Function:
- Active (456)
- Anti-irritant (112)
- Antimicrobial (91)
- Antioxidant (16)
- Colorant/Pigment/Hair Dye (91)
- Conditioner/Moisturizer (239)
- Delivery (150)
- Exfoliant (11)
- Feel Enhancer (173)
- Film-former (11)
- Formulating Aids (129)
- Fragrance (72)
- Preservatives (71)
- Repair (95)
- Rheology/Viscosity Modifier (82)
- Surfactant/Emulsifier (132)
- UV Filter (104)
Need Training?
Build a solid foundation in science, formulation and product development—find out more!
Most Popular in:
Preservatives
Excerpt Only
Measuring Synergy
By: David C. Steinberg, Steinberg & Associates
Posted: May 6, 2003
Purchase This Article
- From Cosmetics & Toiletries
- 4 pages
Article Keywords:
- synergism
- cosmetics
- Kull's equation
- preservatives
- biocides
- testing
Available Formats:
- Adobe PDF for download
- Printed copies mailed to you
From $9 an article
The New Merriam-Webster Pocket Dictionary defines synergism as "a joint action of discrete agencies in which the total effect is greater than the sum of their effects when acting independently. The most common area in cosmetics where we hear this term is in preservation.
Synergism is of great interest in ipreserving cosmetics. As we must protect against many different Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria, yeast and molds, it is rare to find a single preservative that is sufficiently broad spectrum to accomplish this task. The use of multiple preservatives is a comon way to accomplish this purpose. Their use is usually additive, but could also be synergistic or even antagonistic.
This is only an excerpt of the full article that appeared in Cosmetics & Toiletries, but you can purchase the full-text version.
