Company offers safer 'green' microbial stabilizers
Schülke & Mayr’s new offerings, sensiva PA 30 and sensiva PA 40, claim to have a number of advantages over more typical products, including creating a lower risk of skin sensitization and being more sustainable than many other ingredients.
Both products make heavy use of Zemea, a naturally formulated substance developed by DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products as an anti-microbial ingredient.
Rose Durham, global marketing manager for DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products, commented: “Consumers purchasing cosmetic and personal care products are increasingly concerned about the safety of certain preservatives used in these products.”
“Formulators are searching for alternative ingredients that provide self-preservation but also provide the required efficacy against microbial contamination to keep products safe for consumers.”
Powerful stabilizers
Schulke & Mayer believes that these antimicrobials are less likely to be harmful to the skin because nearly all of the components included are already found in nature.
Sensiva PA 30 is a “multifunctional additive” which is described as being well-suited to sensitive skin applications. It also has the effect of supporting deodorant activity.
Sensiva PA 40, on the other hand, is a synergistic blend which is described as being able to be used in concentrations similar to most soft preservative products whilst being “gentler” on the skin.
In addition to being less irritating, the preservative’s nature-identical basis also makes it easier to control their efficiency more precisely.
Zemea propanediol
DuPont Tate & Lyle’s ingredient Zemea propanediol is derived from fermented corn starch and is designed as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based glycols and glycerin.
In addition to offering good moisturization and reduced skin irritation, Zemea is suitable for organic products thanks to being 100 percent biologically based.
The natural emollient is used in the sensiva line of products, including sensiva PA 30 and sensiva PA 40.
Controversial preservatives
Several common chemical preservatives have recently faced negative publicity, with some such as MI being blamed for causing a large number of contact allergies.
Schulke & Mayr claim that their new products avoid the problems of most chemical preservatives, whilst still delivering a high enough level of performance to be viable in many cosmetics products.
Karin Stoffels, product manager of cosmetics additives, told CosmeticsDesign-Europe.com: “Traditional preservatives, such as those containing parabens or formaldyhyde, are under discussion at the moment. Everyone is looking for alternatives.”
