Login
BioDefend™ MAX (Geogard Ultra + Sodium Citrate)

BioDefend™ MAX (Geogard Ultra + Sodium Citrate)

Price range: $6.25 through $62.50 USD

INCI: Sodium Citrate, Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate

Trade Names (Base Only): Neodefend, Geogard Ultra

Use Levels: 1.9 – 5.0%

Appearance: off-white Powder

Solubility: Water soluble

Heat sensitive: No

EcoCert, Natrue, COSMOS Approved

BioDefend™ MAX is a buffered, broad-spectrum preservative system designed to provide reliable protection against bacteria, yeast, and mold in cosmetic and personal care formulations. This advanced system builds upon BioDefend™ Ultra by incorporating the recommended 1.5× sodium citrate buffering system directly into the ingredient blend, simplifying the formulation process while ensuring optimal preservation performance.

By pre-balancing the preservative system with the appropriate buffering agent, BioDefend™ MAX eliminates the need for formulators to calculate and add sodium citrate separately, reducing formulation complexity and improving pH stability during product development.

This naturally derived preservative system is well suited for natural, organic, and eco-conscious cosmetic formulations, offering dependable microbial protection while remaining gentle on skin.

BioDefend™ MAX performs effectively across a wide variety of cosmetic systems including emulsions, surfactant systems, and water-based products.

• Broad-spectrum antimicrobial protection against bacteria, yeast, and mold

• Buffered preservation system with sodium citrate pre-included at optimal ratio

• Simplifies formulation by eliminating the need to calculate buffer additions

• Helps stabilize formulation pH for improved preservative performance

• Naturally derived preservation system suitable for natural cosmetics

• Compatible with a wide range of formulation ingredients

• Works well in cationic, nonionic, and anionic systems

• Suitable for both leave-on and rinse-off formulations

Because BioDefend™ MAX includes the recommended buffering system, it helps minimize pH drift during formulation and can simplify the development process compared with traditional preservation systems requiring separate sodium citrate additions.

For optimal results, always verify final pH and perform appropriate preservative efficacy testing (PET or challenge testing) when developing commercial cosmetic products.

Solubility: Water soluble
• Soluble up to approximately 4% in ambient water
• Can be easily dispersed in glycols and alkyl sulfates

Processing

May be added at room temperature or elevated temperatures as the system is not heat sensitive.

  • For ease of use, include in the water-phase of your formulation

pH Range

Effective preservation range: pH 3 – 6

Ideal finished product pH: 5.4 – 5.5

 

Recommended Usage

Because BioDefend™ MAX contains both the preservative system and the required sodium citrate buffer, usage rates reflect the combined recommended concentrations.

Recommended usage level:
1.9% – 5% of the total formulation

This corresponds to the effective preservative system dosage equivalent to:

BioDefend™ Ultra: 0.75 – 2%
Sodium Citrate (1.5× buffer): 1.125 – 3%

 

Optimizing pH Stability

BioDefend™ MAX already includes the buffering system required to stabilize formulations. However, final pH adjustment is still necessary for optimal preservative performance.

Typical adjustment procedure:

  1. Add BioDefend™ MAX to the finished formulation and mix thoroughly until fully dissolved.

  2. Adjust the formulation pH to approximately 7.0 – 7.25 using 10% sodium hydroxide solution if necessary (or an alternative base to raise pH).

  3. Finally adjust the pH to the target formulation pH of 5.0 – 5.5 using diluted sodium hydroxide (to raise pH) or citric acid (to lower pH) solution. 

Maintaining the final product within the recommended pH range ensures optimal antimicrobial activity.

Typically, organic acids on their own are too weak and often require a co-preservative or booster in order to perform optimally. 

The gluconolactone in this blend works together with the sodium benzoate to act as an efficient preservative booster that is also non-GMO. Geogard Ultra™’s gluconolactone works by slowly releasing gluconic acid over time, which helps contribute to the preservation.

Jennifer says… 

“This preservation system is one of my go-to favorites for formulating natural products. I always gently warm the preservative in a side vessel of a portion of the water-phase to aid in dissolving the raw material before adding to the main water vessel. I love that this preservative can be heated, which allows that water-phase to be protected right from the beginning.  For handling the raising followed by lowering of the pH, I am conscious of how I build out my formulation, taking care to structure my method around this so that no additional adjustments need to be done throughout. For example, following the addition of my preservative system by the addition of my chelating agent with raise the pH. If it doesn’t raise it enough in your formula, try buffering a smaller water portion before fully combining all of the water phase. Build this in from the beginning and the rest is a breeze.”

Answers to the Most Frequent Questions

Both BioDefend™ Ultra and BioDefend™ MAX are broad-spectrum preservative systems designed to protect cosmetic formulations against bacteria, yeast, and mold. The primary difference lies in how the buffering system is handled during formulation.

 

BioDefend™ Ultra (aka Geogard Ultra) 

INCI: Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Calcium Gluconate

BioDefend™ Ultra is the core preservative system used in many natural cosmetic formulations. When using this version, formulators must also add sodium citrate at 1.5× the preservative dosage to properly buffer the system and stabilize the formulation pH.

Example:

  • 2% BioDefend™ Ultra

  • 3% Sodium Citrate

This option is ideal for experienced formulators who prefer maximum control over buffering systems and pH adjustments within their formulation process.

BioDefend™ MAX

INCI: Gluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Calcium Gluconate, Sodium Citrate

BioDefend™ MAX contains the same preservative system as BioDefend™ Ultra but with the recommended 1.5× sodium citrate buffer already incorporated into the blend. This simplifies the formulation process by eliminating the need to measure and add sodium citrate separately.

Recommended usage:
1.9% – 5% of the total formulation (combined preservative + buffer)

This option is ideal for formulators who want simplified preservation, faster prototype development, and consistent buffering performance without additional calculations.

Quick Comparison

FeatureBioDefend™ UltraBioDefend™ MAX
Preservative SystemGluconolactone, Sodium Benzoate, Calcium GluconateSame system
Sodium Citrate BufferAdded separately (1.5Ă— preservative level)Pre-included in the blend
Usage Rate0.75–2% + separate sodium citrate1.9–5% total
Formulation ComplexityModerateSimplified
Best ForAdvanced formulators and custom bufferingStreamlined formulation and rapid development

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose BioDefend™ Ultra if you prefer to control your buffering system independently or are optimizing highly customized formulations.

Choose BioDefend™ MAX if you want a ready-to-use buffered preservative system that simplifies formulation while maintaining optimal pH stability and antimicrobial performance.

Both systems provide reliable preservation for natural and organic cosmetic formulations, and both perform best when the final product pH is maintained between 3 and 6, with pH 5.4–5.5 considered ideal for most applications.

 
 

FAQ

Traditional use of this preservative system requires formulators to add 1.5Ă— sodium citrate relative to the preservative dose in order to stabilize the pH of the final formulation.

BioDefend™ MAX already contains this buffering component, allowing formulators to achieve optimal stability and performance without performing additional calculations or ingredient additions.

This makes BioDefend™ MAX especially useful for:

  • New formulators learning preservation systems

  • Fast prototype development

  • Contract manufacturing environments where consistency is critical

  • Simplifying batch production workflows

Storage: Protected from direct light and humidity at a temperature of 50°-77°F (10°-25°C)

BioDefend™ MAX is compatible with a wide variety of cosmetic ingredients including:

• Emulsions and creams
• Serums and gels
• Surfactant systems
• Cationic conditioning systems
• Nonionic systems
• Anionic cleansing systems

Customers also purchased...

Related products

  • Leucidal SF MAX
    Preservatives

    Leucidal SF MAX

     Price range: $8.00 through $69.00 USD
    Select options
    This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
  • Borage Oil, 18% GLA, ORG
    Emollients

    Borage Oil, 18% GLA, ORG

     Price range: $13.50 through $142.00 USD
    Select options
    This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
  • Geogard ECT
    Preservatives

    Geogard ECT

     Price range: $5.50 through $1,044.00 USD
    Select options
    This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page
  • New in the shop, plant seed oils to delight
The skinification of hair and scalp has evolved into a self care ritual of the whole body that delights the senses.
Explore more
Scroll to Top