Preservative

Preservatives are substances which are used in cosmetic products and dermatological formulations and inhibit the growth of microorganisms.

The general conditions for preservatives (including the obligation to declare) which may be used in cosmetics are defined in the EC Cosmetics Regulation (1223/2009) Annex V. Preservatives also have to be declared in dermatological formulations.

Except for justified exceptional cases only one single preservative should be used in each case.

Preservatives in external preparations (epicutaneous test series cited according to DKG)

• Chloroacetamide 0,2 % Vas.
• Diazolidinyl urea (Germall II) 2 % Vas.
• Quaternium 15 (1-(3-chloroallyl)-3,5,7-. 2 % Vas. (since 2016)
• Imidazolidinyl urea (Germall 115) 2 % Vas.
• DMDM Hydantoin 2 % Aqu.
• Sorbic acid 2 % Vas.
• Triclosan 2 % Vas.
• Benzyl alcohol 1 % Vas.
• Chlorhexidine digluconate 0,5%Aqu.
• Sodium benzoate 2 % Vas. (since 2016- before 5%)
• Bronopol (2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol) 0,5 % Vas.

To be used further:

Proplenglycol: miscible with water in any ratio; the application concentration is 20% relative to the hydrophilic phase of a formulation.

Chlorbutanol hemihydrate: rarely used in creams and solutions; the application concentration is 0,3%.

1. http://dkg.ivdk.org/dkgblo.html
2. Geier J et al (2016) News on the epicutaneous test series of the German Contact Allergy Group. Dermatology at work and in the environment 64: 70-75