Geogard Ultra

A broad spectrum preservative that is GMO free and not tested on animals. It is a very specific preservative to use and we recommend it best used by very experienced formulators.

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Inci: Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Calcium Gluconate

What is it?

A white powdered preservative that is recommended for use in both leave on and rinse off products. It is a blend of Gluconolactone and Sodium Benzoate that is non GMO and ideally suited to baby care products as well as creams, lotions, gels and surfactants. It is water dispersible and soluble in glycerine. It is not suitable for use in anhydrous products.

Cosmetic Functions

According to the Cosmetic Ingredient Database (Cosing), the functions of Geogard Ultra™ are:

Gluconolactone

Chelating, Skin Conditioning

To view more information, visit the Cosing Database here.

Sodium Benzoate

Anti Corrosive, Masking, Perfuming

To view more information, visit the Cosing Database here.

Calcium Gluconate

Humectant, Oral Care, Skin Conditioning

To view more information, visit the Cosing Database here.

How to use it

Use at 1% - 2% at a pH of 3.0 to 6.5 as a stand alone preservative system.

Geogard Ultra™  is fully compatible with a wide variety of formulation ingredients as well as most types of cationic, nonionic and anionic systems.

It can be used effectively over a wide pH range of 3 to 6 and can be added at both room and elevated temperatures, preferably in the aqueous phase of the formulation.

To maximise the pH stability of the final formulation (which can otherwise be prone to PH drift), it may be necessary to employ the use of a sodium citrate buffer and pH adjustment as described here:

Dose the final product with the required amount of Geogard Ultra™ along with a 1.5 x amount of sodium citrate. So, a 2% dose of Geogard Ultra™ should be accompanied by 3% sodium citrate.

Mix thoroughly to ensure all solids have dissolved and adjust the pH of the formulation to 7 to 7.25 with 30% sodium hydroxide.

Finally, adjust the pH to the desired final product pH (pH 5.4 to 5.5 is ideal) with dilute sodium hydroxide or citric acid solution.

Skin Care
There is also a moisturising benefit to the skin as it enhances the moisture retaining ability of other ingredients. In tests, it was shown that, over a period of time, it produced a moisturising effect that was more than as having used 2% glycerine.

Hair Care
It is compatible with all surfactants.

Other
It will not change the texture and viscosity of the finished product be be sure to read the notes about pH drift.

Cautions/Contraindications
Should you choose to use Geogard Ultra™ as your preservative then you must remember to follow the procedures given by the manufacturer and get your products tested and safety assessed prior to sale.

We recommend that Geogard Ultra™ should only be used by experienced formulators as the efficacy of the preservative is pH dependant. This is not a straightforward process for a beginner or for those with little experience in making skincare products.

Any questions regarding use of this product will be referred to the manufacturer’s guidelines only. We are unable to offer any more assistance than the manufacturers present in the technical documents.


For more information and guidance on making your own skin care products please see Aromantic's books and eBooks in our Publications section.

These notes are not meant to replace medical guidance and you should seek the advice of your doctor for your health matters, The formulae are given in good faith and are intended for educational purposes only. They have not been evaluated or tested in any way and Aromantic Ltd. makes no claim as to their effectiveness. It is up to the reader to ensure that any products they produce from these recipes are safe to use, and if relevant, compliant under current cosmetic regulations.

Traditional & Historic Notes

Historical Information
Preservatives are needed for most cosmetic formulations that include water. There are some companies that have very stringent manufacturing procedures to ensure the hygiene of the product and the ratio of some of the materials may make the product quite stable against contamination. Shampoos can sometimes do this as they are often very alkaline. However, that alkalinity is not very comfortable on the scalp.

Vitamin E used to be referred to as a preservative because it preserved the shelf life of the product. This was, however, only from the oils in the product going rancid. It is not a preservative by today's accepted standards.

Technical Documents

Geogard-Ultra-SDS-Aro
Geogard-Ultra-Specs-2017