Paraben-free Cosmetics: Customers are picky nowadays
Customers prefer cosmetics that can do without problematic substances. Often, scientific proof of a certain supposed harmfulness cannot always be provided; for substances like parabenes, silicone, parrafins and sulfates. Nonetheless, many customers are both unsettled and uncertain, and thus prefer cosmetics without such additives. Sometimes rightly so. Sometimes just because anxiety gets the better of them. At Cosmacon, we develop formulations that fit exactly with your requirements and expectations, which do not contain any of the above mentioned problematic ingredients. If you need to replace parabens, we have substitute cosmetic mixtures work perfectly well with your desired formulation.
Optimal Use of Parabens – What are they actually?
Parabens help make cosmetic products as well as foodstuffs and medications, i.e. medical drugs, long-lasting and durable, which extends the shelf life of the product. Like all preservatives, they protect against microbial degradation processes, which spoils the product; and thus ensures that the product does not cause health issues by giving it a long shelf life.
Parabens are a well-researched group of substances, which pose no health risks, if used in the legally required concentration limits. In practice, parabens make up 0,1-0,4 % in a formulation; and can easily be detected in the INCI declaration because the name combination always includes the word “paraben”.
For developers of cosmetic products, the use of parabens was easy: They hardly influence the physical long-term stability. They are resistant to atmospheric oxygen. They hardly impact sensory impressions of the product (texture, spreadability on the skin, scent and color).
Many clinical tests and studies are available that determine safety and tolerability of parabens with the result that the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS), considers limited use of certain parabens safe. However, the committee recommends are reduction of maximum limits for use of parabens. Furthermore, as of October 2015, propylparaben and butylparaben are prohibited for use in baby products in the nappy area. We agree: Baby cosmetics formulations should be paraben-free.
Finding appropriate Paraben Substitutes is not that easy
Anyone who has endeavored finding a 1:1 replacement for parabens, has had to soon realize that this is not possible. Substitute substances have to be put to use in a tenfold concentration, which change the product’s texture, skin feel or stability. The microbiological test of the product is a challenge because many substitute substances do not take the same effect in the specified pH range. Thus, getting the desired results is not that easy. We have looked into many alternatives, and have re-designed a number of formulas that substitute parabens. Depending on the foundation – water (O/W) or cream foundation (W/O) or gel base – the replacement is more or less elaborative.
Cosmacon can make paraben-free solutions available to you at any time that can be optimized to blend nicely with your desired cosmetics product.
In Conclusion: Parabens make cosmetics more tolerable, consumer-friendly and even more natural. However, often parabens must be replaced in successful and well known products because the customers demand paraben-free products. The consumer wants to have the exact same product – but without the parabens. We have specialized ourselves and can take care of this particular challenge. Almost always, we were able to maintain the former product’s characteristics in the new paraben-free formulation.
Cosmacon develops trouble-free Solutions
Cosmacon takes its responsibility both toward manufacturers and consumers very seriously. This is why we are determined to offer trouble-free substitutes for parabens. Our formulations can be aligned to your design wishes and scientific expectations to help boost your product’s success. Get in touch with us any time. We can show you which paraben substitutes are best suited for your specification.
The future in cosmetics is paraben-free. Let’s build that future together.