Teach Soap

as a preservative. I met a woman at a street fair today and that is what she said she has used successfully for 18 years without an issue as a preservative for her lotions and creams. She uses aloe gel, purified water, oils, and essential oils. She stated the Borax was an emulsifier and the preservative was Vitamin E oil and the products would last 12 months.
Everything I have read contradicts this. Can I get some feedback?
Thanks

Neither one is a preservative. Borax and beeswax will make an emulsion, however it's not stable over time. That's how old time cold creams used to be made, but they got moldy very quickly. Vit E is an anti-oxidant and not a preservative. She is lucky so far that she didn't get sued.

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

I have to agree and am amazed she hasn't had anything happen. She did say she has been doing this for 18 years so I am going to assume she does add a preservative but is not stating that so as to appear 100% natural.
Thanks for the reply.

It's possible that she doesn't have the preservative listed, or it's possible that she's using grapefruit seed extract. This extract is highly likely to be adultarated with Trichlosan, which is a preservative.

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

I both talked to her and then followed up with an email. She said nothing else is added. So I am again guessing she is trying to appear natural and not telling the truth. Thanks for the reply.

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

She has a booth at the same event I am at and when I say I use a preservative I get asked again and again why as hers is all natural. Its so frustrating because she has such a history there and I have only been ther for 6 months. I lose a lot of business because of that. I wis I could report her or do something but without knowing 100% its hard to accuse her of out right lying.

Next time you get asked, just smile and reply "Some people choose not to list or share all of the ingredients they use, however I like to be open and transparent with all my clients so as not to have you risk any reactions. Preservatives are needed to protect the lotion and yourself from mold, bacteria's and other nasties growing - most of which are not visible to the naked eye and may not be known until someone gets sick. I prefer not to take any risks with your health

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The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!

Awesome reply!!!

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