Testing of Parabens in cosmetics with expertise to help you meet global regulatory requirements and ensure quality control for your beauty products
Testing for parabens in cosmetics allows determination of the levels, or dosage, at which parabens are present in a personal care product formulation.
What are parabens in skincare or cosmetics?
Parabens are a group of substances that have been used as preservatives in a range of cosmetic or personal care products including shampoos, skin lotions, shaving products, and more. Their antimicrobial function helps to prevent the growth of microorganisms such as yeast and mould in beauty products over their intended shelf life. However, these substances have gained increasing focus related to their impact on consumer health as they have been associated, as shown by some studies with an increased risk of breast cancer and reproductive problems.
Regulatory Drivers for Paraben Testing in Cosmetics
In Europe, five parabens have been added to the Annex II of the EU Cosmetic Regulation, which is a list of substances prohibited in cosmetic products. These are Benzylparaben (also known as Benzyl 4-hydroxybenzoate), Phenylparaben (also known as Phenyl 4-hydroxybenzoate), isopropylparaben (also known as Isopropyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, and also Sodium salt or Salts of Isopropylparaben are restricted), Isobutylparaben (also known as Isobutyl 4-hydroxybenzoate also sodium salt or salts of Isobutylparaben are restricted) and Pentylparaben (also known as Pentyl 4-hydroxybenzoate). There are also a series of parabens listed in Annex IV of the regulation which is a list of preservatives allowed in cosmetic products. These have specific restricted limits governing their use in product formulations. Commonly used parabens with restricted use include methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, or ethylparaben or salts of these substances.
In the USA, the FDA continues to monitor safety studies concerning parabens. Currently, they are considering potential risks to human health in relation to parabens and what can be learned from these published safety studies. The cosmetics product must, however, have an accurate list of ingredients included on the product pack.
Analytical Testing for Parabens in Cosmetics
Our cosmetics testing scientists provide analysis to determine the presence of and levels of a range of parabens in cosmetics and raw materials to address both safety concerns and quality control requirements. Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) with UV for determination of parabens we can test for parabens at low ppm levels.
Cosmetics Quality Control Analysis for Parabens levels
Bringing Cosmetic Quality and Safety to Life
Our teams are manufacturers and suppliers to help them understand and mitigate sources of product risk. Our scientists offer Total Quality Assurance and a flexible resource, delivered with a technical efficiency that brings value to your cosmetic product development and production.
