Saturday, April 19, 2014

Cosmetics and Preservatives


I will be adding to this post.

Added March 19, 2015
"Close Scrutiny Of Cosmetic Preservatives Continues", 2014 (David C. Steinberg is a cosmetic preservatives consultant), @cenmag 
http://cen.acs.org/articles/92/i23/Close-Scrutiny-Cosmetic-Preservatives-Continues.html  
"In Steinberg’s opinion, FDA should have done much more than tell consumers about Badger’s recall." (of its baby and kids sunscreens) "FDA should have said to Badger, ‘You have a noncompliant drug manufacturing facility,’ and then shut them down. Marketers, rather than scientists, seem to be in charge of formulating products these days, Steinberg observes, by insisting on so-called natural ingredients." ... “We’re highly subjected to social media,” complains Michael Mack, ... a maker of both synthetic and plant-based preservatives. “Information gets out without scientific backing, and people assume certain chemicals are bad.”

 Email Reply: Tree sap as a cosmetics preservative?
1. It is processed, and not "all natural". 2. Research its history of working well, and safety.

 Companies selling botanical-based cosmetics often tell you what they do not contain, often inaccurately, leaving out what is in them. Of course if you do not have the correct INCI cosmetics preservative name(s), you cannot do research on safety and history. That is the idea - if the preservative(s) are not on the label, you are not able do so. And the company has violated the cosmetics labeling transparency regulations that now exist in most countries. Water-based, and other cosmetics need broad spectrum preservatives for safety. Natural-based ones are blends and NOT "all natural".

 2010
"Preservatives Under Fire", @cenmag
"Preservatives consultant Steinberg warns that if formulators avoid the tried and true preservatives, they do so at their own peril. ... he contends, they have done a good job of preventing bacterial contamination of personal care products. If formulators aren’t careful about cosmetics preservation, “people may get injured,” he warns."

 2013
"The preservative wars", @aocs
https://www.aocs.org/stay-informed/read-inform/featured-articles/the-preservative-wars-february-2013
"Preservatives are necessary to curb microbial growth in lotions, creams, makeup, and other personal care products."

 All you have to do is read government Recalls on a number of natural cosmetics products to see they have been recalled because of bacterial contamination. That is becoming an unfortunate trend. It means consumers have paid a premium price to be put at a health risk. The Recalls are fact. The advertising and or marketing of such products is often pure, unadulterated, misleading, inaccurate hype.

 The information that no injuries have been reported can also mean 3 things: reluctance to report, ignorance of the Recall, and not connecting a problem to the product. Cosmetics manufacturers are supposed to do their own testing for product safety of the finished product BEFORE it goes to market and needs to be recalled.

 Am I against botanical "all natural" products? No. Most are NOT "all natural" though. That said to me, it is about their safety. Safety is vital. I read ingredients lists for food and cosmetics. A lot of cosmetics labels are scary if you see no broad spectrum preservatives and do the research, and I do the research.

A number of consumers complain about certain chemicals in mainstream products. The fact is they are often hidden in many "all natural" products, NOT on the labels. And they are not declared in marketing and advertising either.

 2013
"The Current State of Preservatives" "Alternative preservatives that offer a similar level of broad-spectrum protection have yet to be found."

 You do not have to do extensive math. Alternative preservatives often, and increasingly = Recalls.

 "Kiss My Face, LLC recalls Foaming Soaps", 2014

"Abundance Naturally Ltd. recall Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Mouthwash", 2014
Posted by at
Labels: ,