The present invention provides preservative compositions suitable for replacing, partially or in totality, conventional preservatives in skin care emulsions and heavy duty hand cleansers comprised of alternative molecular compounds than found in conventional preservative formulations. The preservative formulation for skin care formulations includes a fatty acid and/or ester of fatty acid present in a concentration from about 0.01 wt./wt. % to about 90 wt./wt. % of the formulation, one or more alcohols in a concentration from about 0.01 to about 60 wt./wt. % of the formulation, and a chelating agent present in a concentration from about 0.01 to about 20 wt./wt. % of the blend.
