You may have seen the term “self-preserving” on beauty product labels, but what does it actually mean? According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, self-preservation is defined as “preservation of oneself from destruction or harm.” If you’re wondering how that applies to beauty, Jessica Morelli, founder of natural skin care brand Palermo Body, says it indicates the presence…
Why You Need to Be on the Lookout For Self-preserving Beauty Products
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Cleansing Mask
Did you know that Lush's popular Mask of Magnaminty comes in a self-preserving formula? The secret is that it's formulated with more honey than the original. This makes it especially good for those with dry skin. Fans of the original mask will be pleased to know that the self-preserving formula still has the refreshing peppermint oil. It also goes down deep to cleanse your skin thanks to kaolin clay, ground adzuki beans and bentone gel.
Lush Mask of Magnaminty – Self-Preserving, $26.95 at Lush
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Facial Serum
It's time to start your love affair with facial oils, if you haven't already. This one helps to nourish and restore your complexion thanks to rosehip and an innovative "CO2 supercritical" extraction method. The process allows the oils to be drawn from the plant in their purest form, resulting in a superior product.
Palermo Body Regenerative Facial Serum – Rosehip CO2, $68 at Palermo Body
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Lip Crayon
Start your preservative-free makeup collection off with this sleek crayon. The vegan lipstick gives lips a flattering semi-matte finish and juicy color. It's also free of gluten, fragrance, mineral oil, nanoparticles and it's cruelty-free.
ILIA Lipstick Crayon, $24 at Sephora
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Peel-Off Mask
Take a trip to the dark side with this black mask. All of the products in boscia's range are preservative-free and draw inspiration from Japanese skin care. This award-winning peel-off mask is no exception. It is formulated with rosemary leaf oil, clay, eucalyptus extract and vitamin C. The ingredients help to absorb excess oil, minimize the appearance of pores and boost radiance.
boscia Luminizing Black Mask, $34 at boscia
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Deodorant
Who said that deodorants can only come in sticks and sprays? This all-natural deodorant cream utilizes very fine vegetable powders, clay and a blend of essential oils to keep your underarms moisturized and feeling fresh. All of the ingredients are food-grade and each tub is made to order, so you get the freshest vegan product.
Soapwalla Deodorant Cream, $14 at Soapwalla
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Exfoliating Scrub
All of Sensé's products are formulated without added chemical preservatives. Instead, they rely on their natural attributes to keep them fresh. This gentle exfoliator contains fruit enzymes, aloe, beta hydroxy acid and rice bran beads to smooth and soothe skin.
Sensé Rice Bran Polisher Gentle Exfoliating Scrub, $17 at USANA
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Hydrating Gel
If you're a big Korean beauty devotee, you will be glad to hear that belif doesn't use any synthetic preservatives, dyes or fragrances. But the formulas are still amazing. This lightweight gel-cream delivers ample hydration without feeling greasy. Plus, it reduces the appearance of pores and boosts elasticity. As we loved to say back in the day, it's the bomb.
belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb, $38 at Sephora
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Vitamin C Powder
Vitamin C is notoriously difficult to preserve. Once you open a vitamin C-rich serum, it loses its potency with every passing day. Luckily, this K-beauty boosting powder has found a way to keep the ingredient fresh for up to 12 months, and it has managed to do it without any synthetic preservatives. The secret is a vitamin C complex that stores the anti-aging ingredient between mineral layers. And the technology is just as impressive once it's on your skin. When you apply the powder with your favorite skin care product and some water, it continuously releases active vitamin C for 12 hours.
Vitabrid C12 FACE Brightening Powder, $60 at Barneys New York
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Shampoo
Think about self-preserving beauty from your head to your toes. This luxuriously packaged shampoo takes care of things on the hair front. The spearmint, sage and rosemary formula is suitable for all hair types. It gently cleanses your scalp and hair without disrupting critical pH balance. FYI: It's also sulfate-free.
Lavett & Chin Hair Wash/Light, $40 at Goop
