Analyses for cosmetics & hygiene products

Marketability
Compliance with legally prescribed limits and the safety of the product are important criteria for marketability. We provide all services related to the marketing of cosmetics and personal care products from a single source:

Declaration and labelling checks
Label checks
Preparation of safety reports
REACH conformity checks

Marketability tests for cosmetics

according to the EU Cosmetics Regulation and/or national regulations
Safety assessment
Label inspection
Document review of the product information file
Assessment of residues of harmful substances
Evaluation of analytical quality results

Chemical analytics

We carry out chemical-physical quality tests as well as analyses and content determinations of active ingredients, excipients and contaminants for all cosmetic product groups as well as detergents and cleaning agents. The tests ensure that all legal parameters are complied with or that the product specification of cosmetic products is safeguarded.

We also test special parameters that are of interest to "Stiftung Warentest" and "Ökotest".

Perfume oils: allergenic fragrances, polycyclic and nitromuscular compounds, majantol
Synthesis residues & limiting ingredients: Phthalates, 1,4-dioxane, formaldehyde, PAHs, benzene, toluene.
Preservatives: parabens, organic acids, formaldehyde, phenoxyethanol, sorbic acid, isothiazolinones
Contaminants: heavy metals (e.g. nickel, lead, chromium VI), pesticides, nitrosamines (e.g. NDELA), residual solvents, animal ingredients, high-risk materials, MOSH/MOAH
Vitamins: Panthenol, tocopherol, retinol (and derivatives).
Anti-dandruff agents: piroctone olamine, zinc pyrithione
Moisturisers: glycerin, sorbitol, urea
Deodorising agents: aluminium chlorohydrate, farnesol
Special active ingredients: Allantoin, bisabolol, fluorine, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, chemical UV filters
Fats & oils: total fatty acid, fatty acid spectrum, fat indexes
Solvents: ethanol, isopropanol, acetone, glycols
Surfactants: anionic, amphoteric, non-ionic and cationic surfactants

Microbiology and bioservices

Microbiological stability is a decisive quality criterion. We support manufacturers in all microbiological and hygiene-related issues. In our high-performance microbiology laboratory, we analyse and test everything that is important for cosmetics as well as detergents, cleaning agents and cleaning products.

On-site hygiene training contributes to a high degree to improved operational hygiene and thus to production safety for the manufacturer.

Testing for microbial purity
Testing of raw materials and cosmetic products (especially according to DIN EN ISO 17516, Pharm. Eur., USP, JP and customer-specific requirements)
Aerobic/anaerobic total plate count
Exclusion of pathogenic microorganisms
Testing for bacterial endotoxins
Identification of microorganisms (VitekII, MaldiTOF-MS or MicroSeq)

Test for sufficient preservation

For preparation for topical application according to Pharm. Eur.
Repetitive stress tests
Microbiological efficacy of preservatives
In-use tests
Hygiene training
Production-related training courses
Hygiene seminars
Hygiene monitoring

Animal replacement methods and cytotoxicology

OECD 431 In Vitro Skin Corrosion: Human Skin Model Test
OECD 439 In Vitro Skin Irritation
OECD 471 Bacterial Reverse Mutation Test (fluctuation method)
Wound Healing Tests
HET-CAM Test
OECD 432, 3T3 NRU Phototoxicity Assay
Viability tests
Cytotoxicity tests (various, including Red Blood Cell test)
Detection of cell markers (e.g. apoptosis factors)

Microbiological tests for disinfectants

Basic tests (phase 1)
bactericidal (EN 1040) and levurocidal/fungicidal (EN 1275)
Suspension tests (phase 2 / stage 1)
bactericidal (EN 1276/EN 13727/EN 1656), levurocidal/fungicidal (EN 1650/EN 13624/EN 1657), sporicidal (EN 13704/EN 17126), mycobactericidal (EN 14348) and virucidal (EN 14476)
Practical tests for surface disinfection (phase 2 / level 2)
bactericidal, fungicidal/levurocidal (EN 13697/EN 14561/EN 14562), mycobactericidal (EN 14563)
4-field test (EN 16615)
Hand disinfection (EN 1500) / hand washing (EN 1499)