Liquid Germall Plus Preservative

• INCI Name: Propylene Glycol (and) Diazolidinyl Urea (and) Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate
• Common Name: Liquid Germall Plus, Germall Plus Liquid
• Appearance: Clear, viscous liquid
• Odour: Mild characteristic
• Usage Level: 0.1–0.5% of total formulation weight
• Recommended Standard Usage Rate: 0.3–0.5% for most applications
• Optimal pH Range: 3.0–8.0 — broad pH range; no pH adjustment required for preservative efficacy
• Phase Addition: Cool-down phase — add to water phase or finished formulation at or below 50°C
• Temperature Sensitivity: Heat-sensitive — do not add above 50°C; activity may be compromised above this temperature
• Water Soluble: Yes — fully water-soluble; add to water phase or at cool-down
• Paraben-free: Yes
• Formaldehyde-releasing: Yes — Diazolidinyl Urea is a formaldehyde-releasing preservative (see safety and regulatory notes below)
• Suitable for: O/W (oil-in-water) and W/O (water-in-oil) emulsions, aqueous systems, surfactant-based products
• Not suitable for: Lip products, anhydrous (water-free) formulations, aerosol/spray products
• Shelf Life: 2 years from manufacture in sealed storage
• Storage: Store sealed in a cool, dark place away from heat and direct sunlight

YOU MAY ALSO NEED

Optiphen Plus Preservative — alternative paraben-free, non-formaldehyde-releasing preservative for pH 6.0 and below; ideal for lip-safe products

Citric Acid Anhydrous — pH adjustment tool for formulations requiring pH optimisation

BTMS-50 — conditioning emulsifier for shampoos and conditioners requiring preservation

Shea Butter (Refined & Organic) — primary butter for preserved lotion and cream formulations

Wax and Emulsifiers Collection — emulsifying waxes for preserved lotion and cream formulations

Essential Oils Collection — natural scenting for your preserved cosmetic formulations

Fragrance Oils — phthalate-free fragrance oils for preserved personal care formulations

Packaging — Bottles and Jars — suitable packaging for your preserved finished cosmetic products

• Exceptionally broad pH range (3.0–8.0) — no pH adjustment required for preservative efficacy; compatible with virtually every cosmetic formulation pH range including conditioners and carbomer gels that exceed pH 6.0
• Very low effective usage rate (0.1–0.5%) — more cost-efficient per unit than higher-rate preservative systems; minimal impact on formulation skin feel or aesthetics
• True broad-spectrum coverage — antibacterial (Diazolidinyl Urea), antifungal and anti-mould (IPBC), covering all primary cosmetic microbial threats
• Paraben-free — meets consumer and retailer requirements for paraben-free labelling
• Fully water-soluble — disperses completely and uniformly in any water-containing system; no solubilisation challenges
• Compatible with O/W and W/O emulsions — effective in both emulsion types; versatile across formulation categories
• Compatible with surfactant-based formulations — effective in shampoos, body washes, and liquid soaps including anionic, cationic, and amphoteric surfactant systems
• Highly effective in conditioner formulations — one of the few preservatives comfortable at conditioner pH ranges (4.5–6.5+)
• Liquid format — easy to measure and incorporate; no melting or pre-dispersion required
• Stable across wide temperature range once incorporated into finished formulations — just requires cool-down addition below 50°C

HEAT SENSITIVITY — CRITICAL FORMULATION GUIDANCE

The most important practical consideration when using Liquid Germall Plus is its heat sensitivity. Here is the detailed guidance:

The rule: Add Liquid Germall Plus to your formulation at or below 50°C. Never add it to hot ingredients above 50°C.

Why: The Diazolidinyl Urea and IPBC components can degrade at elevated temperatures. If added above 50°C, the preservative system may be partially or significantly compromised — you may believe your product is preserved when it is not adequately protected. This can result in contaminated products and serious safety issues.

In practice:

• Make your lotion or cream following standard hot-phase/cool-down procedure
• Heat oil phase and water phase separately to 70–75°C
• Combine and emulsify
• Begin cooling with stirring
• When your formulation has cooled to 45–50°C (use a thermometer — do not estimate), add Liquid Germall Plus
• Continue stirring to ensure complete dispersion
• Continue cooling to room temperature
• Then add other heat-sensitive ingredients (fragrance, essential oils, heat-sensitive actives)

Temperature check is mandatory: Always use a calibrated thermometer when adding Liquid Germall Plus. Do not rely on visual judgement of when the formulation appears cool enough.

For cosmetic use only — not for internal consumption

Cosmetic grade preservative — safe for use in finished cosmetic products at 0.1–0.5% usage rates

Contains Diazolidinyl Urea — a formaldehyde-releasing preservative; releases small controlled amounts of formaldehyde in aqueous systems; must be declared as an ingredient on cosmetic labels; some natural/organic certification standards exclude formaldehyde-releasing preservatives — check your certification requirements

Contains IPBC (Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate) — EU Cosmetics Regulation restricts IPBC use; it is prohibited in lip products and body lotions/creams intended for children under 3 years in the EU; maximum permitted level in leave-on products is 0.02%; for rinse-off products up to 0.02%; check current Australian TGA and your target market regulations

Not suitable for lip products — IPBC is not approved for products with intended oral contact

Not suitable for anhydrous formulations — Propylene Glycol and the active components require an aqueous environment to disperse and function

Not suitable for aerosol products

Avoid contact with eyes in undiluted form; if contact occurs rinse thoroughly with water for several minutes

Wear gloves when handling neat preservative — mild skin irritation potential at full concentration

Keep out of reach of children

Store sealed in a cool, dark location; do not expose to temperatures above 50°C in storage

Always perform preservative efficacy testing (challenge testing) on finished formulations before commercial product launch

What is the INCI name for Liquid Germall Plus?
The correct INCI name is Propylene Glycol (and) Diazolidinyl Urea (and) Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate. All three components must be individually listed on your finished cosmetic product ingredient label in this exact INCI form. Note that Propylene Glycol must be declared even though it functions primarily as a carrier rather than a preservative active.

What is the correct usage rate?
The recommended usage range is 0.1–0.5% of total formulation weight. For most standard formulations (creams, lotions, shampoos, conditioners), 0.3–0.5% is the standard working range. At 0.3% you achieve effective preservation in most well-formulated aqueous systems. Use 0.4–0.5% for products with high water activity, wide-mouth jar packaging, or longer intended shelf life. The 0.1% lower limit is only appropriate for formulations with additional inherent antimicrobial activity (e.g., high alcohol content or low water activity). Always confirm your chosen rate with challenge testing.

Why must Liquid Germall Plus be added below 50°C?
Liquid Germall Plus is heat-sensitive. The active components — particularly Diazolidinyl Urea and IPBC — can degrade at temperatures above 50°C. If added to a hot formulation, the preservative system may be partially compromised, resulting in under-preserved product. A thermometer check at the point of addition is mandatory. Add at cool-down when the formulation reaches 45–50°C, stir thoroughly, and continue cooling.

Can I use Liquid Germall Plus in a carbomer gel at pH 6.5–7.0?
Yes — this is one of Liquid Germall Plus's key advantages over Optiphen Plus. Its broad pH range of 3.0–8.0 means it is fully effective in carbomer gels typically formulated at pH 6.0–7.0 without any pH adjustment required. Optiphen Plus would require pH adjustment to 6.0 or below in the same formulation, which may affect gel stability and skin feel. For higher-pH gel formulations, Liquid Germall Plus is the strongly preferred choice.

Is Liquid Germall Plus suitable for natural or organic certified products?
Liquid Germall Plus contains Diazolidinyl Urea — a formaldehyde-releasing preservative. Most strict natural/organic cosmetic certification standards (COSMOS, Natrue, certified organic) exclude formaldehyde-releasing preservatives. If your product requires a certified natural preservative system, consider naturally derived alternatives. For natural-positioned products without formal certification, Liquid Germall Plus is widely used in the industry — the decision depends on your brand positioning and target consumer expectations. Disclose all INCI components on product labels as required.

Why can't Liquid Germall Plus be used in lip products?
The IPBC (Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate) component is not approved for use in lip products due to concerns about oral exposure and ingestion. Lip balms, lip glosses, and lip sticks are classified as products with likely oral ingestion, and IPBC is not approved at cosmetic usage rates for this type of oral exposure. For lip product preservation, consider Optiphen Plus (phenoxyethanol and sorbic acid based — no IPBC) or other lip-appropriate preservative systems.

Do I need to challenge test my formulation even if I use the recommended rate?
Yes — challenge testing is strongly recommended for any cosmetic product containing water that is intended for commercial sale. Published usage rates are guidelines based on typical formulation types, but every formulation is unique. pH, water content, oil content, emulsifier type, packaging type, and the presence of other actives all influence preservative performance. Challenge testing (ISO 11930 or USP 51) confirms your specific formulation is adequately preserved at your chosen Liquid Germall Plus usage rate. This is particularly important for leave-on products, eye-area products, and baby products.