Cosmetics Preservation: A Review on Present Strategies

Abstract

Cosmetics, like any product containing water and organic/inorganic compounds, require preservation against microbial contamination to guarantee consumer’s safety and to increase their shelf-life. The microbiological safety has as main goal of consumer protection against potentially pathogenic microorganisms, together with the product’s preservation resulting from biological and physicochemical deterioration. This is ensured by chemical, physical, or physicochemical strategies. The most common strategy is based on the application of antimicrobial agents, either by using synthetic or natural compounds, or even multifunctional ingredients. Current validation of a preservation system follow the application of good manufacturing practices (GMPs), the control of the raw material, and the verification of the preservative effect by suitable methodologies, including the challenge test. Among the preservatives described in the positive lists of regulations, there are parabens, isothiasolinone, organic acids, formaldehyde releasers, triclosan, and chlorhexidine. These chemical agents have different mechanisms of antimicrobial action, depending on their chemical structure and functional group’s reactivity. Preservatives act on several cell targets; however, they might present toxic effects to the consumer. Indeed, their use at high concentrations is more effective from the preservation viewpoint being, however, toxic for the consumer, whereas at low concentrations microbial resistance can develop.

Methylglyoxal, the Major Antibacterial Factor in Manuka Honey: An Alternative to Preserve Natural Cosmetics?

“…Microbial contamination and growth can occur in cosmetics and personal care products during the manufacture, storage, and particularly during the period of use [1]. Multiplication of microorganisms may cause spoilage of cosmetic formulations, but can also constitute a threat to consumer health, especially when cosmetics are intended for use in areas of particular concern or when they are used by young children or immunocompromised subjects.…”

The Beast of Beauty: Environmental and Health Concerns of Toxic Components in Cosmetics

“…Formaldehyde (FA) is another organic compound that is widely employed as a stabilizing or protective agent in various household, cosmeceutical products and personal care products. Formaldehyde or formalin (37% v/v solution of formaldehyde) or oxymethylene are an important class of additives used in a broad range of cosmetic industries in the formulation of shampoo, liquid soap, body shower gel, skincare lotion and many other products [96]. In USA, the most commonly used preservatives are quaternium-15, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, 2-bromo-2nitropropane-1, 3-diol and 1,3-bis(hydroxymethyl)-5,5-dimethylimidazolidine-2,4-dione (DMDM)hydantoin, that released FA [2,97,98].…”

“…Formaldehyde (FA) is another organic compound that is widely employed as a stabilizing or protective agent in various household, cosmeceutical products and personal care products. Formaldehyde or formalin (37% v/v solution of formaldehyde) or oxymethylene are an important class of additives used in a broad range of cosmetic industries in the formulation of shampoo, liquid soap, body shower gel, skincare lotion and many other products [96].…”

Development of a standardized method to evaluate the protective efficiency of cosmetic packaging against microbial contamination

“…Demonstration of the health and environmental risks associated with the presence of preservatives in personal-care products and cosmetics has prompted the emergence of low-level and even preservative-free products (Halla et al, 2018). As such formulations are particularly sensitive to microbial contamination, protection of the product has focused on the packaging.…”