Preservative PHENONIP XB 30 g

Phenonip XB preservative - use in cosmetics

The paraben preservative Phenonip XB is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial additive consisting of a synergistic mixture of esters of parahydroxybenzoic acid (parabens) in phenoxyethanol, intended as a preservative for use in a wide range of cosmetic and hygiene products. An analogue of this preservative can be another paraben preservative Phenonip ME, which is a mixture of phenoxyethanol, methylparaben and ethylparaben.

Component characteristics and how to use in a formulation

INCI: Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben

Dosage: 0.25 - 1.35 %

Solubility: relatively low solubility in water, however, when the aqueous phase is heated to 60 - 70 C, dissolution in water is possible. Can be introduced into the formulation by first dissolving in propylene glycol. Phenonip XB can be added to the final emulsion during the cooling phase. In surfactant-based products and cleaning agents, can be dissolved in surfactant before adding water and other components. Works over a wide pH range of 3.0 - 8.0. 

Storage: in a dark, dry place, in a tightly closed container at a temperature of 5 to 40C. The product may crystallise at low temperatures. In such cases it is necessary to thaw it at room temperature and mix it before use.

The effectiveness of Phenonip

Phenonip XB paraben preservative provides resistance to Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, moulds and yeasts. It is stable and retains activity in the presence of most cosmetic ingredients and over a wide pH range. Phenonip XB protects most types of personal care products from microbial contamination. As with other preservatives, the correct concentration depends on several factors, including the chemical and physical characteristics of the product, the ability of the product to support microbial growth and the likelihood of re-infection during use. Practice shows that at concentrations between 0.25% and 1%, Phenonip XB is capable of preserving cosmetic and hygiene products. As a rule, higher concentrations are only necessary in the formulation of products which, by their nature, are particularly difficult to preserve. Shampoos and bath foams are preserved when Phenonip XB is added at concentrations between 0.25 % and 0.65 %. If the product has a high protein content (including hydrolysates, amino acids, peptides), the required concentration may be higher: 0.5 % to 1 %. Other surfactant-based products, such as liquid dishwashing detergents, are generally retained when Phenonip XB is added at a concentration of 0.2 % to 0.6 %. Emulsified oil/water and water/oil systems can be effectively protected by adding Phenonip XB at a concentration of 0.6 % to 0.8 %. The preservative can also be used to preserve emulsions based on non-ionogenic surfactants. However, higher concentrations of 0.8 % to 1 % may be required.
 

Minimum inhibitory concentration

Examples of formulations used in biological challenge testing

What to dissolve Phenonip in and how to introduce it into a cosmetic formulation

To begin with, we would like to provide you with examples of solvents for paraben preservative

•  Water: about 0.2 %
• Ethanol: soluble Ethanol/Water (50/50): < 95 %
• Isopropanol: mixable
• Acetone: mixable
• Propylene glycol: mixable
• Oil (example hazelnut oil): approx. 60 %
• Liquid paraffin: < 0.1 %
• Glycerol: approx. 8 %
• Sodium laureth sulphate (28 %): mixable

In order to introduce the preservative into cosmetics, follow the following recommendations for solubility and application procedure:

• Aqueous phase: introduced until the solubility limit is reached.
• Low water content formulations: heating water to 60-70°C before adding Phenonip XB to it will, in many cases, allow the required amount of preservative to dissolve.
• Aqueous systems that cannot be heated: the preservative can be introduced by being pre-diluted in a suitable solvent, e.g. propylene glycol, and stirred well into the water, reaching the water solubility limit.
• Emulsion systems: rapidly dissolves in the oil phase immediately prior to emulsification; in practice, quantities of Phenonip XB are often divided between the oil and water phases during their preparation.
• The method of introducing Phenonip XB at the final stage of emulsification (during the cooling phase) is widespread.
• In cosmetics containing surfactants, Phenonip may be added to the surfactant before the addition of the aqueous phase. Read comments about the preservative Phenonip XB in the Reviews tab

Handmade cosmetics recipes, formulas and reviews

It is very difficult to create your own correct recipes if you are new to cream maker. And we are ready to help you with this. Go to the YouTube channel Beurre Cosmetic Kitchen, where we have already developed many recipes for handmade cosmetics and share the technology for making cosmetics with our own hands. And also you can check Blog from Beurre, where we share useful information about creating the right natural cosmetics.