Cosmetics & Personal Care Testing
Supporting safe, compliant cosmetic products through microbial and preservative testing.
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Cosmetics & Personal Care Testing
At Orion Microbiology, we provide detailed microbiological testing for cosmetics and personal care products. Ensuring your products are safe and compliant is at the heart of what we do, protecting both your customers and your brand.
Cosmetic and personal care products can be susceptible to contamination due to their ingredients and water content. Even small levels of bacteria, yeast, or mold can affect product safety, reduce shelf life, or impact regulatory compliance. Our services help identify and control microbial contamination so you can be confident in the quality of your products.
Our Services
| Service | Description | Test Focus | Regulatory Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Viable Count (TVC) | Measures the total number of bacteria and fungi in a product, providing an overall indication of microbial quality. | Total aerobic microorganisms and fungi | ISO 21149 |
| Pathogen Testing | Detects potentially harmful microorganisms in finished cosmetic products. | E. coli, Salmonella, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa | ISO 22716 ; EU 1223/2009 |
| Challenge Testing | Evaluates preservative efficacy by assessing resistance to microbial growth over time. | Bacteria, yeasts, and moulds | ISO 11930 |
| Water Testing | Assesses process water used in production to ensure microbiological safety. | Waterborne bacteria | ISO 16266 ; USP <1231> |
| Mold & Yeast Testing | Identifies and quantifies yeast and mould contamination in cosmetic products. | Yeasts and moulds | ISO 18416 |
| Stability Microbiology Studies | Integrates microbiological testing into stability programs to monitor quality throughout shelf life. | Shelf-life microbial trends | ICH Q1A ; ISO 16212 |
Products We Test
Our services cover a wide variety of cosmetic and personal care products, including creams, lotions, shampoos, oral care items, makeup, fragrances, and baby care products. We also support niche skincare formulations and specialized personal care products.