Teach Soap

Ok, I've read the post here about lib scrubs. And there is no clear cut answer if a preservative is needed. Typically, I do not believe that water will be introduced into a lip scrub, as dry fingers are used to apply it. However, I've also seen some recipes with honey. And if sugar is used, should a preservative be used? And which NON paraben preservative is good to use for this? And at what amount? I found this recipe that uses vanilla extract too. I am soo confused..

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JKM Creative Enterprises

If it's just a combo of oils/butters/waxes you should be ok. The word here is should. There might be an instance where someone's fingers will be moist, so water might be introduced into the scrub. I would not use honey as it's not oil soluble and precipitates out of the oils or butters over time. Same for vanilla extract as it's water soluble as well. I'm sure there are lip safe preservatives out there. I would check out Optiphen and see if that one would fit your needs. You will need a preservative that is safe if ingested in small amounts.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

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JKM Creative Enterprises

You're welcome jkmcreative and good luck!

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Optiphen has not been approved for the lip area in the US.

If it were me, I wouldn't worry about putting a preservative in a lip product. There is very small chance that water will be introduced into the product and thinking of all the lip products on the shelves in the grocery store, I don't recall seeing any sort of preservatives in them except a couple chapstick branded products (they were the exception). Generally, the 'big guys' really cover their bases.

However, if you want to use them, methyl and propyl parabens are both approved for use in lip products. The decision to add a preservative to a lip balm is a judgement call.

This is the recommended usage rate in lip products:

Propylparaben = 0.01%
Methylparaben = 0.015%

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Happy Soaping!

Anne-Marie
blog: www.soap-queen.blogspot.com
supplies: www.brambleberry.com

Thank you Anne-Marie. I was trying to think of a preservative that was paraben free.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

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JKM Creative Enterprises