Your opinion on this preservative system

[Sunny]

I use some Zum lotions and their preservatives (as stated also on their website) are

tocopherol
rosemary oleoresin
potassium sorbate



What are your opinions on this? I'm still learning about preservatives and from my reading I would have guessed that this isn't really a sufficient preservative... but Zum is a pretty popular brand. Do you think this could be a safe preservative?

 

[carebear]

the only preservative in that list is the potasium sorbate (limited effectiveness vs mold).

the others are antioxidants.

perhaps they've "buried" or hidden their preservative in the "fragrance", or maybe they're lying....

 

[soapbuddy]

Tocopherol (Vit. E) and rosemary extract are anti oxidants. Potassium sorbate is a preservative normally used for food. Maybe they are big enough that their formula is made in a professional lab? Or there is something else in the lotion like alcohol which would help preserve it.

 

[Sunny]

well that sucks if they are lying. I wonder what can happen to you if someone found out.

Here are the ingredients just in case anyone is curious:

Zum Body
Certified organic dandelion and certified organic red clover infusion in water, shea butter derived from certified organic nuts, meadowfoam seed oil, certified organic aloe vera extract, emulsifying wax, vegetable glycerin, certified organic jojoba oil, certified organic sunflower oil, certified organic extracts of carrot, hibiscus flower, echinacea, elder flower, angelica, sweet almond, avocado, sea kelp, ginseng, aloe vera gel, basil, coltsfoot and calendula, certified organic extracts of rosemary(?), marshmallow and chamomile, pure essential oils, hydrolyzed jojoba esters, potassium sorbate, passionflower oil, mango butter, certified organic oat bran extract, tocopherol (vitamin e), xanthan gum and carbomer.


and they state in their FAQ section:

What do you use as preservatives?
For the products that require preservatives, we use tocopherol (vitamin e), rosemary oleoresin and potassium sorbate.


They seem to be a little tricky in their wording in a lot of their ingredient lists but I just wanted to know what people thought. Thanks carebear and soapbuddy.

 

[soapbuddy]

the only preservative in that list is the potasium sorbate (limited effectiveness vs mold).

the others are antioxidants.

perhaps they've "buried" or hidden their preservative in the "fragrance", or maybe they're lying....

Or it's hidden in the aloe vera gel. Pure aloe vera is not a gel. It's more the consistency of water.

 

[tespring]

Do the Zum bars have a expiration date? I have been wondering about this, maybe they feel it is okay for that type of system if they have a very short expiration date on them or something. Very strange.

 

[Sunny]

I wondered about that too. On the site's FAQ it says to use everything within 1 year of purchase. (because it is "all natural." hehe.)

 

[Lindy]

I've seen companies playing that game here in Canada.

The only "natural" preservative I know of is Tinosan but it is very PH sensitive.....