Personal Care/Cosmetic Products and Cosmetics
Microbial contamination in personal care products and cosmetics poses a significant risk to consumers.
These products, readily available and easily purchased even in supermarket aisles, are not subject to the same stringent controls as prescription products. Known characteristics of these products include altering appearance, perfuming, cleansing the skin, or protecting the skin from external factors. Beyond the term 'personal care/cosmetic products' that we use in our daily lives, we should also be familiar with the term 'cosmeceuticals'.
Cosmetic products are defined by dermatologists as products that go beyond beautifying or perfuming the skin, instead improving the skin and containing biologically active ingredients. The majority believes that these products should be evaluated to the same extent as other cosmetic products.
Assessment of Microbial Load in Personal Care/Cosmetic Products
For healthy skin, most personal care/cosmetic products are harmless. If the manufacturing, storage, transport, and sale of the products occur under suitable conditions and undergo stringent controls, no known issues arise. However, if the necessary conditions are not met, this is concerning from the perspective of quality and consumer health. Specifically, the product can become contaminated with microorganisms, leading to spoilage.
This poses a health risk to the consumer.
Mechanical injuries, burns, or skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis are sensitive states that can lead to a dysfunction of the skin barrier. In such cases, the use of contaminated personal care/cosmetic products increases the potential harm. This also applies to children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems.
For a personal care/cosmetic product, there are two possibilities for microbial contamination.
- During manufacturing or packaging
- During consumer use
Every product manufactured based on relevant regulations or international standards must be analyzed for its declared ingredients and microbial properties, and confirmed as compliant by a competent authority.
Otherwise, there is a risk of harm to the consumer. This possibility also results in damage to the manufacturer, for example, through product recall or failure to pass the relevant controls.
Studies on Microbial Contamination
In a study on this topic, the contamination risk of the products in question was investigated using unopened/unused products, yielding notable results. During the examination of 100 personal care and cosmetic products, contamination by Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, aerobic mesophilic bacteria, Escherichia coli, yeasts and molds, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was assessed, and the results were compared with internationally valid standards.
The products randomly selected from retail stores were examined and identified for microorganisms based on the EN ISO 21150 standard. According to this standard, which includes direct colony counting and enrichment culture, the following results were obtained:
- Direct Colony Count: Total count of aerobic mesophilic bacteria (Total count of aerobic microorganisms and total count of yeasts and molds)
- In the enrichment culture, certain harmful pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans
were detected.
A microbiological risk of 19% was identified for 100 samples. The obtained data are presented in the following table.
Contamination with aerobic mesophilic bacteria was detected in 15 samples.
| Product | Contamination Levels |
| Talcum Powder | 200 – 8965 CFU/g |
| Toothpaste | 7623 CFU/g |
| Hair Gel | 700 – 2345 CFU/g |
| Personal Care Products | 1120 – 5780 CFU/g |
| Face and Neck Care Products | 4200 – 6876 CFU/g |
| Henna Products | 500 – 57,000 CFU/g |
Yeast and mold contamination was detected in 13 samples.
| Product | Contamination Levels |
| Talcum Powder | 100 – 1872 CFU/g |
| Oral Hygiene Products | 1239 – 7623 CFU/g |
| Hair Gel | 700 – 2345 CFU/g |
| Personal Care Products | 300 – 2462 CFU/g |
| Facial Moisturizer | 2369 CFU/g |
| Henna Products | 100 – 7500 CFU/g |
As previously mentioned, microbial contamination with aerobic mesophilic bacteria and yeasts was detected in new or partially used cosmetic products. The data obtained indicate that talcum powder and henna products exhibit a high microbial load. The increased exposure of these products to air can be considered a contributing factor. The tested products were negative for contamination with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, or Escherichia coli.
What measures should manufacturers of personal care/cosmetic products implement?
Manufacturers of personal care/cosmetic products should implement numerous measures to prevent financial losses and reputational damage, demonstrating their commitment to consumer health. They should ensure adequate hygiene and have their products regularly tested by accredited laboratories. For microbiological testing of cosmetics, it is crucial to collaborate with a laboratory accredited to “ISO 21150 Cosmetics – Microbiology – Detection of Escherichia coli” to expedite the process and ensure production yields accurate results.