Testing > Microbiology | Cosmetics & Toiletries

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Does Your Product Belong Among the C&T Allē Award Elites? Enter the 2026 Program to Find Out

The C&T Allē Awards have a long history of recognizing excellence across the cosmetic landscape. Does your innovation have what it takes to join them? Enter now to find out.

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Niacinamide Platform Delivers Double Duty to Protect Products and Skin

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Testing Innovators: Submit Now to Take Center Stage at the 2026 C&T Allē Awards

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Microbiological Considerations for Refillable Bulk Cosmetics: Survey and Commentary

The commercial sale of refillable products in bulk now includes liquid galenic formulas. Their diverse flow chains pose unique microbial challenges, as shown here, underlining the importance of flow chain planning and assessment tools/strategies.

Driving Customers’ Success Through Sustainability, Local Innovation and Advanced Preservation Technologies

Driving Customers’ Success Through Sustainability, Local Innovation and Advanced Preservation Technologies

Personal care antimicrobials are experiencing a pivotal transformation. Companies must deliver antimicrobial efficacy—and ensure their products are sustainable, multifunctional, and safe. Ashland is responding to this shift. Keep reading to learn how.

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[poll results] When Formulating, What is Your Main Criterion for Selecting a Preservative System?

Whether or not a brand aligns with consumer beliefs when it comes to ingredient choices depends on the business strategy. Last week, we asked: When formulating, what is your main criterion for selecting a preservative system? Here's what you said.

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Safety Alerts: Drunk Elephant's 'Mix-up,' 285 European Cosmetics with Banned Ingredients, Dynarex Extended Recall

This round-up highlights recent cosmetic safety alerts/recalls. These include: Drunk Elephant's ingredient "mix-up," ECHA's findings that 6% of ~4,500 cosmetics reviewed contained banned ingredients, and Dynarex's recall extension over possible asbestos.

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[poll results] How Often do you Conduct Microbiological Testing During the Product Development Process?

As you know, microbial contamination is the bane of cosmetics formulators' existence and one of the most common reasons products are recalled. So we asked last week: how often do you test for microbial contamination during PD? Here's what you said.

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[podcast] The Bigger Issue Behind Microbial Contamination

Many cosmetic recalls in the U.S. relate to microbial contamination but not for the reason you might think. Here, experts from the Univ. of Cincinnati and PCPC explain why it's more than alternative preservatives to blame. Listen now. It's free.

In the case of fluctuating PET results for w/o products, it can be useful to increase the number of samples to verify the results.

Determining Preservative Efficacy in W/O Formulas, Part II: Making Microbiological Safety Assessments

The relevance of microbiological tests for w/o formulas has been questioned, mandating a more holistic approach. This second article in a series examines the failure rate of PETs for w/o products but looks at why this does not mean insufficient stability.

Microbiological test methods for w/o formulas have raised questions in terms of their suitability. They also require a more critical view of the results than other product types. This first article in a two-part series reviews the limitations of such methods and options for their optimization. It also critically observes to what extent test results provide relevant information for an appropriate safety assessment. Part II, in August 2022, will explore a holistic approach to more accurately assess microbiological safety.

Determining Preservative Efficacy in W/O Formulas, Part I: Test Performance and Limitations

Microbiological test methods for w/o formulas have raised questions in terms of suitability. They also require a more critical view of the results than other product types. This first article in a two-part series reviews the limitations of such methods.

To test such products under real-use conditions, an exaggerated cumulative clinical is proposed and demonstrated here in a study assessing the mildness of a care cleansing formula. In today's reality, cleansing products must be developed to overcome the potential adverse effects caused by frequent and repeated use.

Exaggerated Wash Test to Clinically Validate ‘Care Cleansing’ Mildness

To test such products under real-use conditions, an exaggerated cumulative clinical is proposed and demonstrated here in a study assessing the mildness of a care cleansing formula.

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Assessing the Effects of Blue Light on the Skin in New Validated Method

Studies have shown blue light can have damaging effects on the skin. Genemarkers has developed a reproducible in vitro method for measuring blue light effects. Learn how Genemarkers’ blue light testing can aid product development.

To assess the potential of citizen science for skin microbiome research, the work described here used a consumer test kit deployed in a pilot study of 59 participants to collect data. The results of a case study and more are outlined.

Citizen Science for Skin Microbiome Research—A 'Microbiome-friendly' Case Study

To assess the potential of citizen science for skin microbiome research, the work described here used a consumer test kit deployed in a pilot study of 59 participants to collect data. The results of a case study and more are outlined.