Evaluation of preservative efficacies of some unused cosmetic products

Background and Aims: Cosmetics must be free of pathogenic microorganisms, and the total aerobic microbial count needs to be within acceptable limits. Methods: In this study, preservative efficacies of ten commercially available cosmetic products were investigated against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas putida, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Burkholderia cepacia, which were isolated from contaminated cosmetic products. Results: According to our results, all products preservatives did not comply with the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) method recommended antimicrobial preservative activity criteria against at least one studied bacteria. Conclusion: Consequently, according to our results, preservatives of unused cosmetic products can be ineffective against bacteria, especially bacteria isolated from cosmetics.

___

  • • Alvarez-Lerma, F., Maull, E., Terradas, R., Segura, C., Planells, I., Coll, P. Vázquez, A. (2008). Moisturizing body milk as a reservoir of Burkholderia cepacia: Outbreak of nosocomial infection in a multidisciplinary intensive care unit. Crital Care, 12(1), R10.
  • • Birteksoz Tan, A. S., Tuysuz, M., & Otuk, G. (2013). Investigation of preservative efficacy and microbiological content of some cosmetics found on the market. Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 26(1), 153–157.
  • • Brannan, D. K., & Dille, J. C. (1990). Type of closure prevents microbial contamination of cosmetics during consumer use. Applied Environmental Microbiology, 56(5), 1476–1479.
  • • Brannan, D. K. (2006). Biology of Microbes. In P. A. Geis (Ed.), Cosmetic microbiology (2nd ed., pp. 19–69). New York, NY: Taylor&Francis Group.
  • • Campana, R., Scesa, C., Patrone, V., Vittoria, E., & Baffone, W. (2006). Microbiological study of cosmetic products during their use by consumers: Health risk and efficacy of preservative systems. Letters in Applied Microbiology, 43(3), 301–306.
  • • Chapman, J. (1998). Characterizing bacterial resistance to preservatives and disinfectants. International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, 41, 241–245.
  • • Darbre, P. D., Byford, J. R., Shaw, L. E., Horton, R. A., Pope, G. S., & Sauer, M. J. (2002). Oestrogenic activity of isobutylparaben in vitro and in vivo. Journal of Applied Toxicology, 22, 219–226.
  • • Flores, M., Morillo, M., & Crespo, M. L. (1997). Deterioration of raw materials and cosmetic products by preservative resistant microorganisms. International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation, 40, 157–160.
  • • Geis, P. A. (2006). Preservation Strategies. In P. A. Geis (Ed.), Cosmetic microbiology (2nd ed., pp. 19–69). New York, NY: Taylor&Francis Group.
  • • Halla, N., Fernandes, I. P., Heleno, S. A., Costa, P., Boucherit-Otmani, Z., Boucherit, K., Barreiro, M. F. (2018). Cosmetics Preservation: A Review on Present Strategies. Molecules, 23(7). pii: E1571.
  • • Jimenez, L., Smalls, S., Jimenez, L., & Smalls, S. (2000). Molecular detection of Burkholderia cepacia in toiletry, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical raw materials and finished products. The Journal of AOAC International, 83(4), 963–966.
  • • Kizhedath, A., Wilkinson, S., & Glassey, J. (2019). Assessment of hepatotoxicity and dermal toxicity of butyl paraben and methyl paraben using HepG2 and HDFn in vitro models. Toxicology in Vitro, 55, 108-115.
  • • Mugoyela, V., & Mwambete, K. D. (2010). Microbial contamination of nonsterile pharmaceuticals in public hospital settings. Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management, 6, 443–448.
  • • Neza, E., & Centini, M. (2016). Microbiologically contaminated and over-preserved cosmetic products according rapex 2008–2014. Cosmetics, 3(1), 1–11. metic products. International Microbiology, 18(1), 51–59.
  • • Sutton, S. V. W. (2006). Antimicrobial preservative efficacy and microbial content testing. In P. A. Geis (Ed.), Cosmetic microbiology (2nd ed., pp. 19–69). New York, NY: Taylor & Francis Group. • Turkish Ministry of Health Cosmetic Law. (2005) No: 5324.
  • • The United States Pharmacopeia, USP 29, NF 24. (2006). Antimicrobial Effectiveness Testing. • The United States Pharmacopeia, USP 29, NF 24. (2006). Validation of Microbial Recovery from Pharmacopeia Articles.
  • • Yossa, N., Arce, G., Smiley, J., Jo Huang, M. C., Yin, L., Bell, R. … Hammack, T. (2018). Survival and detection of Bacillus cereus in the presence of Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans after rechallenge in make-up removers. International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 40(1), 67–74.