Prevent Mold in Homemade Beauty Recipes (2024)

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Prevent Mold in Homemade Beauty Recipes (1)

Here are some ways you can prevent mold growth in homemade beauty recipes without adding chemicals, preservatives or additives. You know me and how I like to make my own all natural beauty products, but nobody wants an all natural product that grows mold.

Have you ever used a sugar scrub or other natural or homemade product that developed mold? While being natural is important to many, mold carries a lot of health risks too.

Every now and then I find that mold will grow in certain homemade beauty products I have made. It can happen when water gets trapped inside or it is exposed to heat. I have had this problem with myhomemade baby wipes and sugar scrubsrecipe.

Prevent Mold in Homemade Beauty Recipes (2)

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With some research and trial and error, I was able to figure out ways to naturally prevent mold growth without using chemicals or harmful preservatives. Sometimes you do need a preservative though (especially products containing water) and thanks to a reader’s suggestion, this cosmetic preservative is great for homemade beauty products.

I have personally found success with the following ingredients.

Natural Preservatives for Homemade Products:

Apple Cider Vinegar

To prevent mold in homemade beauty recipes, I have learned that vinegar works great! Since Bragg apple cider vinegar is also great for balancing the skin’s pH and smells better than white vinegar, I add about 1 teaspoon to beauty recipes to help prevent mold.

I use Bragg because it is raw, unfiltered and contains the mother enzyme, making it as pure as it comes. It is antiseptic, helping combat viruses and yeast. I love using Bragg apple cider vinegar in my homemade facial toner too!

Rosemary Oil Extract

Prevent Mold in Homemade Beauty Recipes (4)

Rosemary oil extract is high in antioxidants, antimicrobial and a popular choice in many natural beauty and wellness products. I absolutely love rosemary and the scent is uplifting and refreshing.

Rosemary works well in body scrubs, lip balms, hair care products and even cleaning products.

Salt

Prevent Mold in Homemade Beauty Recipes (5)

Salt is used to preserve many meats and fish, but it may also benefit homemade products such as a salt scrub. Salt can prevent the growth of bacteria, yeast and mold.

There are many different types of salt but I like Pink Himalayan salt due to its nutrients, minerals and other health benefits.

Grapefruit Seed Extract

Prevent Mold in Homemade Beauty Recipes (6)

Grapefruit seed extract is antioxidant rich, antimicrobial and antibacterial. The smell is amazing too, so it is definitely a complimentary addition to your homemade products.

Vitamin E

Prevent Mold in Homemade Beauty Recipes (7)

Vitamin E oil might slow down the growth of bacteria, making it harder for mold to grow. It is also antioxidant rich and great for the skin.

How to prevent mold in homemade beauty recipes:

Use The Right Water

It is also important to make sure that any recipes requiring water that you are using distilled or boiled water. Tap water is not the best water to use.

We have a reverse osmosis system on our tap, so that we have quality water on tap at all times.

Sterile Environment

Be sure to make your products in a sterile environment with proper handling tools, gloves and clean containers and surfaces. This is especially important if you sell your products. Avoid cross-contamination as much as possible.

Prevent Mold in Homemade Beauty Recipes (8)

Make Small Batches

If you make your products in smaller batches, you will likely use it up quicker, allowing less time for bacteria and mold to grow.

Store It Correctly

Make sure you do not get moisture trapped inside containers or jars of homemade or natural products, especially tap water or hard water from your shower or sink. This can definitely cause mold to grow, especially in a closed container in a warm place.

If it is a product you hardly use, it might be best to let it air out before storing it away until next time.

When it comes to mold on household surfaces, here are some ways to get rid of mold naturally without using chemicals like bleach.

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Prevent Mold in Homemade Beauty Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Prevent Mold in Homemade Beauty Recipes? ›

Since Bragg apple cider vinegar is also great for balancing the skin's pH and smells better than white vinegar, I add about 1 teaspoon to beauty recipes to help prevent mold. I use Bragg because it is raw, unfiltered and contains the mother enzyme, making it as pure as it comes.

What is the best natural preservative for cosmetics? ›

Potassium SorbatePotassium sorbate is a popular natural preservative often used in combination with other natural ingredients to achieve broad-spectrum protection against microbial growth and extend the shelf life of water-based products.

How do you keep homemade wipes from molding? ›

If they begin to mold, which can happen since it contains water, just toss that batch out and make new ones. Always try to keep them in a cooler environment and in a sealed container so they don't dry out, and to keep bacteria out.

Is apple cider vinegar a preservative in cosmetics? ›

It may act as an antioxidant, which can extend the shelf life, but it doesn't prevent contamination from bacteria, yeast, fungus or mold. It's a great ingredient for those with acne prone skin as it acts as an anti-bacterial and anti-fungal.

What is the safest natural preservative? ›

Salt, honey, and certain fruits are good for preventing foods from spoiling. These natural preservatives keep harmful microbes from growing.

What are the five natural preservatives? ›

Natural preservatives include rosemary and oregano extract, hops, salt, sugar, vinegar, alcohol, diatomaceous earth and castor oil. Traditional preservatives, such as sodium benzoate have raised health concerns in the past.

Do Clorox wipes prevent mold? ›

Yes Clorox products such as Clorox Disinfecting Bleach and Tilex Mold & Mildew Remover both use bleach (sodium hypochlorite) as the active ingredient, which is effective at killing mold.

Why did my homemade lotion mold? ›

Make sure you do not get moisture trapped inside containers or jars of homemade or natural products, especially tap water or hard water from your shower or sink. This can definitely cause mold to grow, especially in a closed container in a warm place.

How do wet wipes not get moldy? ›

They are moistened with water and other ingredients, such as cleansing and moisturizing agents that help them work. They may contain other ingredients, such as preservatives to prevent the growth of bacteria and molds.

What are the disadvantages of vinegar as a preservative? ›

When acetic acid binds with salt, it becomes a preservative that “pickles” our internal organs, much like it pickles vegetables. In addition to this, when acetic acid is added to acids produced by unproductive bacteria in the gut, it can worsen any existing symptoms and conditions.

Can I mix witch hazel and apple cider vinegar? ›

This toner is intended for slightly oily skin. Witch hazel is a gentle astringent, apple cider vinegar will help restore your skin's natural pH balance, and lavender soothes sensitive skin. Mix and pour into a clean bottle. Shake bottle well before using, dampen a cotton or ball or pad with toner, and swab over face.

Is Aloe Vera a natural preservative? ›

A. vera and its various active components are being used as natural antimicrobial, antioxidants, and preservative in biopolymer-based edible films and coatings for extending shelf life of perishable food items as sustainable alternatives to synthetic chemicals.

Is it legal to sell homemade skin care products? ›

Is it legal to sell homemade cosmetics? The first thing you need to know is that you don't need any pre-approval from the FDA or any other agency before you can start selling cosmetics. Furthermore, it is legal to make cosmetics at home. “It's not against the law to manufacture cosmetics in your home.

What is the safest preservative for skincare? ›

A. Parabens, Phenoxyethanol and Sodium Benzoate are commonly used and considered safe preservatives for cosmetics per regulated guidelines.

How do you keep homemade lotion from spoiling? ›

  1. Make your product oil-based or anhydrous – without water. Organisms cannot grow in an oil-based medium. ...
  2. Don't introduce water into your product – whether it is oil-based or not. ...
  3. Use tubes or airless containers for your products. ...
  4. Adjust the pH of your product. ...
  5. Use high-sugar, high-salt or glycerin in your products.
Jul 10, 2020

What are the healthiest preservatives? ›

The safest preservatives used in packaged food are generally natural preservatives, such as vinegar, citric acid, ascorbic acid, and rosemary extract. Other natural preservatives include salt, sugar, honey, clove, ginger, and nutmeg. What are the class 2 preservatives and are these bad for health?

Is there such thing as a natural preservative? ›

Natural food preservatives are usually obtained from plant, animal, and microbial origins [8]. The main application of natural preservatives in the food industry is to prevent the growth of undesirable microorganisms.

What are the best healthy preservatives? ›

Some examples of natural preservatives are organic acids, such as citric acid, lactic acid, and acetic acid, salt, sugar, honey, spices, herbs, essential oils, antioxidants, such as ascorbic acid, tocopherols, and rosemary extract, bacteriocins, such as nisin and pediocin, and lysozyme.

What are examples of natural preservatives? ›

The most common examples of natural food preservatives include sugar, salt, spices and oils. Natural food preservation techniques are canning, drying, pickling and others. The primary purpose of food preservation is to stop the oxidation process, which increases the shelf- life of any food product.

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