5 replies to this topic

[Phoebus]

Wondering what is the best preservative to use for DIY beauty products?

 

There are lots of options, which one do you think is the least toxic, least abrasive to the body but will still preserve the substance you are working with? 

[CedarWind]

This is somewhat controversial but I believe alcohol is overall the safest and as effective as more traditional preservatives. It's not perfect, and by definition no preservative can be because for it to work it has to be somewhat cytotoxic. But out of all the options, I like to use ethanol at 22% of the product. It's very effective and evaporates within seconds of applying vs other preservatives that sit on the skin as long as the product is on and absorb though the skin.

[Mike1024]

I use cheap gin (about $13 for a handle (1.75 L) at 40% ethanol) as a preservative and to improve the solubility of some herbal extracts (boswellia, Olive leaf extract, and GTE)   . Anything above about 20% ethanol should be stable from mold and such.

[Mike1024]

My current experiment is to improve the sun damage on my arms using a mixer of vitamin c, MSM, and nicamamide in 40% ethanol. I also add some boswellia extract, Olive leaf extract, GTE and a few mg MB. It seem to help some over the last 6 months. I know that vitamin c will react with the nicamamide to make niacin over time, but it takes a few weeks so if I make it fresh it is not a problem.

[Phoebus]

My current experiment is to improve the sun damage on my arms using a mixer of vitamin c, MSM, and nicamamide in 40% ethanol. I also add some boswellia extract, Olive leaf extract, GTE and a few mg MB. It seem to help some over the last 6 months. I know that vitamin c will react with the nicamamide to make niacin over time, but it takes a few weeks so if I make it fresh it is not a problem.

 

So niacinamide is better for the skin than niacin? 

[Mike1024]

So niacinamide is better for the skin than niacin? 

 

Yes. Niacin on the skin can cause unpleasant flushing while niacinamide does not.