Preservatives 

Q:  Does HydraMé use a preservative system?
A:  Absolutely!  Our product contains purified water, as do many other personal care products.  Water is a natural breeding ground for a host of microorganisms including mold, fungus, yeast and bacteria.  Although some microorganisms are benign, others pose a serious health risk.  In any case, our product is treated to ensure safety for consumer use.

HydraMé uses a paraben-free preservative system, Phenoxyethanol-a 6 carbon phenyl ring (aromatic ring) with a 2 carbon ethanol (ether functionality) attached to it. The phenyl ring covers the ethanol and keeps it stable--preventing it from reacting with the skin...meaning...no burning no stinging. Phenoxyethanol is a broad spectrum anti-microbial effective against bacteria, yeast and mold.

Product benefits of Phenoxyethanol include: Globally approved, highly effective broad spectrum antimicrobial, non-formaldehyde donor, paraben-free, non-isothiazolinone, excellent safety and toxicological profile.

HydraMé Corporation takes your health seriously. The hazards posed by unpreserved cosmetics are far greater than the hazards posed by low-dosage preservatives with a proven track record of safety i.e. Phenoxyethanol.

Development and research is ongoing in the personal care industry for a more natural approach to preservation.  When these developments reveal a reliable, thoroughly tested natural alternative, rest assured that HydraMé will incorporate this advancement into our product formulation.

Q:  Is there a Natural Preservative?
A:  Many skincare companies use GSE (Grapefruit Seed Extract)  HydraMé uses GSE also.  The popularity of GSE is growing, however the body of evidence supporting its efficacy has not.  Several studies have shown that "natural" GSE is tainted with synthetic preservatives to boost it's efficacy."  From our standpoint, the only thing worse than not using a preservative is making the claim that a product contains an all-natural preservative system when it does not.

"(Reference resource- Takeoka G, Dao L, Wong RY, Lundin R, Mahoney N. - J Agric Food Chem. 2001 Jul;49(7)3316-20.  Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 800 Buchanan Street, Albany, California 94710, USA. grt@pw.usda.gov) (von Woedtke T, Schluter B, Pflegel P, Lindequist U, Julich WD.  Pharmazie. 1999 Jun;54(6):452-6.  Institute of Pharmacy, Ernst Moritz Amdt University, Greifswald, Germany.)  Article 1  Article 2

If you see a product that contains water and doesn't have a recognizable preservative in the ingredient list please proceed with caution for you have a product that 1) can easily grow bacteria and pose a health risk, or 2) you have a product that is safely preserved but the manufacturer has elected (against FDA regulations) not to list their preservative. Nonetheless, it is your consumer choice to decide whether you are comfortable using a product that isn't properly preserved and/or labeled.

Q:  What is Rancidity?
A:  Rancidity is a separate issue from preservation.  Preservation prevents microbial growth, while measures to prevent rancidity are undertaken to prevent the spoilage of natural vegetable oils.  Vegetable oils can break down over time and spoil, the result being an unpleasant odor.  There are some natural substances that can retard rancidity such as Vitamin E and rosemary oleoresin extract.  These substances cannot inhibit microbial growth!  HydraMé uses Natural Mixed Tocopherols Vitamin E to retard rancidity.

Disclaimer: HydraMé Is Not A Medicinal Product. If You Have A Serious Skin Disorder Or Severely Cracked Skin, Please Seek A Dermatologist / Medical Practitioner