Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Radish Root Ferment Filtrate—these are some of the unsexy, unsung heroes of your favourite skincare products. These humble ingredients all function as natural preservatives—and while they don’t have the reputation of certain active ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid, Jojoba Oil or Vitamin E, they’re absolutely essential to the efficacy of your products.
Each of these ingredients works to keep your skincare safe and effective, without the use of harmful chemical compounds that can disrupt your body’s natural functions.
What we love about clean beauty is that natural ingredients are safer, and have more benefits than their synthetic counterparts. Many natural preservatives are gentler on skin, ideal for sensitive skin types, and more environmentally friendly.
The Power of Natural Preservatives
Here are six of Lake+Main’s favourite natural preservatives. Use this guide to look out for them in your products, and to better understand their role in your skincare products.
| Preservative | Source | Primary Benefits | Skincare Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sodium Benzoate | Fruits like cranberries and apples. | Effective against yeast and mold in water-based formulations. | Used in creams, lotions, and serums to ensure product safety and extend shelf life. |
| Rosemary Extract (Rosmarinus officinalis) | Rosemary leaves. | Powerful antioxidant that prevents oils from spoiling. | Ideal for oil-based formulas, enhancing stability and maintaining active ingredient potency. |
| Radish Root Ferment Filtrate (Leuconostoc) | Fermented radishes. | Antimicrobial peptides that inhibit bacteria growth while being both gentle and biodegradable. | Suitable for sensitive skin products like moisturizers and cleansers. |
| Citric Acid (Hydroxy-propane-tricarboxylic acid) | Citrus fruits. | Balances pH levels to inhibit microbial growth. | Common in toners, serums, and water-based formulations. |
| Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) | Witch hazel plants. | Antimicrobial properties from tannins. | Used in toners, cleansers, and refreshing facial mists. |
| Vitamin E (Tocopherol) | Plant oils (sunflower, soybean, etc.). | Antioxidant that prevents oils and butters from oxidizing. | Common in oil-based serums, balms, and butters. |
Why Natural Preservatives
The shift toward natural preservatives is fueled by growing concerns about synthetic options, particularly endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) found in some conventional preservatives like parabens and phthalates.
These chemicals can mimic or block our natural hormones, disrupting processes like growth, reproduction, and metabolism. In skincare, some synthetic preservatives have been raising concern for their potential to act as EDCs—this means that long-term exposure could jeopardize your body’s hormone regulation.
While research is still ongoing, many clean beauty brands (including yours truly) choose to avoid these ingredients to prioritize safety and transparency.
The Beauty of Natural Preservatives
The beauty of creating your own skincare brand is knowing exactly what goes into your products and why—we handcraft our products ourselves, allowing us to maintain complete transparency and control over our formulations.
From sourcing natural, eco-friendly ingredients to using innovative preservation methods, we want to pull back the curtain on the process, inviting you to be part of a more conscious, thoughtful approach to skincare,
