Product Guide · Preservative Alternatives
These five grades are not alternatives to each other. One booster, three glycols, one antioxidant — here is how to combine them, and what you must test afterwards.
On this page
- Full line comparison
- Why YLEHG sits at the centre
- How to choose your glycol partner
- Decision table: brief to system
- Two rules that matter
- Application playbooks
- Pairing with the rest of the IngreLink line
- Claims and compliance notes
- Two audiences, two shortlists
- Frequently asked questions
- Continue through the series
They are frequently evaluated as alternatives to each other. In practice they occupy different roles inside a preservation system:
- One booster — YLEHG (ethylhexylglycerin), which does the heavy lifting on antimicrobial support.
- Three multifunctional glycols — YLHD, YLPDO and YLCG, each pairing humectancy with antimicrobial support but with different sensory and solvency profiles.
- One antioxidant booster — YLPHAP (hydroxyacetophenone), which stabilises the formula while supporting preservation.
So the real question is not “pick one”, it is “build a small system” — a booster plus one or two glycols selected for what they add to the formula, not only to its protection.
Full line comparison
| Code | INCI (CAS) | Addition | Role | Secondary benefit | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ YLEHG | Ethylhexylglycerin (70445-33-9) | 0.3–1.0% (20 kg) | Primary preservative booster | Disrupts microbial cell membranes; supports odour control; reduces tackiness and adds a silky emollient touch | The core of any reduced-preservative system |
| YLHD | 1,2-Hexanediol (6920-22-5) | 0.3–5% (15 kg) | Humectant glycol with antimicrobial support | Moisturising; improves skin feel and formulation stability | Serums, essences, gels |
| YLPDO | Pentylene Glycol (5343-92-0) | 0.3–5% (15 kg) | Light-touch humectant glycol | Lightest sensory profile of the three glycols; also helps solubilise | Toners, mists, sprays, light emulsions |
| YLCG | Caprylyl Glycol (1117-86-8) | 0.3–5% (15 kg) | Emollient glycol with boosting action | More lipophilic; contributes emollience | Creams, lotions, hair care |
| YLPHAP | Hydroxyacetophenone (99-93-4) | 0.3–5% (20 kg) | Antioxidant booster | Stabilises the formulation, including colour and odour over time | Antioxidant-positioned formulas, heated processes |
★ = flagship grade
Why YLEHG sits at the centre
Three measurable properties explain why almost every system we build starts here:
| Property | What it means for your formula |
|---|---|
| Antimicrobial boosting | In published synergy work, EHG 0.075% with phenoxyethanol 0.0625% produced >5 log reduction of E. coli within 30 minutes; in internal challenge testing this supported halving the phenoxyethanol load while maintaining preservative efficacy |
| Process tolerance | Stable across the full formulation pH range (pH 2–12) and heat-resistant to 120 °C — it survives hot-fill and extreme pH briefs |
| Triple function | Antimicrobial booster, odour-control support and skin-feel enhancer in one raw material |
The odour-control dimension is often overlooked: in vitro, EHG selectively inhibits odour-causing Corynebacterium with low impact on skin flora, which is why it appears in deodorant and body-care systems as well.
How to choose your glycol partner
| Secondary goal | Add | Resulting system |
|---|---|---|
| Lightest possible skin feel | YLPDO | YLEHG + YLPDO |
| Added moisturisation in a serum | YLHD | YLEHG + YLHD |
| Emollience in a cream or hair product | YLCG | YLEHG + YLCG |
| Antioxidant positioning / colour stability | YLPHAP | YLEHG + YLPHAP |
| Balance of cost and performance | YLHD | YLEHG + YLHD |
In a high-performance or hard-to-preserve formula, use two glycols — for example YLEHG + YLPDO + YLCG — where the additional glycol earns its place through sensory or humectant contribution as well as protection.
Decision table: brief to system
| If your brief is… | Build with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Reducing phenoxyethanol load | YLEHG + YLPDO | Published synergy data supports materially lower phenoxyethanol use; validate on your formula |
| Light watery system (toner, mist, essence) | YLEHG + YLPDO | PDO keeps the sensory profile light |
| Rich cream or lotion | YLEHG + YLCG | CG contributes emollience where a heavier texture is wanted |
| Antioxidant or colour-stability positioning | YLEHG + YLPHAP | PHAP adds formulation stabilisation on top of preservation support |
| Hot-fill or extreme pH process | YLEHG | Stable pH 2–12, heat-resistant to 120 °C |
| Odour-control positioning (body care) | YLEHG | Selective inhibition of odour-causing bacteria in vitro |
| Cost-sensitive mainstream SKU | YLEHG + YLHD | Strong cost-in-use with humectancy included |
| Wipes and rinse-off systems | YLEHG + YLPDO | Supports both preservation and a light after-feel |
Two rules that matter
1. These are not standalone preservatives. They are designed to boost a preservation system. Whatever combination you choose, validate it with a preservative efficacy test — ISO 11930, USP <51> or your local equivalent — on the finished formula, in its final packaging.
2. Avoid the “preservative-free” claim. Most markets treat a water-containing cosmetic as requiring preservation. “Reduced preservative load” or “multifunctional protection” is safer than claiming absence.
Application playbooks
| Product type | Starting system | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Facial essence | YLEHG 0.3–0.5% + YLPDO 1–3% | Light and clean-label friendly |
| Rich night cream | YLEHG 0.3–0.5% + YLCG 0.5–2% | Emollience plus boosting |
| Toner / mist | YLEHG 0.3% + YLPDO 1–2% | Low-residue spray |
| Sunscreen | YLEHG 0.3–0.5% + YLPHAP 0.3–0.5% | Antioxidant support plus preservation |
| Cleansing water / micellar | YLEHG 0.3–0.5% + YLPDO 1–2% | Works alongside the surfactant system |
| Baby care | YLEHG 0.3% + YLPDO 1–3% | Commonly selected for gentle positioning |
Use levels above are development starting points, not formulation instructions. Always confirm with a preservative efficacy test.
Pairing with the rest of the IngreLink line
| Need | Pair with |
|---|---|
| Surfactant systems that already support preservation | Surfactants — YLSCPD |
| Soothing support in a preservative-light sensitive-skin formula | Anti-Irritation Soothing — YLBMS at 0.2–0.5% |
| pH control in an acidic brightening system | Emulsifiers — YLTRISTAB |
| Anhydrous or low-water systems with reduced water activity | Synthetic Esters — YLININ / YLNGD |
Claims and compliance notes
| Avoid | Prefer | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| “Preservative-free” | “Reduced preservative load”, “multifunctional protection” | Misleading for water-containing cosmetics |
| “Antibacterial”, “kills bacteria” | “Helps protect the product”, “supports the preservation system” | Health-type claim in many jurisdictions |
| Implied safety guarantees | “Challenge-tested to ISO 11930 / USP <51>” | Substantiate with the actual test and its result |
Further points:
- Always run a challenge test on the finished formula. Raw-material synergy data is a starting point, not evidence for your specific system.
- Confirm that each grade appears at a permitted concentration in your target market — glycol and booster limits vary.
- YLEHG has a well-established safety profile reviewed by CIR, with a widely referenced leave-on level of up to 2%. Verify against your local regulation and your own safety assessment.
- Documentation: batch COA (purity verified), TDS, SDS/MSDS,documentation where applicable, retained samples and batch traceability.
- Performance data quoted here comes from published antimicrobial synergy studies and internal challenge testing. The official batch COA and test report govern.
Two audiences, two shortlists
If you are a formulator: request YLEHG plus two glycols — YLPDO and YLCG — and build your preservation system around that triangle. Then confirm it with a challenge test on your own base.
If you are a distributor: stock YLEHG first. It has the highest repeat-purchase frequency in our entire portfolio: the use level is tiny, every water-containing formula needs preservation, and the cost-saving story (lower phenoxyethanol load) is easy to demonstrate at a customer’s desk. Add YLPDO as the natural second line.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a preservative alternative on its own? No. These grades are designed to boost a preservation system, not replace it. Build a combination and validate it with a preservative efficacy test.
How much phenoxyethanol can YLEHG help me remove? In published synergy work, EHG 0.075% with phenoxyethanol 0.0625% delivered >5 log reduction of E. coli within 30 minutes, and internal challenge testing supported roughly halving the phenoxyethanol load. Your own result depends on your formula — test it.
Which glycol is lightest on skin? YLPDO (pentylene glycol) has the lightest sensory profile of the three and also helps solubilise, making it the usual first choice for toners and essences.
What is the difference between YLHD and YLCG? Both are multifunctional glycols. YLHD (1,2-hexanediol) leans toward moisturising and stability; YLCG (caprylyl glycol) is more lipophilic and contributes emollience, suiting creams and hair care.
Is YLEHG stable in a hot-fill process? Yes — stable across pH 2–12 and heat-resistant to 120 °C.
What pack sizes are available? YLEHG and YLPHAP ship in 20 kg units; YLHD, YLPDO and YLCG in 15 kg. Standard lead time is 7–30 days with flexible MOQ.
Continue through the series
Anti-Irritation Soothing → · Emulsifiers → · Synthetic Esters → · Surfactants → · Brightening Actives →
Ready to shortlist? Tell us your formula type, pH, process temperature and target market, and our team will return a recommended preservation system with starting levels and samples — usually within one working day. Request samples and documentation · fiona@ingrelink.com · +86 186 8017 1796
Guangzhou IngreLink New Material Co., Ltd. — Sincerity · Agility · Win-Win. Data referenced are from internal testing and the published sources cited; the official batch COA and test report govern. Cosmetic ingredients only — not for drug or medical use. Finished-product claims, registration and labelling are the responsibility of the brand.
www.ingrelink.com
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