Shelf life of natural cosmetics

Strict requirements for personal care products

The approval of skin care products in Germany and the EU is subject to strict regulations. This is important so that everyone can be sure that the products do not contain ingredients that are proven to be toxic or harmful. It also ensures that the products do not spoil too quickly and that, for example, mold does not form. For the latter, a so-called preservative efficacy test (PET), also known as a microbial challenge test, must be carried out in Germany before a product can be approved. This microbial challenge test takes approx. 6 weeks and is usually carried out by independent institutes according to DIN EN ISO standards.

During the test, the products are inoculated with defined microorganisms (germs are added to the product), followed by the determination of the microbial count at fixed time intervals. It is specified how these microbial counts must be reduced for the skin care product to be considered stable. If the product later comes into contact with mold, the product's formula alone must ensure that these germs do not only not multiply, but even decrease. The cosmetic must therefore not be a breeding ground for germ development - and for this, cosmetic products generally need preservatives.

Important tip: Pure oils and very oily creams (so-called fat melts) do not require additional preservatives, as germs do not find a breeding ground on oils. That's why you won't find any added preservatives in our baby almond oil, baby bath oil and wind and weather balm as well as med Balm and med Care Bath. 

Preservatives in natural cosmetics

While common skin care products can resort to a variety of synthetic preservatives, certified natural cosmetics face the challenge that the certificates only allow the use of a few, mostly naturally occurring or nature-identical preservatives. This is not easy!

To ensure the same stability for customers, various approved preservatives are often combined in production. This means that the ingredient list of natural cosmetics is sometimes quite long, which can be confusing at first glance, but is easy to explain. 

A very popular, naturally occurring and also preservative combination agent is alcohol. Used in low concentrations, it gives the product preservative properties without drying out the skin. Alcohol also oxidizes quickly on contact with air and thus evaporates again.

Also approved for use in certified natural cosmetics are nature-identical preservatives, such as benzoic acid, salicylic acid, sorbic acid and their salts. These substances are sometimes also permitted for the preservation of food. Most of these preservatives are only found in products that are not left on the skin but are washed off, such as in shampoos (e.g. boep Baby Shampoo) or shower gels. These liquid products always contain a lot of water, which is the perfect breeding ground for germ formation and therefore require special preservatives to remain stable. Solid shampoos or shower gels that do not contain water in their formulation, on the other hand, do not require any preservatives at all.

Further natural combination agents with preservative effects are essential oils and vitamin E. Vitamin E, also known as tocopherol in the ingredient list, is a fat-soluble vitamin and can be obtained from many plants. It has antioxidant, elasticity-enhancing and skin-soothing properties and can be found in all our skin care products. Essential oils are used as fragrances in natural cosmetics and also have preservative properties. Rosemary and thyme oil, for example, are known as "bacteria killers" and thus prevent contamination.  

How long do natural cosmetics last?

To give customers the best possible assurance of how long their product will last, most cosmetics have a minimum shelf life (MHD) or another indication of durability. On our boep care products, you will find a symbol with an open cream jar, a so-called pot, with an indication in months, for example 6M for 6 months or 12M for 12 months.This information naturally only refers to correctly stored and unopened products. Once you have opened your product, we recommend using it within 6 months – just to be on the safe side. As mentioned above, oils do not provide a good breeding ground for germs, so they can be used beyond 30 months and should only be consumed within the specified time after opening.

Tips for a longer shelf life

With these tips, your natural cosmetics will last especially long:

Store in a cool, dry place
Close tubes, jars and bottles tightly
Only remove contents with clean hands
Wipe and clean closures from time to time
Avoid contamination with other products

Overall, for our natural cosmetics, we aim to use only as many preservatives and consistency enhancers (e.g. emulsifiers) as are really necessary for the product to reach you stable and safe and give you long-lasting pleasure. However, it can always happen that you have to shake your product well if the phases have separated slightly (e.g. liquid oil has separated) or the color of a product changes slightly. Such changes are not a sign of poor quality, but a sign of naturalness. Within the minimum shelf life, such changes are harmless and the product can continue to be used normally.

Note: If you do happen to have a product from us that is still good but crumbles strongly or smells foul, please do not use it and let us know at support@dasboep.de. We will then take care of it immediately and, if necessary, provide you with a replacement.