More Information on the use of Preservatives

You asked us in the newsletter survey to give you more information about the use of a preservative in future product development. Any cosmetic product is an inviting environment for bacteria to grow in, especially given that we often store or use these products in the warm, moist bathroom and dip our fingers repeatedly into the jars. Contamination with unhealthy bacteria, yeast and molds is unavoidable and they must not be allowed to multiply. Our use of vitamin E in our Whipped Shea Butter and Shea Butter Lotions is sufficient for the ingredients used in them, but the fresh goat's milk in our Goat's Milk Cream necessitates something more. While reading about well-respected, established companies such as Avalon Organics we found that food-grade FDA approved phenoxyethanol, derived from various sources such as grapefruit and sage, is widely accepted in natural circles as an acceptable ingredient in cosmetics. We have chosen to use Optiphen TM, which is globally approved and paraben- and formaldehyde-free. Of course, there are those who prefer not to use even this and arguments against using anything in a form not naturally occurring in nature, and we certainly respect that. All except one of our products contains only pure, natural ingredients, and we prefer to develop new products along the same lines. If, due to customer demand, we create any new products that for your safety require a preservative, we will clearly list it in the ingredients. If anyone has any more information regarding other options for even more acceptable preservatives we would love to hear from you. In the meantime we will continue to put our all into ensuring safe, healthy options in cosmetic products.