Microbiological study of cosmetic products during their use by consumers: health risk and efficacy of preservative systems

AIM: To evaluate the microbial contamination of 91 cosmetics (23 o/w emulsions, 47 tensiolytes, 21 aqueous pastes) in three different states of use (intact, in-use, ending product) and the protection efficacy of the preservative systems most frequently used in the analysed cosmetic formulations. METHODS AND RESULTS: Total bacterial count, isolation and identification of pathogenic isolates were performed on the collected cosmetics. About 10.6% of tensiolytes (13.5% bath foam, 6.7% shampoo, 10% liquid soaps) were contaminated by Staphylococcus warneri, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas putida. The efficacy of the preservative systems of two cosmetic products, tested against standard micro-organisms (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 4338 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027) and two isolates from cosmetics in this study (S. epidermidis and P. putida), satisfied the Cosmetics, Toiletries, and Fragrance Association and Official Italian Pharmacopeia criteria, while only one tested cosmetic respected the Rapid Challenge Test criterion. CONCLUSIONS: Contaminated cosmetic products are relatively uncommon, but some products, unable to suppress the growth of several micro-organisms, represent a potential health hazard. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The challenge test may be performed not only during the preparation of the preservative system in the intact cosmetics, but also be used to evaluate the protection efficacy during their use.     

化妆品用无添加防腐剂体系

介绍了传统防腐剂与无添加防腐剂的区别;重点论述了以乙基己基甘油、山梨坦辛酸酯及多元醇为代表的多种无添加防腐剂的特点;列举了系列复合无添加防腐剂方案;结合实际对每种方案进行了讨论;指出无添加防腐剂的应用浪潮已经到来,在传统防腐剂到无添加防腐剂过渡期内,二者的结合使用最具有商业价值。     

洗发、护发化妆品微生物检查方法学研究

为提高化妆品潜在微生物的阳性检出率,建立洗发、护发类化妆品微生物限度和控制菌检查方法。采用常规法、培养基稀释法、薄膜过滤法对4种洗发、护发类化妆品进行微生物限度与控制菌方法学研究。结果显示,飘柔长效柔顺滋养洗发露、海飞丝去屑洗发露、飘柔人参滋养润发精华素、力士密集滋养修复-发膜级精华素菌落总数检测方法分别为0.2 m L/皿法、800 m L/膜法、0.5 m L/皿法和300 m L/膜法;霉菌及酵母菌检测方法分别为300 m L/膜法、300 m L/膜法、1 m L/皿法和1 m L/皿法;除海飞丝去屑洗发露采用培养基稀释法,其他均采用常规法进行控制菌检查。建议在化妆品微生物检验前应进行微生物方法研究,从而提高化妆品"潜在"病原菌的检出率。     

Bismuth and Silver in Cosmetic Products: A Source of Environmental and Resource Concern?

Bismuth (Bi) and silver (Ag) are used in increasing amounts and are consequently being emitted from various sources and showing high accumulation rates in soils when sewage sludge is applied on arable land. This study aimed to analyze the amounts of Bi and Ag in three cosmetic products (foundation, powder, and eye shadow) in order to study the flows in urban wastewater in Stockholm, Sweden. Analyses showed that Bi was present in very high concentrations (7,000 to 360,000 milligrams per kilogram) in one third of the analyzed foundation and powder samples, whereas Ag concentrations all were below the detection limit. These cosmetic products explained approximately 24% of the measured total Bi amounts per year reaching the WWTP (wastewater treatment plant), making cosmetics a major Bi source, whereas for Ag the corresponding contribution was <0.1% of the measured annual Ag amounts. The results were roughly adapted for Europe and the United States, estimating the Bi flows from cosmetics to WWTPs. On a global scale, these flows correspond to a non‐negligible part of the world Bi production that, every year, ends up in sewage sludge, limiting the reuse of a valuable metal resource. From an environmental and resource perspective, foundations and powder products should be considered as significant sources of measured Bi amounts in sludge. This large Bi flow must be considered as unsustainable. For Ag, however, the three analyzed cosmetic products are not a significant source of the total Ag load to WWTPs.     

Biosurfactants in cosmetics and biopharmaceuticals

Biosurfactants are surface‐active biomolecules that are produced by various micro‐organisms. They show unique properties i.e. lower toxicity, higher biodegradability and environmental compatibility compared to their chemical counterparts. Glycolipids and lipopeptides have prompted application in biotechnology and cosmetics due to their multi‐functional profile i.e. detergency, emulsifying, foaming and skin hydrating properties. Additionally, some of them can be served as antimicrobials. In this study the current status of research and development on rhamnolipids, sophorolipids, mannosyloerythritol lipids, trehalipids, xylolipids and lipopeptides particularly their commercial application in cosmetics and biopharmaceuticals, is described.     

Microbial survey of shared-use cosmetic test kits available to the public

Summary Some people like to try cosmetics before purchasing them. With repeated use by different customers, however, the tester kits provided by many retail outlets can become potential vectors of microbial pathogens. A survey was conducted to assess the health risk from bacteria found on shared-use cosmetics. A total of 3027 shared-use cosmetic product samples were collected from 171 retail establishments throughout the contiguous United States. Eye, face and lip cosmetics were tested within situ nondestructive swabbing and the use of the Transette 3R Modified Amies Charcoal Culture and Transport System. Bacteria were isolated from about 50% of the items for all three categories. Semiquantitatively-estimated mean densities were 2288, 1685 and 1088 CFU g^–1 for eye, face and lip products, respectively. Ranges for all categories were 0–15⁵ CFU g^–1. About 5% of the items had bacterial counts above 5000 CFU g^–1 (eye products) or 10 000 CFU g^–1 (other products). More than 60% of isolates were typical of microflora from human skin; the remainder were environmental microbes. About 60% of the isolates were Gram-positive cocci:Staphylococcus spp. (especiallyS. epidermidis) andMicrococcus spp. The Gram-negative pathogenPseudomonas aeruginosa constituted 0.07% of the isolates. The survey results suggest that the preservation systems of some of the cosmetics failed under excessive use (abuse), and indicated a potential for microbiological safety problems with shared-use consmetics.     

Variation of trace metals in ancient and contemporary Japanese bones

Excavated and contemporary bones (rib cortexes) of a mature age (40-60 yr) were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry for the concentration of seven elements, including Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Pb, with a view to historically evaluating the chemical composition of the bones. Fifty-two well-preserved specimens, obtained from western Japan, were classified into six groups according to Japanese prehistoric and historic eras (Jomon, Yayoi, Kofun, Muromachi, Edo, and Contemporary). Average concentrations of Ca were 0.20-0.33 g/g in the excavated bones and 0.17 g/g in the contemporary bones. Among the trace metals, such as Cu, Fe, Mn, and Pb, which showed remarkably elevated concentrations in the Edo era bones, Cu, Fe, and Mn were found to be strongly associated with soil contamination. Lead levels only slightly increased between the Jomon and Kofun eras, but became abruptly elevated following the Edo era. In contrast, the concentrations of Cd increased abruptly in the Yayoi era to a level with an order of magnitude higher than the Edo era, and they have recently decreased to rather low contemporary levels. This tendency becomes clearer when comparing the molar ratio of trace metals to Ca. The cause of elevated Cd concentrations in early excavated bones is discussed in relation to the mineralization of bones and the surrounding environment.     

胶原蛋白水解物在化妆品中的功能特性

研究了胶原蛋白经酶水解后所得产物的功能特性:吸水性、保水性、溶解性都得到提高;吸油性、起泡性和泡沫稳定性均明显下降。可根据不同分子量范围的胶原水解物的功能特性满足不同化妆品的不同需求。