Quality and safety investigation of commonly used topical cosmetic preparations

Abstract

Cosmetic and personal care products are considered an essential part of our daily care routine; hence, these products must be stable and safe for human use. This study aimed to assess the quality and safety of the most common cosmetic preparations. To select the products to be tested, a cross-sectional survey was distributed featuring the most used types and brands of products. Based on 447 responses from both males and females with different ages and education levels, 21 products from different brands were selected and tested in terms of microbial load, heavy metal content, and organoleptic properties. Microbial contamination was investigated using the aerobic plate count method. Lead (Pb), aluminum (Al), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and arsenic (As) impurities were analyzed using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. The products included sunblock, lip balm, hand cream, hair cream, shampoo, cleanser, baby oil, baby powder, bar soap, hair dye, makeup, deodorant, hair serum, shaving gel, and toothpaste. Microbial contamination was found in 14 of the products, ranging between 1467.5 and 299.5 cfu/ml. The most commonly isolated microorganisms were Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus species. Most of the tested products showed metal impurities, with toothpaste having the highest concentrations of Pb, Cr, As, Cu and Ni. The samples did not show lumps or discoloration, did not have characteristic odors, and had pH values ranging from 6.90 to 8.10. The continuous usage of such products could lead to serious negative consequences. As a result, ensuring the quality of cosmetic products is critical. Regulatory authorities are required to enforce strict legislation on cosmetic manufacturing to assess and ensure the quality and safety of the products before they reach consumers.

Cosmetic Formulations from Natural Sources: Safety Considerations and Legislative Frameworks in the European Union

“…have been reported [19,20]. Almukainzi et al [21] employed the colony count method to assess the microbial quality of a wide range of personal care products, including shampoos, toothpaste, lotion, baby oil, and hand cream. The findings confirmed that the microbial quality of cosmetics is product-dependent; baby oil, baby powder, and make-up powder exceeded the safety limits set by the SCCS.…”

Development and stability of intimate soap formulations using Sapindus saponaria L. extract as a natural surfactant

“…The formulations had their organoleptic characteristics visually evaluated by verifying homogeneity, color, and odor or changes such as the presence of precipitates, lumps, and dispersed particles (Brasil, 2004;Almukainzi et al, 2022).…”

“…The personal hygiene, perfumery, and cosmetics sector has been growing exponentially over the years (Almukainzi et al, 2022;Rocca et al, 2022) and soaps are among the most used items (Alquadeib et al, 2018). They have the function of removing dirt from the body helping to maintain skin health (Rai et al, 2021).…”

Formulation and evaluation of virgin coconut oil (VCO) lotion: Effect of variation in emulsifier type and concentration

“…It must meet specific requirements, including being easy to clean, nonrancid, non-irritating, free of sharp and hard particulates, easily spreadable on the skin, and homogenous (Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, 1979). Cosmetics encompass materials or preparations used topically or orally (on teeth and/or the mucous membrane of the mouth), serving as cleansers, fragrances, enhancers of appearance, improvers of body odor, and body protectors to promote a better overall condition (Almukainzi et al, 2022;Dey and Dubey, 2023).…”