Unfortunately, chemical preservatives (hundreds of them) are used frequently because they are easy to obtain and very cheap and, until recently, no one questioned their prolific use. Real organic essential oils and herbal extracts can be used as part of a truly natural preservative system;but they are much more costly than petrochemicals. The benefit of real botanicals is that our bodies recognise and can process them safely as they are substances that we have evolved with over millions of years. Synthetic preservatives meanwhile are considered by leading dermatological associations to be the number one cause of contact dermatitis as well as causing the previously-mentioned problems when absorbed into the body.

What is frustrating is that synthetic preservatives are not necessary. Herbal extracts made in the traditional manner using nothing but the herb material and organic grain alcohol can contain some naturally acidic components that, while edible, are effective preservatives when used in a product formula. Acidic and alkaline environments are not bacteria-friendly and could be considered self-preserving. Most people have many products in their kitchen cupboards that are considered to self-preserving even without refrigeration. Some examples of these products are extra-virgin olive oil, peanut butter, honey, sugar, vinegar, salt and wine. Just as there are hundreds of organic food products that are made, sold and consumed every day that don't contain any synthetic chemical preservatives, one can also enjoy a wide range of personal care products without chemical preservatives. Some products can be made so that they are stable for twelve to fifteen months--just like organic olive oil. So, examples of natural preservatives are essential oils, honey, sugar, salt, vinegar. Even simply removing water from a formulation can leave it naturally preserved (think of dried fruit).

Some examples of synthetic preservatives are:
ascorbic acid, ascorbyl palmitate, benzethonium chloride, benzyl alcohol, BHA, BHT, boric acid, butyl paraben, captan, cetrimonium bromide, chloramine, chlorhexidine, chlorobutanol, chloroxylenol, chlorphenesin, denatured alcohol, diazolidinyl urea, DMDM Hydantoin, ethanolamines, ethyl paraben, euxyl, germaben, germall, hexachlorophene, imidazolidinyl urea, isopropyl alcohol, kathon, methenamine, methyl paraben, methylisothiazolinone, phenethyl alcohol, phenoxyethanol, phenylphenol , potassium metabisulfite, potassium sorbate, propyl paraben , quaternary ammonium compounds, salicylic acid, SD alcohol, sodium benzoate, sodium bisulfite, sodium borate, sodium hydroxymethyl glycinate, sodium propionate, sorbic acid, succinic acid, thimerosal , undecylenic acid, urea.

Finally, a word about a meaningless ingredient "parfum" that appears in many products. This means "perfume" and can be just about anything. It can be a combination of ingredients, natural or synthetic. Acknowledgement: Some material courtesy of Terressentials. Ingredients listing from a popular skin cream (randomly chosen):
Aqua (Water)
Ethylhexylmethoxycinnamate. (Part of the family of cinnamates, used as sunscreens and with oestrogen-mimicking properties.)
Glycerin. (Can be naturally derived. Suffocates skin.)
Cetyl Alcohol (Synthetic emollient)
Cyclomethicone (Synthetic emollient)
Dimethicone copolyol (Synthetic emollient)
Petrolatum. ( Derived from crude oil. Suffocates skin.)
Stearyl Alcohol (Synthetic emollient)
Isopropyl Palmitate (Synthetic emollient)
Sodium Carbomer (Synthetic detergent)
Dimethicone (Synthetic emollient)
Parfum PEG 100 Stearate (Synthetic detergent)
Stearic Acid (Synthetic Emollient: can also be derived from natural sources)
Methyl Paraben (Oestrogen-mimicking synthetic preservative)
Titanium Dioxide (natural mineral sunscreen, colouring/whitener) EDTA Imidazolidinyl Urea (Synthetic preservative)
Propyl Paraben (Oestrogen-mimicking synthetic preservative)
Myristyl Alcohol Arachidyl Acid Palmitic Acid Myristic Acid BHT (Oestrogen-mimicking synthetic preservative)
CI 4700