Preservative-free cosmetics possible with new packaging, claims Aptar

The packaging supplier said it designed the pump in response to demands from consumers for formulations lower in preservatives, without compromising on safety.

According to the company, the Irresistible pump provides a solution to this challenge, providing complete protection from contamination without compromising the feel of the formulation, or the packaging.

The pump has two barriers to fight against contamination, the company explained, a sterilising filter and a barrier to stop the product from re-entering the bottle after it has been dispensed.

Sterilising filter and pump seal​

Incorporating the sterilising filter of 0.2 microns can stop even the smallest of bacteria, Aptar said, adding that the technology was originally developed for use in the pharmaceutical industry.

Aptar’s Tip Seal provides the second barrier for the product which stops any product in contact with the nozzle and the consumers’ fingers from entering back into the bottle. The Tip Seal valve provides a complete seal to the distribution chamber, the company explained.

A number of external partners were involved in validating the performance of Irresistible, which according to the company, protects the sensitive formulas from all contamination risks.

Demand grows for protective packaging ​

Growth in the demand for preservative free cosmetics, or products with fewer preservatives, has spurred the growth of packages that offer improved protection for the formula.

Last year, Promens launched the DEFI system (exclusive intact formula device) in conjunction with Avène Dermatological Laboratories, part of the Pierre Fabre Group, which promises to protect the formula from bacteria that could enter after the product has been opened by the consumer.

According to the company, the DEFI closure system is made up of four parts, including a flexible membrane that moves when pressure is applied to the tube, returning to its place after the pressure is released. This helps to seal off the package and combines with a lid which is perfectly sized to the cap and protects the formulation completely from the external environment, it claimed.