I wish to talk about a sensitive and increasingly debated topic. Due to the lack of meaningful information, it is already becoming shrouded in myths and legends. I think that now is the right time to state Vilana Natural Beauty’s position on this significant issue - preservatives in cosmetics - in a clear, understandable and straightforward way.
First of all, why and when are preservatives used? All beauty and hygiene products based on water in the recipe are protected because water is a splendid medium for a wide range of bacteria, fungi and other harmful microorganisms to reproduce. And it’s not an add-on you would like to see in, say, your favourite face cream! - they don’t perform any beneficial function, neither moisturise nor smooth wrinkles. They are dangerous and can cause quite acute inflammation, infections and skin damage. So, to genuinely take care of your most prominent asset - health, as well as by the procedure prescribed by law, we have to use an additional ingredient - preservative - in certain products.
A product that contains water, and we know that there is more than one in our product line, will always have to pass the PET exam (Preservative Efficacy Test). And no responsible laboratory will accept a product for the open market that is not safe to use. Everything else is oil-based or water-free cosmetics. Bacteria do not like oils as they do not have favourable conditions for their reproduction, so such products are inherently safe in themselves, and their shelf life is long enough. Such measures usually do not expire due to the accumulation of bacteria or fungi, but over time, the oils lose their good properties and become less effective. By the way, oils do not like to be friends with the sun or light, so we recommended keeping them in cool, dark places with the bottles tightly closed.
Why is this preservative used in Vilana Natural Beauty products? As you already know, any cream, shampoo or conditioner must be of high quality and safe for both your beauty and health. Since there is no officially established guidelines or legal instructions on which preservatives to choose and use, we had to dive into the waters ourselves and find the best and most effective option. A perfect middle ground that not only meets all the necessary wants but is friendly to nature and people. Also, effectively protect against unwanted pests and the potential harmful factors that cause them.
You’ve probably not been the only one to hear that natural vitamin E, grapefruit essential oil and a few others used are great natural preservatives - yes, that’s true. But they are very narrow in specificity and, in many cases, incapable of protecting our beloved cosmetics. Therefore, our choice: Dehydroacetic acid & Benzyl alcohol - their mixture is also called Gfecosafe or Costard. It is the only preservative certified as natural and highly effective and, most importantly, recognised by one of the large Bioproduction regulatory companies, Ecocert, which says a great deal! This organisation, with a good reputation, is respected by all creators of natural cosmetics. Another aspect I would like to mention, as I often answer this question, is that Benzyl alcohol in this preservative is of a natural origin. It is found naturally in original tea, organic fruit and various essential oils.
I cannot emphasise enough that you need to understand this correctly as it is our aim for cosmetics to retain their quality value and impact for about six months from the date of opening the package. In my opinion, this is enough time to consume the entire cream package or shampoo bottle, so our products use very little preservative - practically always less than 1% of the 100% composition of the product. I am sure, and this is confirmed by the results of my work experience, that this choice is the right one, and I can safely say that for this reason, I never doubt the safe use of the products I have created.
So I strongly invite you to take a little more interest, explore and learn. It will help you not only choose natural, safe and effective products to help nurture the beauty of your skin and hair, free from various toxins but also have more knowledge. You will also be able to give the right advice to your friends on how to spot and choose quality and healthy products.
