Application of essential oils as natural cosmetic preservatives
Abstract
Nowadays, safety of chemical preservatives has been questioned by a big number of consumers.
Traditionally used preservatives often cause skin irritation and lead to allergenic reactions.
Growing demands for more natural and preservative-free cosmetics promoted an
idea of the replacement of synthetic preservatives with essential oils (EOs) of antimicrobial
properties. The antimicrobial effect of essential oil depends on content, concentration and interactions
between the main active compounds. Effective preservatives should be characterized
by a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity at a minimum concentration. Formulations
containing both types of preservatives: essential oil and a synthetic one have been tested and
proposed as a compromise that allows for reducing concentration of both components due to
their synergistic activity. Although most essential oils are regarded as safe, some of them may
cause risk of contact allergy or phototoxic reaction. A well balanced risk-benefit assessment
of essential oils is one of the great challenges for scientists or health policy authorities. This
paper presents current state of knowledge on essential oils focused on their antimicrobial
properties, the assessment of their efficacy and safety as cosmetic preservatives.