Abstract

Sanchita Choubey* and Suchitra Godbole

ABSTRACT

Increasing demand of cosmetics all over the world from teens to adults has increased awareness related to safety issue. The objective of this paper is to review the methods that are commonly employed in the cosmetic and personal care products to ensure the microbiological safety of the products. This paper also reviews the research carried out on establishing the microbiological quality testing of various categories of cosmetics products such as Talcum powder, hair care products, creams and lotions, eye cosmetics, lipsticks, etc. Microbial contamination of cosmetics poses a great problem to the Cosmetics manufacturing process, especially from an economic point of view. Cosmetic products need not to be sterile but may contain low levels of microbial load during use. Commercial cosmetic products have been found to be responsible for serious overt and covert skin infections, which were often ignored as the sources or vehicles of transmission of pathogens. Microbial contamination of cosmetic products is very crucial because of their daily use and direct contact with the skin. These products are at high risk for microbial contamination from various sources such as environment, consumer's hands, and body sweat and during the time of manufacturing. Therefore, good manufacturing practices (GMP) and hygiene must be carried out by manufacturers and personnel, cosmetic products should be stored in an aseptic environment to avoid contamination before vending in the markets. The pharmaceutical manufacturer should assure that product-specific knowledge and expertise are available for the development of an effective HACCP plan.