I began making goat milk soap and other bath & body products for my family in 2005 because I wanted to avoid all the chemicals and unwanted ingredients that are found in most commercial skincare products.
One of the many ingredients I wanted to avoid using on my family's skin was chemical preservatives. But as I started to research, I discovered that there really isn't any such thing as a "natural preservative". And so I decided to only make skincare products that don't require preservatives at all.
 "Thank you! I love the Purity soap and having been recently diagnosed with allergies and eczema, I am so thankful for you! I am allergic to a preservative commonly found in soaps and cosmetics, so my search for products I can use has been exhaustive and frustrating. I am so glad I took a chance on Goat Milk Stuff! The lather from the Purity soap is rich and creamy and a joy to use! Thank you for all you do! Your product has made a difference in my life!" - Lori W. |
What are Preservatives?
Preservatives are commonly used in both food and skincare products. They are anti-microbial solutions that are designed to prevent mold, bacteria, and other nasties from growing.
While avoiding bacteria and mold may sound like a great goal, chemical preservatives themselves can be harmful and I believe they should be avoided.
Here are just a few examples of commonly used preservatives found in skincare products (but remember, you'll never see them used in any Goat Milk Stuff items).
- Germaben: For preserving both dry and water-based products. Consists of Propylene Glycol (a viscous, colorless liquid), Diazolidinyl Urea, Propylparaben, Methylparaben.
- EDTA: (ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid) EDTA binds metal ions that could make products go rancid.
- Optiphen, Optiphen ND, Optiphen Plus: These are broad-spectrum preservatives that are effective against bacteria and yeast. Consists of Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbic Acid.
- Phenonip: A liquid preservative used to prevent the full range of microbial growth.
 "My husband and I really like the Purity soap and I have some scalp issues due to allergies with preservatives they put in some hair products but after using the Tea Tree Shampoo - WOW it has cleared up. So thankful I watched The Doctor's show one day. Am happy to have found a great natural product." - Marilyn |
And here are a few examples of commonly used ingredients that are not actually preservatives but which are often touted as natural preservatives for soap:
- Grapefruit Seed Extract: A thick, golden antioxidant that helps prevent oils from going rancid. It will not prevent bacterial growth.
- Rosemary Oil Extract: A natural, oil-soluble extract that also helps prevent rancidity in oils.
- Vitamin E: A thick oil that is beneficial for the skin and a wonderful anti-oxidant. It also does not have preservative properties.
 "I love the delicious smell of the Almond soap. I bought a few bars to give as gifts over the holidays and then ordered more for myself because I was so pleased with them. The soap lathers well and I feel good about using a product that is not filled with harsh chemicals." - Jannean A. |
It is important to recognize that these ingredients are definitely not preservatives. Antioxidants are wonderful, but they do not have any sufficient anti-microbial qualities and do not prevent mold, bacteria, and nasties from growing.
If you are using any skincare products that have these ingredients marketed as a "natural preservative," please be careful of the safety of the product in question. I have never seen a study showing that any of these ingredients are actually effective as a preservative in skincare products.
While these ingredients have great properties and are wonderful in skincare, they really aren't preservatives. So beware of any product that uses one of these ingredients as a "natural preservative."
 "I absolutely love this soap. I have eczema and many allergies to preservatives, so choosing soaps that will not cause problems is very challenging. I've tried a number of high dollar soaps to find that I cannot use them. I have been using the Purity soap now for over 6 months and love it. It lathers very well and no breakouts whatsoever--even if I use it lightly on my face. Thanks for a quality product that delivers as promised!!" - Sandra B. |
When are Preservatives Needed?
Chemical preservatives are needed in liquid products (such as liquid lotion, liquid shampoo, conditioners, gels, creams) because bacteria and nasties grow in liquid environments.
At Goat Milk Stuff, we will not use preservatives, and so we simply do not make any products that require preservatives.
For example, whenever possible, we prefer to use fresh, raw goat milk. But since bacteria and nasties will grow in liquid goat milk lotions, we only make solid lotions with dehydrated goat milk.
 "I really like the Lavender Solid Goat Milk Lotion. It is a quick way to put lotion on the back of my hands and neck/chest area and I love the smell. I ordered two small ones for my daughter. She is pregnant and I thought it would be an easy way for her to rub on belly and hands without fear of chemicals." - Karen V. |
Because we do not add any liquid to the solid lotions, bacteria does not grow in them. If we used raw goat milk, we would have to add chemical preservatives, and the benefits of the raw goat milk lotion would be negated by the presence of the preservative. In contrast, solid lotions are safe to use without any preservatives required.
What about liquid goat milk soap, which is obviously a liquid environment? Both liquid and bar forms of goat milk soap do not require preservatives because the pH levels of soap prevent the growth of mold and bacteria. So they are also safe products to use without any preservatives required.
 "LOVE this for the kitchen!! The Lemongrass removes food smells from your hands, and the soap leaves your hands feeling soft. Much better than commercial soaps with chemicals." - Marcia T. |
At Goat Milk Stuff, we strive to make skincare products that are healthy and safe for your skin. You can trust Goat Milk Stuff to avoid chemical preservatives and make skincare products that safely nourish and protect your family's skin.
Conclusion on Natural Preservatives for Soap and Skincare Items
As discussed, we do not believe there are any effective, natural preservatives. And because we will not use any chemical preservatives, at Goat Milk Stuff we only make products that do not require any type of preservative at all.
In fact, we only use use all-natural, healthy ingredients that we are happy to use on our and your family’s skin. So no worries! You will not find any chemical preservatives amongst our Goat Milk Products ingredients.
At Goat Milk Stuff, our purpose is to bring you joy through the goodness of goat milk. We know that healthy skin is happy skin and we want to enable you to find the joy that healthy skin can bring.
You don't have to wonder about the safety of our ingredients. We use simple, real ingredients that promote the health of your skin.
PJ & Crew