Optiphen Preservative

Formulated with Phenoxyethanol and Caprylyl Glycol, the optiphen ingredients not only preserve your products but also contribute to a smooth, luxurious feel in the final formula. This makes it especially useful in creams, lotions, sunscreens, color cosmetics, shampoos, body washes, and scrubs. It should be added during the cool-down phase (under 140°F) to protect its integrity.

Preservatives like Optiphen are essential in cosmetic formulations because they help prevent contamination, protect shelf life, and reduce risk to users. Optiphen does have a shelf life of about 2 years with proper storage, ideally in a cool, dry environment and tightly sealed to prevent degradation. Our Optiphen is sold by volume, not weight. Please note that one gallon contains approximately 8.5 lbs.

What Is Optiphen?

What is Optiphen? It’s a globally recognized, liquid preservative system used to protect personal care formulations from microbial growth. Optiphen contains Phenoxyethanol and Caprylyl Glycol, two key components that offer antimicrobial efficacy without the use of parabens or formaldehyde-releasing agents. As one of the more trusted paraben and formaldehyde-free preservatives, it helps meet the demand for cleaner, safer skincare products.

Optiphen Preservative Uses

This optiphen preservative is valued for its broad compatibility across both water-containing and anhydrous systems. Common optiphen preservative uses include:

• Creams, lotions, and emulsions
• Sugar and salt scrubs
• Body butters and balms
• Shampoos and body washes
• Color cosmetics and sunscreens
  
  

While Optiphen works in both water- and oil-based formulas, it may not be suitable for fully water-based systems requiring water-soluble preservation. Always test final formulations and refer to manufacturer guidelines for safe usage levels.

Tips for using our Optiphen Preservative:

Optiphen is easy to use since it is in liquid form and can be directly added to a formulation during the pre or post emulsification phase below 140F (60C). If you add Optiphen to your product at above 140F (60C), it is highly likely that the heat will destroy much of the preserving qualities. Therefore, we suggest adding Optiphen to your formulation at around 120F just to be safe. Keep in mind, if optiphen is added to an emulsion at too low a temperature, the emulsion may become unstable, and you will see the oil and water phase begin to separate. Optiphen is compatible with most raw ingredients used in the cosmetic industry. Usage rate is .75%- 1.5% of your formulation.