Cosmetics need to be safe for use by consumers when they use them as per the labelling. Hence, product testing is one of the most crucial actions undertaken by a manufacturer, such as private label cosmetic manufacturers, so that the safety of a cosmetic product is ensured prior to market entry.
Cosmetic products typically come in direct contact with human skin. Therefore, if it contains any harmful ingredient, it can harm the customer. As such, in India, labs for cosmetic testing are needed to conduct appropriate tests on cosmetic products and make sure that these products are safe enough as per the Drugs and Cosmetics Act guidelines. Besides safety, the quality of products is also checked during lab testing of such cosmetic products.
Product testing is, of course, vital for products to be sold. It holds advantages for the manufacturer, the retailer and especially, the buyer.
Need for cosmetic testing
Lab testing of cosmetic products determines that the raw materials or ingredients used in making cosmetics are not harmful or unhealthy for consumers. The process of quality control of such products is vital to ensure the effectiveness and safety of cosmetic products as well as their ingredients.
Dermatological tests of cosmetic products are conducted, which helps establish the fact that these have been tested on human skin, and therefore, the finished product is deemed safe for application on human skin.
Various kinds of cosmetic testing
Different kinds of lab testing of cosmetic products are conducted by private label herbal skin care products manufacturers to ensure their safety for use by consumers:
- Microbiological test
Dealers of cosmetic products, including private label Herbal & Ayurvedic personal care products exporter, conduct tests to ascertain whether there is any growth of microbes in the cosmetic products. Sometimes, the sample is additionally passed via a PET (Preservative Effectiveness Test) for the sake of checking for fungi, yeast and bacteria.
- Toxicology test
It is conducted to make sure that products and their ingredients will not poison or harm the skin of the user. Mostly, their impact on delicate skin areas and the eye of users is tested.
- Patch test
These are tests conducted to understand the reaction caused by a cosmetic product when it comes into contact with human skin.
- Performance test
Lab testing is also conducted to determine if products are real and if they provide impact and effectiveness as claimed by the manufacturer.
- Stability test
It is part of performance testing. It is conducted to ensure that the product maintains its function besides chemical and physical qualities during its shelf-life, no matter what the change in environment.
- Animal testing
This is a mode of testing that has proved to be quite unpopular. Animals suffer much when subjected to cosmetic testing. Thanks to much opposition from various quarters regarding such testing, consumers are now advised to buy only ‘cruelty free’ cosmetic products that do not use animal testing.
Safety data used by manufacturers
Manufacturers of cosmetics are able to use safety data which exists currently for products and their individual ingredients and products with the same formulations from foreign countries, such as:
- Safety data of suppliers of ingredients of cosmetic products
- Safety data that has been issued in scientific journals.
In sum, these are all some of the reasons why lab testing of cosmetic products is conducted. These are also of special concern for private label cosmetics baby care products exporter in India.
