"Do You Use Preservatives?" — Why This Question Comes Up Often (And Why The Answer Is Yes, Carefully)

One of the most common questions I get from customers is:
"Do you use preservatives in your skincare?"

Often, there’s a hesitation in their voice — as if preservatives are something to avoid entirely. And I completely understand where that concern comes from. We’ve all heard the message that "clean" or "natural" skincare should be preservative-free, or that preservatives somehow make products unsafe or less pure.

But as a formulator — and as someone who cares deeply about both your skin’s health and your safety — I want to gently explain why preservation is not the enemy. In fact, it's absolutely essential when done thoughtfully.

Preservation Keeps You Safe

Every time you open a jar, apply a serum, or store your products in a warm bathroom, you expose them to air, moisture, and microorganisms — even if you can’t see them.

Without effective preservation, products that contain water (or even tiny amounts of moisture) can quickly become contaminated with bacteria, mold, or yeast. And while oxidation might cause a product to lose potency, microbial growth can cause serious harm to your skin, including infections and irritation.

Preservatives protect you from what you can't see.
In fact, properly preserved products are often safer than preservative-free formulas that carry a hidden microbial risk.

Preservation Doesn’t Mean Harsh

Where many people get nervous — and rightfully so — is when they hear about synthetic preservatives used heavily in mass-market skincare: parabens, and complex chemical systems designed to keep products stable for years sitting in warehouses.

Those are not the kind of preservation systems I use at Botanical Atelier.

Because I formulate in small, fresh batches, I don’t need to build formulas that sit for 2-3 years before reaching your hands. My preservation systems are carefully selected to:

• Keep your product safe for the full time you’ll be using it

• Respect the delicate nature of botanical extracts and active ingredients

• Avoid over-preserving or over-complicating the formula

In many ways, freshness allows me to simplify preservation while still fully protecting you.

Preservation Doesn’t Protect Potency

One thing I always share with my customers is this:
Preservatives protect safety, but they don’t preserve potency.

Many active ingredients — like antioxidants, botanical extracts, peptides, and vitamins — naturally degrade over time. A product may still be "safe" to use 18 months after production, but much of its therapeutic value may have diminished.

That’s why freshness is central to my philosophy.
By producing in small, fresh batches, I minimize both microbial risk and ingredient degradation. You get products that are safe — and still fully active when they reach your skin.

Why I Approach Preservation as a Responsibility

When people ask me if my products have preservatives, my honest answer is:
Yes — carefully chosen ones, at just the right levels, designed to keep your skincare safe without compromising the integrity of the ingredients.

Preservation is not about adding unnecessary chemicals — it’s about respecting both your health and your skin.

I believe you deserve skincare that is:

• Safe from contamination

• Freshly formulated for maximum potency

• Thoughtfully preserved without excess

That’s the balance I aim for in every product that leaves my lab.

If you’ve ever wondered about preservatives in your skincare, I hope this gives you a clearer picture of how I approach this part of formulation with great care and respect.

Because truly fresh skincare isn’t just about "no preservatives" — it's about the right preservation strategy for your skin’s safety, and for the integrity of the beautiful ingredients inside every bottle.