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PreservativesCommercial products are typically loaded with preservatives to allow them to remain fresh during the long span between the time of manufacture and the time the customer finishes using it. Although the preservatives do extend the longevity of the products and help keep them free from bacteria, the preservatives can be irritating and can contribute to health problems in certain individuals. One of the many advantages to handcrafting your own natural products is that you can eliminate these harmful preservatives and choose to use up your products quickly. Alternatively, you can adapt more natural methods of preserving and using your products. For more information about using preservatives, please refer to our Library article entitled Using Preservatives to Extend the Shelf Life of Your Products. When manufacturing products for retail however, you must ensure that your products are properly preserved and will not pose health risks to your customers. This generally means that you will need to use conventional preservatives commonly found in cosmetics such as Germaben and other paraben based preservative systems. The usage rates shown for preservatives are intended to be used as a guideline. Using the recommended level of preservative does NOT mean that your product will be properly preserved. The only way to determine the shelf life of your product and to confirm that your product is adequately preserved is to have your product tested. For additional information regarding challenge testing, please visit our Product Challenge Testing article located within our Information Library.
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