dog an " all natural " dog food and it says it uses Vit E and other > >natural products as a preservative. Hmmmm, but the food is dry. > > Kay, Stoli & Levitt (the handsome foster boy) > >Please visit our Soap for Hope site > > <A HREF= " http://www.weim.net/stoli/ " >Soap for hope</A> > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 24, 2002 Report Share Posted March 24, 2002 Not according to the Cole Brothers. SD Re: natural preservatives > > > > > > > > > > Sorry everyone! > > > > > > > > I just did a little search in the archives on natural > preservatives > > and > > > > berts bees (ya I know I shoulda done that first). I > understand if no > > one > > > > wants to go there. Should I totally give up on naturally > preserving my > > > > creams? I really hate to. > > > > > > > > Any new ideas on the fragrance? > > > > > > > > Thanks, > > > > ~ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 25, 2002 Report Share Posted March 25, 2002 Yup - vitamin E capsules are usually just alpha-tocopherol. T-50 (such as the one sold as Coviox) is mixed tocopherols. More stable, more reliable. Message: 19 > Date: Sun, 24 Mar 2002 09:28:30 -0000 > From: " gardengoddessjules " > Subject: Re: natural preservatives > > De is right - Vitamin E is only an antioxidant - it is not a > preservative. > > Jules > > > --------------------------------- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 25, 2002 Report Share Posted March 25, 2002 EFAs do not inhibit bacterial growth in any reliable, peer-reviewed research I've read. Got any references? The notes you provide from Cole Brothers refer to the antioxidant properties of Vitamin E. They do not refer to preservative activity. Dry dog food doesn't require a preservative, only an antioxidant, because it is anhydrous. The food industry frequently refers to antioxidants as preservatives, which is rather confusing. Jules > I haven't come across the papers I have that said Vit E was a preservative > but I did find the following: > Evening Primrose " provides essential fatty acids that are reported to help > inhibit bacterial growth and encourage antibodies so the skin is better able > to defend against infection and inflammation. " Why can this not work as a > preservative in your product as well? > Sunflower Oil " contains Vit E so it naturally resist going rancid (Vit E is > a preservative) " > Wheat Germ Oil " rich in Vit E. Some people use it as a preservative in > vegetable oils, soaps and toiletries, and others totally disagree... " > This comes straight from www.colebrothers.com/soap/oils.html. If I am wrong > you may email the Cole Brothers. They are the ones who posted this info. > Since I am not professionally educated in the science field I can only hope > that what they are posting is scientifically correct. Hopes this helps in > some way. > SD > Re: natural preservatives > > >Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2002 13:43:11 EST > > > > > >In a message dated 3/23/02 8:20:26 AM Central Standard Time, > > >fiveftnutn@k... writes: > > > > > > > > > > De, > > > > I may not be correct but that is what I just read about vitamin E. I > > >will > > > > do some more searching. > > > > > > > > > >I feed my dog an " all natural " dog food and it says it uses Vit E and > other > > >natural products as a preservative. Hmmmm, but the food is dry. > > > Kay, Stoli & Levitt (the handsome foster boy) > > >Please visit our Soap for Hope site > > > <A HREF= " http://www.weim.net/stoli/ " >Soap for hope</A> > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 25, 2002 Report Share Posted March 25, 2002 Again, the Cole Brothers website is referring to the antioxidant properties of Vitamin E. > > > De, > > > I may not be correct but that is what I just read about vitamin E. > > I will > > > do some more searching. > > > SD > > > Re: natural preservatives > > > > > > > > > > > > > Sorry everyone! > > > > > > > > > > I just did a little search in the archives on natural > > preservatives > > > and > > > > > berts bees (ya I know I shoulda done that first). I > > understand if no > > > one > > > > > wants to go there. Should I totally give up on naturally > > preserving my > > > > > creams? I really hate to. > > > > > > > > > > Any new ideas on the fragrance? > > > > > > > > > > Thanks, > > > > > ~ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 26, 2002 Report Share Posted March 26, 2002 I am simply trying to understand this. What does an antioxidant ( a substance that inhibits oxidation) have to do with preserving (which is to keep from decomposition)? SD Re: natural preservatives > > > >Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2002 13:43:11 EST > > > > > > > >In a message dated 3/23/02 8:20:26 AM Central Standard Time, > > > >fiveftnutn@k... writes: > > > > > > > > > > > > > De, > > > > > I may not be correct but that is what I just read about > vitamin E. I > > > >will > > > > > do some more searching. > > > > > > > > > > > > >I feed my dog an " all natural " dog food and it says it uses Vit > E and > > other > > > >natural products as a preservative. Hmmmm, but the food is dry. > > > > Kay, Stoli & Levitt (the handsome foster boy) > > > >Please visit our Soap for Hope site > > > > <A HREF= " http://www.weim.net/stoli/ " >Soap for hope</A> > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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