Preservatives Guide for Beginners

Best for watery solutions

Not Natural or Ecocert 

• Liquid Germall Plus (INCI; Propylene Glycol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbonate)  

• Germall Plus Powder (INCI; Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate)

• Saliguard® PCG (INCI; Caprylyl glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol)

• Euxyl PE 9010 / Preservative 12 (INCI; Phenoxyethanol & Ethylhexylglycerin)

  
  

Natural / Ecocert

• Geogard ECT / Preservative Eco / Benzyl Alcohol-SAL (INCI; Benzyl Alcohol, Salicylic Acid, Glycerin, Sorbic Acid)

• Geogard 221 /  Benzylalcohol-DHA (INCI; Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Water)

• Euxyl K 900 (INCI; Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin)

  
  

Best for Emulsions

Not Natural or Ecocert 

• Liquid Germall Plus (INCI; Propylene Glycol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbonate)  

• Germall Plus Powder (INCI; Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate)

• Saliguard® PCG (INCI; Caprylyl glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol)

• Euxyl PE 9010 / Preservative 12 (INCI; Phenoxyethanol & Ethylhexylglycerin)

  
  

Natural / Ecocert

• Geogard ECT / Preservative Eco / Benzyl Alcohol-SAL (INCI; Benzyl Alcohol, Salicylic Acid, Glycerin, Sorbic Acid)

• Geogard 221 /  Benzylalcohol-DHA (INCI; Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Water)

• Euxyl K 900 (INCI; Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin)

• Euxyl K 903 / Preservative K903 (INCI; Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Tocopherol)

• TRIstat ECO (INCI; Benzyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Undecylenate)

  
  

Best for acidic solutions (AHA’s / BHA’s)

Not Natural or Ecocert 

• Euxyl k 700 / Preservative K (INCI; Benzyl alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium sorbate, Aqua, Tocopherol)

• Euxyl K 701 (INCI; Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin)

• Euxyl K 703 (INCI; Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid)

• Euxyl PE 9010 / Preservative 12 (INCI; Phenoxyethanol & Ethylhexylglycerin)

• Optiphen Plus / Phenoxyethanol SA / Preservative – Sorbic Acid +2 PF (INCI; Phenoxyethanol,  1,2-Octanediol, Sorbic Acid. Or you may see as Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbic Acid)

• Preservative CAP-5 / Jeecide CAP-5 (INCI; Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Hexylene Glycol)

• Saliguard® PCG (INCI; Caprylyl glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol)

  
  

Natural / Ecocert

• Euxyl K 903 / Preservative K903 (INCI; Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Tocopherol)

• Geogard ECT / Preservative Eco / Benzyl Alcohol-SAL (INCI; Benzyl Alcohol, Salicylic Acid, Glycerin, Sorbic Acid)

• Geogard 221 /  Benzylalcohol-DHA (INCI; Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Water)

• TRIstat E (INCI; Benzyl alcohol, Water, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium benzoate)

  
  

Best for Foaming Products 

Not Natural or Ecocert 

• Liquid Germall Plus (INCI; Propylene Glycol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbonate)  

• Germall Plus Powder (INCI; Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate)

• Germaben II / Paraben-DU / TRIstat D2 (INCI; Propylene Glycol,  Diazolidinyl Urea,  Methylparaben,  Propylparaben)

• Saliguard® PCG (INCI; Caprylyl glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol)

  
  

Natural / Ecocert

• Euxyl K 900 (INCI; Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin)

• Euxyl K 903 / Preservative K903 (INCI; Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Tocopherol)

• Geogard ECT / Preservative Eco / Benzyl Alcohol-SAL (INCI; Benzyl Alcohol, Salicylic Acid, Glycerin, Sorbic Acid)

• Geogard 221 /  Benzylalcohol-DHA (INCI; Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Water)

• TRIstat ECO (INCI; Benzyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Undecylenate)

  
  

Safe for Lips

Not Natural or Ecocert 

• Euxyl PE 9010 / Preservative 12 (INCI; Phenoxyethanol & Ethylhexylglycerin)

• Phenonip XB (INCI; Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben)

• Preservative CAP-2 (INCI; Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol)

  
  

Natural / Ecocert

• Sodium Dehydroacetate (SDHA) / TRIstat SDHA, NF Preservative (INCI; Sodium Dehydroacetate)

• Biguanide 20 / Polyaminopropyl Biguanide (PABG) (INCI; Polyaminopropyl Biguanide - (may not be strong enough to use on it’s own)

• Geogard 221 /  Benzylalcohol-DHA (INCI; Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Water)

• Geogard ECT / Preservative Eco / Benzyl Alcohol-SAL (INCI; Benzyl Alcohol, Salicylic Acid, Glycerin, Sorbic Acid)

• Geogard Ultra / Neodefend (INCI; Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate

  
  

Safe for Eye Area (not in eye drops!!)

Not Natural or Ecocert 

• Phenonip XB (INCI; Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben)

  
  

Natural / Ecocert

• Sodium Dehydroacetate (SDHA) / TRIstat SDHA, NF Preservative (INCI; Sodium Dehydroacetate)

• Biguanide 20 / Polyaminopropyl Biguanide (PABG) (INCI; Polyaminopropyl Biguanide - (may not be strong enough to use on it’s own)

• Geogard 221 /  Benzylalcohol-DHA (INCI; Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Water)

  
  

Best for Anhydrous Formulas 

Not Natural or Ecocert 

• Euxyl PE 9010 / Preservative 12 (INCI; Phenoxyethanol & Ethylhexylglycerin)

• Phenonip (INCI; Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Propylparaben, Isobutylparaben)

• Opitphen / TRIstat PCG90 (INCI; Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol)

  
  

Natural / Ecocert

None that I know of.

There is PHYTOCIDE ELDERBERRY OS (INCI; Sambucus nigra Fruit Extract) but this is only an antimicrobial, not a broad spectrum preservative.

Heat Safe (can be added pre emulsion)

Not Natural or Ecocert 

• Galguard Trident S / Glycine-Benzoic Acid (INCI; Benzoic Acid, Capryloyl Glycine, Undecylenoyl Glycine)

• Phenonip XB (INCI; Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben)

• Preservative CAP-5 / Jeecide CAP-5 (INCI; Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Hexylene Glycol) Can handle temperatures above 70°C - 75°C (158°F -167°F) for extended time periods.

  
  

Natural / Ecocert

• Euxyl K 900 (INCI; Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin)

• Geogard Ultra / Neodefend (INCI; Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate)

• Biguanide 20 / Polyaminopropyl Biguanide (PABG) (INCI; Polyaminopropyl Biguanide - (may not be strong enough to use on it’s own)

• Sodium Dehydroacetate (SDHA) / TRIstat SDHA, NF Preservative (INCI; Sodium Dehydroacetate)

• TRIstat ECO (INCI; Benzyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glyceryl Undecylenate)

  
  

Works in High pH level (like liquid soaps)

Not Natural

• Euxyl PE 9010 / Preservative 12 (INCI; Phenoxyethanol & Ethylhexylglycerin)

• Phenylpropanol EHG / TroyCare™ EPP37 (INCI; Phenylpropanol, Ethylhexylglycerin)

• Saliguard® PCG (INCI; Caprylyl glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Propylene Glycol)

• Preservative CAP-2 (INCI; Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Hexylene Glycol - Perfoms best in pH of 6, but has been shown to be effective up to 10; ideal pH 4-10)

  
  

Natural / Ecocert

• Euxyl K 900 (INCI; Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin)

• Biguanide 20 / Polyaminopropyl Biguanide (PABG) (INCI; Polyaminopropyl Biguanide - (may not be strong enough to use on it’s own)

  
  

Best Natural / Ecocert Preservative (in my opinion)

• Geogard 221 /  Benzylalcohol-DHA (INCI; Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Water)

• Geogard ECT / Preservative Eco / Benzyl Alcohol-SAL (INCI; Benzyl Alcohol, Salicylic Acid, Glycerin, Sorbic Acid)

  
  

My overall favorite, must have preservatives

• Geogard 221 /  Benzylalcohol-DHA (INCI; Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Water)

• Geogard ECT / Preservative Eco / Benzyl Alcohol-SAL (INCI; Benzyl Alcohol, Salicylic Acid, Glycerin, Sorbic Acid)

• Liquid Germall Plus (INCI; Propylene Glycol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbonate)  

• Optiphen Plus / Phenoxyethanol SA / Preservative – Sorbic Acid +2 PF (INCI; Phenoxyethanol,  1,2-Octanediol, Sorbic Acid. Or you may see as Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbic Acid)

• Opitphen / TRIstat PCG90 (INCI; Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol)

• Euxyl PE 9010 / Preservative 12 (INCI; Phenoxyethanol & Ethylhexylglycerin)

I also really like;

• Euxyl K 900 (INCI; Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin)

• Euxyl K 903 / Preservative K903 (INCI; Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Tocopherol)

Preservative Cheat Sheet By TaraLee.xlsx

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