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When Mold Strikes

Filed Under: Lotion

Mold Growth 2 Months after Mold Discovery
Initial Mold Growth, 4 months after product was purchased

I get asked, a lot, about preservatives in lotions. The post about Organic & Natural standards prompted Shelly to ask about Bramble Berry’s official stance on preservatives in the “Comments” section of the post. The question about preservative is probably the number one asked question here at Bramble Berry. My standard answer always goes something like:

“I really wish there was a failsafe way for you to use only natural preservatives in your lotions. If there was, I’m betting the really big guys would be using them more. The truth is that right now, there are a lot of great antioxidants like ROE or Vitamin E on the market but the natural-natural preservatives just coming into vogue aren’t ideal for the home crafter.

Germaben II or Phenonip is used as less than 1% of the total ingredient in your lotion. I think that people probably do more damage to themselves by carrying around an extra few pounds or eating a Twinkie once a month than they do by having that 1% of preservative in their product.

Plus, if anything were to happen (shudder), you might end up growing a microbe in your lotion that actually harmed someone.”

Bramble Berry’s official position on preservatives is that for the home crafter, a full spectrum anti microbial such as Germaben II or Phenonip is the most safe and responsible way to preserve lotions.

Imagine my surprise and dismay when a chic-chic body cream I purchased at (throat clear) “A Big Name Salon in Seattle” started molding and growing hairs! Ewwww … I checked the ingredients list. Sure enough, there are awesome antioxidants (Honeysuckle Extract & Vitamin E) but no effective preservatives.

I called the manufacturer to let them know, figuring they’d want to know how I stored the lotion (on my desk), how old it was (three months since date of purchase) and if there was a batch number on it (there wasn’t). They graciously replaced the lotion.

Play it safe and use a preservative in your lotion products until natural preservatives become easy and efficient to use for home crafters.

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100 Comments

    • Each preservative is a little different, but here are the usage rates:

      Optiphen: .5 – 1.5%
      Optiphen Plus: 0.75 – 1.5%
      Phenonip: .5 -1.0%
      Germaben: .3 to 1.0%

      And, if you ever forget, those percentages are listed on our product pages!

      -Becky with Bramble Berry

  2. Hello,

    Anne-Marie I love your blog, website and videos, I learned alot by watching them,whenever i am lost I know where to go, thank you.
    + you have such an adorable personality

    I agree with you about using preservatives being essential in producing good products. I have some questions it would help alot if you answer them, please.

    I would like to mass produce and sell scrubs, creams, lip balms, hair conditioners(leave in and rinse out), shower gels and body oils
    Where I live the weather is hot and Very humid.

    1.What preservatives can I use for all of the above to keep them premium grade for the most amount of time while being the closest to natural

    2.Would using just one peservative be enough or should I mix different preservatives to make sure the product stays in best condition for the customer?If yes, Is their a possibility where mixing them can become dangerous or toxic?

    3.Is it safe for preservatives to come in contact with the skin or scalp for long periods of time?
    Is it ok if a bit gets ingested by mistake while taking a shower or from a lip balm?

    4.Is it safe for children and pregnant women and people with allergies?

    A million thanks
    Sorry for the novel I just wrote(if not for you, who else will answer us)

    • Good morning, Claire!

      All of those are great questions and we are here to help you out.

      1. Every product is going to be a little different so you want to make sure you are using the proper preservative for that product. Germaben is a great preservative when you are diluting Bramble Berry’s Lab Colors as well as making your own lotions. Optiphen is best to use in your oil-based recipes (like shampoos, conditioners and some lotions). Optiphen Plus is great for your water-based recipes and Phenonip is great for your cremes, lotions, salt scrubs, etc. You will want to look at each recipe to find out which preservative you should be using as it often depends on the temperature of that particular recipe. For more on preservative you can check out this post that goes into detail:

      Talk It Out Tuesday: Preservatives: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/lotion/talk-it-out-tuesday-preservatives/

      Optiphen: https://www.brambleberry.com/Optiphen-P3682.aspx
      Optiphen Plus: https://www.brambleberry.com/Optiphen-Plus-P5253.aspx
      Phenonip: https://www.brambleberry.com/Phenonip-P4038.aspx
      Germaben: https://www.brambleberry.com/Germaben-Preservative-P3972.aspx

      2. We never suggest adding more than one preservative in your recipes because it could cancel out the effects of the other and you don’t actually need to use a high amount to preserve your products from any nasty bacteria, microbes or mold. You could use more than one but you’d have to actually know what you’re doing AND know the safety issues and usage rate issues with all of them (pH, temperatures etc…) And you’d need to challenge test each and every try for about $600 each, so that is why we don’t suggest mixing preservatives!

      3. Always wear gloves when manufacturing lotions. Putting 100% preservative on your skin has NOT been tested and is probably not safe. If you do get any on your skin be sure to wash it off as soon as possible with warm water and soap.

      4. We’ve never found the preservatives to be a problem for women, children or those with allergies. But, if they (or you) are worried, we’d always suggest consulting with their physician first. Anne-Marie is currently pregnant and has never had a problem using preservatives in her recipes and the lotions she uses.

      I hope this helps! πŸ™‚
      -Becky with Bramble Berry

  3. What is the best way to germaben IIE in body butters that contain water? And how long will this extend the shelf life of your lotions? I have made body butters with this preservative, however I have still had butters that grew mold after 2 months or soon after making them but I don’t know why some would while others didn’t.

    thanks

    • Good morning, Sheryl! Preservatives keep your products free from bacteria and mold that could potentially grow in, but they do not actually extend the shelf life of your lotions. Your lotions shelf life is only going to be as long as the ingredient with the shortest shelf life.

      When adding in Germaben to your lotions or body butters, we suggest keeping it at a rate of .3 to 1% of the total weight of your lotion. Do you recall how much you were adding in?

      -Becky with Bramble Berry

      • Yes,I use 1% total weight. I’ve read where it is best to incorporate germaben IIE with the fragrance for better distribution. Would that be the best way to add it…plus I do make sure that my butter is below the recommended temperature before adding. Yes I guess what I meant was not exactly shelf life, but how long is it suppose to keep mold and bacteria from forming.

        Thanks
        Sheryl

        • Using a preservative in your lotions, scrubs and butters should prevent bacteria and mold from growing in your product for it’s lifetime. Typically when we are making lotions we like to add in the preservative at the same time we are adding in our fragrance or essential oils but we don’t add them together as we’ve never found a benefit of doing so.

          -Becky with Bramble Berry

          • 520 grams distilled water
            88 grams coconut fraction oil
            35 grams cocoa butter
            128 grams sweet almond oil
            85 grams emulsifying was
            47 grams stearic acid
            2 tsp of eo or fo
            10 grams germaben iiE

            This is the recipe I use.

            thanks for your help.
            Sheryl

        • Hi Sheryl! Thanks for sharing your recipe. We did some calculation on you recipe and it looks like 1% (for the Germaben preservative) of your total recipe would actually be 90 grams of Germaben. Try adding that much next time you follow this recipe and see if helps your product from growing mold! πŸ™‚
          -Becky with Bramble Berry

          • also could you tell me how you calculated this? Because when I calculate the added total, I get 8.73 as 1% of 873 grams. Please help, I really need to understand because 90 grams of germaben is quite a lot.

            thanks again for you help
            Sheryl

          • So then if I’m already using 10 grams why would I still be getting some mold. What do you think?

          • A preservative is only as good as the environment it starts in. I’d go back to the basics: bleach water to clean all utensils, distilled water only, ensure your products, including the Germaben are fresh. I would also go the additional step of heating and holding your water for 20 minutes at just below boiling to help kill off any germs. Don’t cap your product until it’s fully cooled. There is no reason that this recipe should be growing mold if you’re following good manufacturing practices and keeping your temperatures below 60C (the temperature at which that preservative degrades). Mixing it with the fragrance would probably not make a difference. I always add my preservatives after the product is fully emulsified and as cool as possible. I’d try a new preservative system if you continue to have issues and are following all of my additional suggestions or check with the vendor you bought it from. Since Bramble Berry sells plain Germaben II and not the IIe, I’m not as familiar with it as I am with the products that Bramble Berry sells. Here is a link to all of our preservatives: https://www.brambleberry.com/Ingredients-C40.aspx Germaben II, Optiphen, Optiphen II and Phenonip.

          • Of the preservatives you are familiar with, what would you suggest as the best suited for the recipe I use.

            Thanks
            Sheryl

  4. Ok so i am just starting to make and learn about the process of making ones own soap and lotions but I do not like preservatives. With all of the herbs out there isn’t there ONE of them that actually preserves ? What about tea tree oil or lavender or patchouli or something?????

  5. Hello,

    I was wondering if you know of a good preservative that is paraben/toxin free? I am looking for a natural preservative.

    Thanks again for any advice.

  6. Hi, can I ask for feedback regarding…

    – Colloidal Silver being a preservative for 5 months?

    – Lecithin (unbleached)used as a single emulsifier?

    I anticipate testing these rather natural alternatives!

    I would like to also add thank you Bramble Berry, I love to see periodic specials emailed through Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild! I have bought nice stuff in the past (prior to membership) and thank you for the great service!

    Thank You Kindly!

    • Hi Margo,

      Thanks for your note. In my experience, Colloidal Silver is not an effective preservative or anti microbial if you are going to manufacture a lotion for sale. If you want to test it, a challenge test runs about $500 and you can get it from SageScript.

      Cindy is a wonderful chemist who is an expert in cosmetic science. Regarding Lecithin, Anne-Marie has tried to make that work extensively as a single emulsifer and never managed to make it work.

      She did get this recipe below to emulsify but it wasn’t a very stable emulsion but it might get you off to a good start

      Water 57.5% = 14.375 oz. = 407.1 grams
      Beeswax 4% = 1.0 oz. = 28.32 grams
      Borax 1% = .25 oz. = 7.08 grams
      Soy Lecithin 2% = .5 oz. = 14.16 grams
      Stearic Acid 4% = 1.0 oz. = 28.32 grams
      Preservative 1% = .25 oz. = 7.08 grams
      Mango Peach Salsa .05% = 125 oz. = 3.54 grams
      Shea Butter 5% = 1.25 oz. = 35.4 grams
      Avocado 12% = 3.0 oz. = 84.96 grams
      Sweet Almond Oil 16% = 4.0 oz. = 113.28 grams

      Lecithin also better as an emulsifier in beeswax/borax combinations. It should be kept to no more than 3% of the formula for ease of use.

      You can also try this but it makes more of a gel that is not very absorble but uses all natural emulsions:

      Water = 60% = 15 oz. = 424.8 grams
      Xantham Gum 2% =.50oz = 35.4 grams
      Stearic Acid 6% = 1.5oz. = 42.48grams
      Beeswax 3% = .75oz. = 21.24grams
      Preservative 1% = .25 oz. = 7.08 grams (optiphen)
      Relaxing F/O.05% = .125 oz. = 3.54 grams
      Shea Butter = 4% =1.0 oz. = 28.32grams
      Sweet Almond Oil = 16.5% = 4.125 oz. = 116.82 grams

      Mix your Xantham gum with a little bit of water before before mixing into water mixture. Then mixed Oil, Water & Gum mixture together really well, can take a while because the Gum is sticky!

      I hope this helps!
      ~Becky with Bramble Berry

  7. So I’m guessing that it is not a good idea to preserve a lotion with formulators alcohol? I just made some lotion using that for myself just to see how it does. Just an experiment based on what someone told me. No one has mentioned formulators alcohol as yet so just wondering. I do not sell my lotions btw. Sandy

    • It’s not a stable preservative for lotions as a long term solution and since it’s alcohol, it probably will have the opposite effect of moisturizing as well so that’s another thing to keep in mind. However, since you’re not selling your lotion and it’s just for you, I wouldn’t toss it if you love the lotion. Just use it up quickly =)

  8. Hi, so i was thinking of making body wash products and lotions containing chocolate in them, as chocolate is packed with antioxidants but my question is my body wash would contain milk(soy or cows) and melted Dark chocolate. so will phenonip work for this? i remember reading somewhere that phenonip is inactive for some non-ionic compounds like polysorbate 80, etc, i really need your help here, so the chocolate or milk wont inactivate it right? are chocolate and milk non-ionic? ,
    Thnx in Advance =)
    Aasif

    • I think I just answered your question on another post. Here’s what I said…

      “Phenonip will be great in your lotion recipe and will prevent mold and bacteria from growing. However, it will not prevent any organic ingredients from going bad (so your milk and melted chocolate will eventually go bad even with the phenonip). With milk in your lotion it will probably only last 4-6 weeks regardless of of the preservative you add. I hope this helps!”

      Courtney from Bramble Berry

  9. Two things, about that butter with no water phase. Believe it or not, but those herb powders contain a trace amount of WATER and can hold any water the butter is exposed to in the product (e.g. damp hands dipping into the jar). So, preservative is called for in a “all oleic” product if you put ANYTHING in the finished product so that is not 100% oil/butter. Second thing, a newer & easier to use preservative is Cosmocil CQ by Arch Personal Care products. Now accepted as a cosmetic preservative it was developed for use in contact lens solution. I find it much easier to use than the other products mentioned above. It has greater heat tolerance and is virtually odorless.

    • Thank you for stopping in. True true re: herbs.

      Re: Cosmocil CQ, I don’t use it for two reasons: (1)Since it’s a bactericide, it’s not great with antifungal/mold and generally needs additives to help with that. (2) It works best with pH of products less than 6 which normally isn’t what we make in the handcrafted lotion industry. For those two reasons, Bramble Berry doesn’t carry the preservative and I don’t recommend it unless you’re interested in adding potassium sorbate or another preservative to make it a truly effective, broad spectrum antimicrobial like Germaben II or other preservatives on the market.

  10. Very useful post, thank you very much – I have linked you on my blog, hope that's ok. I am a hardliner no-preservative purist ;-), and it's always useful to be reminded of the limits of that stance!

    Thanks again x

  11. If you're only making a body butter with no water, aloe vera, glycerin – anything that might be considered water – you don't need preservatives as mold and bacteria primarily grow in water and need the water to live. In a 100% Oil environment, you're fine with just using great anti-oxidants to extend the life of the product.

  12. Hi everyone,

    This post has been so informative – thank you!

    I have a body butter recipe that contains no water phase – it is made up of botanical butters blended with carrier oils, essential oils, herbal powder, and Vita E and ROE as anti-oxidants. Should I be using a proper preservative in this recipe? This would be for family/friends – so I want it to be safe, yet as all-natural as possible. Suggestions? Thanks again!

  13. Jarmelia,

    Thanks for helping to spread the word. Interestingly enough, another one of the lotions I just purchased is growing mold (different company). It's definitely an important topic for all home manufacturers to update themselves on.

  14. This is a great post! I quoted on my blog. I am looking into making lotions, body butters and creams. From my research anything that has water in it needs to be preserved. So, if someone is hung up on not using a preservative, they should stick to butters and oils.

    I would have been livid if I found mold in my lotion!! Gross!!

  15. Using a secondary preservative like that is definitely a fine idea. Sodium Bonzoate and Citric Acid are often used for liquid flavors I believe too. I could have sworn I saw it for a preservative in sno cone flavors! =)

  16. I use not only phenonip in my lotions, but instead of water, I purchase liquid aloe juice. It has sodium benzoate and citric acid added at a level of 1/10 of 1%. I have never had problems with mold. The oils usually go rancid before the lotion grows cooties.

  17. Potassium Sorbate, in my opinion, is not an effective preservative for lotions. It seems to work fine in some food additives that are never exposed to air but lotions seem to need a little more 'umph!' =)

  18. Everything's natural! Unless there is an inter-dimensional being wasting their time on our plane selling lotion? Doubt it. While I sell products heavy on certified organically grown agricultural inputs,that's just 51% of my biz. The other 49% is "learnin'" people that water= life, aka bacteria and fungus. Nuff said. No? Ok, this will do it- "Personal preference." Can't help neither the curious or furious further than that. Thanks for the pics and post though. It helped a lot of my hardliner purist friends separate reality from ideology πŸ™‚ Truly truly grateful your blog exists!!! BTW Brambelberry is a good site. Good prices, fast shipping, Good quality, pro/ friendly cust. service. Peace.

  20. Though I don't know your recipe, in general, Liquid Germal Plus would give your lotions a 12 month stable shelf life at the minimum. Aloe Vera Juice is MORE prone to molding than water so yes, yes, yes, definitely keep using that preservative.

    Bleach washing is just doing a 10% bleach solution and dunking your manufacturing products in there to disinfect them before making your product. Alcohol works just as well but is more expensive typically.

  21. I use liquid germal plus and have been told that this gives the lotions, butters, and conditioners a 5-6 month shelf life – would this be correct? I also am now starting to use Aloe Juice instead of distilled water – do I still need to use a preservative? I have been but just wondering. What is bleach watering? and is it better than using 91 percent alcohol?
    Thanks for the great article.

  22. Optiphen will work in normal lotion recipes provided it is added at 176 degrees or below. It is used at .5 to 1.5% by weight in the recipe.

  23. I read a lotion recipe that uses Phenonip. Can I substitute an equal amount of Optiphen? Will that be equally effective as a preservative?

    Louise

  24. If it's just a few jars, it sounds like it's the fault of the individual jars and contamination in those jars rather than a total batch contamination. Focus on those individual jars and fully disinfecting them (as well as your utensils) for your batches. Have you started disinfecting all of our jars yet? Am I barking up the proverbial wrong tree?

  25. I am using the recipe that I got from Bramble Berry when I ordered the kit a while back. I am using 70-80% milk . I am subbing goat milk for the distilled water. Maybe I should cut down the goat milk? The mold appears randomly, sometimes within a couple of weeks, and just one or two jars.

  26. Without seeing your recipe, I can't say for certain that it's enough preservative.

    How long until the mold forms?

  27. I have been making lotions using goat milk and have been having mold on some of the jars of lotion. i switched my preservative to Germaben II, have up the amount to .04 oz, have bleach water rinsed lids and jars, and have let the lotions cool thoroughly before putting the lids on.
    Any other suggestions?
    Thank you

  28. This may be a little late but this is for Jenny S. You don't say how much Germall Plus you were using. The fact that you were using it and still getting some micrbial growth suggests that the answer to the problem may be to simply increase the concentration slightly. Using distilled water won't stop this happening (sorry Anne-Marie!) as distilled water still may contain bugs. Also, there are microbial cells in the air, and they can just as easily inhabit the air space in your jars, starting to grow when the conditions are right.

    Whilst I am writing, I would just like to say that it is great to see so many sensible comments about preservatives, instead of the usual ill-informed hysteria I so often see on blogs like this! πŸ™‚

  29. Thanks for that, we do know about leaving the caps off until the product is cool, and also we do use distilled water. I have recently been advised to spray the caps with alcohol, and we are keen to try this, but am very curious as to the bleach-watering, what is this? I have never heard of it before.

  30. Yes, that is a disturbing problem. Eeek!

    So, some thoughts:

    1. I always leave my caps off until the lotion is fully cooled so no condensation forms on the caps to grow anything.

    2. Are you bleach-watering your caps? If you are not, any water that sits in/on them may be contaminated and growing microbes.

    3. Distilled water? Make sure you're using distilled water.

    If those three things don't do it, we'll start talking recipe, %s, and bleach watering your containers as well. =)

  31. I am in New Zealand, and we make lotion using Germall Plus as the preservative. We are finding that the surface of the product sometimes grows mould, especially when an air gap is present, but not always. It is only on the surface layer and the lotion underneath never grows anything at all. I am told it might be condensation settling on the surface and growing stuff as it has not been preserved. Can you help at all with this very disturbing problem? Thanks!

  32. It should last at least a year before you notice any rancidity in the oils. It's a 'mostly natural' recipe since the fragrance oil, emulsifying wax and preservative are not natural and they comprise about 7%-9% of the recipe.

  33. Thanks Anne-Marie!

    Oh yea I really love your lotion recipe it's very simply "Gift Series – Lotion Tutorial (from scratch)" how long should this lotion last before it goes bad and would this recipe be consider natural?

  34. Vitamin E would be great in lip balms, lip glosses and body butters.

    If you are not adding water to the product, you do not need a preservative. If you are doing water in the product, yes, include a preservative like Optiphen.

  35. Hi Anne-Marie,

    I would like to make other products like lip balms, lip gloss and body butters that do not contain preservatives, but I was thinking about using d-tocopherols (Vitamin E) and Rosemary Extract. Would it be best to add Optiphen to all my products? Or what kind of preservatives are best use in products for your lips?

  36. Hi Emma,

    Hm, tingly face is never fun! =) Optiphen, Phenonip and Germaben II are commonly used in face products.

    I wonder if it was another ingredient other than the preservative in the face mask that was making your face tingle.

    What were the other ingredients in the mask?

  37. Hi Anne-Marie,

    I’ve found that I can’t use Optiphen on my face (I tried a facial mask from a company that used optiphen and it tingled, but eventually settled down). Are there any preservatives that are good for the facial area? Or was my facial mask too high in preservatives?

  38. Lisa,

    They may have updated their official list. My list is almost a year old now and issues change rapidly.

    No, Bramble Berry does not sell Optiphen. We will soon but do not currently have it =)

  39. Ann Marie,

    Fyi, the Whole Foods website does list parabens as a banned item. Maybe they have updated it since you last checked. Also, Brambleberry does not sell Optiphen? -checked the website.

  40. Thanks Ann-Marie. Maybe it is just a particular store in my state. I’m going to try others and see what they say. Also will keep Optiphen in mind.

  41. I have a line of natural products. I believe that natural is the way to go, personally. That being said, there is such a thing as “too” natural. I use Optiphen Plus.

    One thing people don’t always realize is that you can have a contaminated product without seeing the green fuzzies. They can be lurking and not yet visible.

    The best line of defense is to do research. I have seen sellers say vitamin E and grapefruit seed extract are preservatives, when they are not.

    Greta article!

  42. Lisa,

    Maybe try Optiphen? It’s a non paraben based product that might fit into Whole Foods idea of a good preservative?

    I do have a copy of the Whole Foods list of “okay” substances and parabens are listed as a non-banned preservative system so perhaps it’s just a store or two in your area?

  43. Anne-Marie,
    You have really set my mind at rest. I have a couple friends who are involved in the “AlL Natural” and or “organic” bath and body industry. One is a die hard advocate of all natural the other says “hey, perception becomes reality” if customers hear a blip about the controversy a bit of hesitation sets in against parabens.

    Thanks for giving me fun and effective answers -ie: 10 pounds of extra weight, eating at McD’s etc. is worse for your health than .05% of a preservative on your body.

  44. Ann Marie, I have tried to get Whole Foods to carry my lotions but they don’t like the fact that there is a preservative in them (even a non paraben). They mention their other brands like Pangea, etc and insist that their natural preservatives are what their customers want. I really wish Whole Foods would educate themselves a bit more on the preservative topic!

  45. Erin,

    You could probably do .5% Phenonip in your scrubs and be adequately preserved against most normal use.

    Erin (again),

    You are correct. Some bacterial and microbe contamination may be present in some shape or form long before the human eye can detect it. Germaben II and Phenonip are excellent options for preserving lotions to ensure that the lotions will stay microbe free under normal use conditions.

  46. Michelle,

    You are completely correct – it is possible to do 100% natural and educate the end consumer about shelf life and not sticking fingers into jars and the like. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to legislate what your end user customers will do with the product when it’s actually in their hands.

    jk – That’s too bad that Lush’s product went bad on you and they did not refund or replace your money. I’m surprised and disappointed that they would let such a negative consumer experience stay out there. That said, Lush does use Germaben II in many of their products and claim it to be one of the safest and most effective preservatives on the market to date. I agree with their interpretation of the data.

    Perhaps toss them another line and give them a chance to make the situation right for you? It’s a shame to be out the money – they make some good products.

  47. Heavenly Scent,

    You could easily do Phenonip at its lowest suggested usage rate (.5%) for your oil based (but might be exposed to water, eventually) scrubs.

    I also seem to remember that my big jar of Matcha Tea Body Scrub by Origins (used as the scent inspiration for our own Match Tea fragrance) did *not* utilize a preservative – mostly likely because it depended on salt rather than sugar for exfoliation.

    If it were me, I’d toss the .5% of Phenonip into your scrubs and sell ’em in the full size – not just single use. Why deprive 100% of the general population of your scrubs when it’s most likely the lessor minority that are concerned about preservatives?

  48. Anon,

    No, you don’t need preservatives in a lotion bar. I recommend a great anti-oxidant like Vitamin E or GSE to help extend life of any oils but you do not need a traditional preservative.

  49. Heather & Faerie,

    That's a great idea for a longer post – an easy, sound-bite packed answer for your customers that might be susceptible to fear-mongering or persuaded that using GSE is an effective and safe preservative system.

    I'll tackle that in the next few weeks.

    With Erik from Otion gone on his honeymoon, I'll be working there and BB for the next few weeks. It'll make for a fun few jam-packed weeks!

  50. Dancing Panda,

    My position on liquid Germal II is the same as my position on all effective preservatives – it’s better to use it and be protected from all manner of infection, microbes and mold growth than to not use it.

    We to much more harm to our bodies by not working out 5x per week, eating at McDonald’s 1x per month and drinking more than 2 glasses of wine a night. 1% of a topically applied preservative is less of a risk than not eating your 5 servings of fruits and veggies per day.

  51. Hi Again:

    Another thing I was thinking about bacterial growth…

    Is is true that if an improperly preserved (or un-preserved product) contact bacteria that it could, in fact, be present BEFORE it actually showed up as mold??

    If so, the consumer could be using a contaminated product and not even be aware of it!

    Double-EEWW!

  52. Sue:

    At what percentage to you add the preservative to the Scrubs? It sounds like an option for me, if I want to offer them to the public.

    I, too, like natural, but agree that when water is involved – or could be involved – preservatives are necessary!

    Erin
    Heavenly Scent Soaps

  53. A PERFECT example of why I use preservative in my lotions, and anything else that contains water or might be exposed to water (scrubs and such).

    Unfortunately, so many people are so enraptured by the “natural” concept that they forget why preservatives are necessary, FOR THEIR SAFETY!! I would be curious to hear the reaction of the manufacturer of the moldy stuff, besides replacing it.

    Thanks for posting this pic, it will be a reality check for lots of people who think they can get away with not using a proper preservative to cater to the “natural” market.

  55. This has been a huge topic of conversation lately. I use either liquid Germall Plus or Optiphen Plus in any products that contain water and even in my sugar and/or salt scrubs that contain no water. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

  56. i bought a lotion from lush that after a month got like that. this is fresh from the warehouse. they claim that this has never happened and wanted me to send the product back (which meant i had to pay for shipping again) and they never did replace it. its pitiful that such a large company would be pulling that. at $25 a jar, something could have been done. i know they try to keep everything as natural and chemical free as possible, but at what cost to customers?
    they will certainly never be seeing me again.
    -jk

  57. I babbled through and forgot something. LOL!

    I’ve made my own lotion for years, one reason I haven’t sold it is because I refuse to put any preservatives in it. I’ve purchased cream for the first time from Product Body, she uses preservatives and I really love it.

    I believe 100% natural can still be given to the public if they are made aware of its production date and how they should keep it. Keeping something 100% natural in the refridgerator extends its shelf life. I made a cream once that lasted more than 6 months without any growth. Natural preservatives do work. It all comes down to educating the consumer. I’ve purchased all natural and I was educated on how to store it and how to identify if it was going bad. I’ve had things last several months without a problem.

    It just comes down to what people want. You can’t hand them a product that is “100% natural” and not educate them on the meaning.

    The problem I’ve found when wanting to sell is the majority of people would rather have something that lasts longer than something that is natural, but I do believe that is changing.

  58. EEEWWWWW is right!

    I quit offering my sugar and salt scrubs to my customers (I just make them for myself now). Although the product itself doesn’t contain water, it is used in the bath or shower where the product could be exposed to water. I just don’t want to take the chance of the product getting contaminated by the water component.

    But, I really LOVE making my scrubs!! I was thinking of offering really small single-sized “servings”.

    Thoughts, anyone????

  59. I learned how to make lotions at Bramble Berry’s Soap Intensive weekend, told my niece all about it and she now insists that she have a lotion or body spray NAMED after her. Hehe Hence my recent purchase of Phenonip from BB (which is what we used in class).

  62. this is why i won’t wholesale my hydrous products. i had that happen with germall + and the flack i get re: paraben based preservatives (which i have never had a problem with) makes me just offer anhydrous items and heave a heavy sigh.

  63. great post!! I was starting to doubt my decision to use preservatives, thinking that maybe they aren’t necessary… not anymore.

    do you have advice about how we should explain that to our customers? I’m thinking something quick, yet friendly πŸ˜‰

  64. I have to say the mold is disgusting. I would much rather take any risk with a preservative than have mold….. I do appreciate learning the other option of doing a solid lotion bar for those that do want natural without having to risk mold.

  65. teresa – Grapfruit Seed extract is not a proven preservative against mold and bacteria in lab studies. It is, however, a great antioxidant!

  66. pajama mama – Yes, all of Bramble Berry’s lotions use proven preservatives.

    Amanda – Liquid Germall Plus is a very good, proven preservative.

    For those that want to avoid chemical preservatives I like to recommend making something like a solid lotion bar – no water, no mold!

  67. Other posters asked some good questions that I am also curious about. I’ve read that some people use grapefruit seed extract for a preservative. Any opinions on that? Thanks!!

  68. Ewww… ick, I don’t think I would want to take the chance of growing something, so I think I’ll stick with bases and if I venture into making myself, I’ll be using a nice preservative.

  70. Oh, good grief. . .I think I’m about to throw up right here at my desk!

    Yeah, I keep trying to tell everyone I know that they are better off with at least *some* preservatives in their cosmetics and body care items rather than just antioxidants, but no one seems to believe me. . .that is, until they read about something like this or it happens to them. Then they email me and say, “About those preservatives we were talking about. . .”

    What’s your position on Liquid Germall Plus? I started using it because my customers wanted to stay away from products containing parabens, so. . .yeah. Thoughts?

    Amanda D.
    Dancing Panda Soapworks

  71. Another great post! I’m finally ready to attempt lotions now that the cold weather is on its way. I’ve been trying to figure out what I wanted to do for preservatives. As always, your experience and information is very helpful!

  72. Anne-Marie, thank you for this post! I really love the all natural concept but the reality of the situation is that if you have water, you have mold potential. I would not sell a lotion or cream with out a preservative or combonation of preservatives there are too many variables and I want my cusomters to enjoy their goodies and not worry about mold & bacteria. Thank you for a fabulous post. Enjoy the wedding.

  73. Yuck!!! But your lotion bases have preservatives already in them…right..?

    And…why are your feet orange(pic)?

    I hope you post some wedding pics!

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