Home Cosmetic Science Talk Formulating Cosmetic Industry Starting a cosmetic line How do I test my products before selling?

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  • How do I test my products before selling?

    Posted by sainthil on March 24, 2015 at 5:48 pm

    Hello all,

    What tests am I required to do before launching my product line? 
    Do I need to send them to a lab for testing or can I test them myself? 
    Are there any special tools I should buy in order to test my products for microbes etc?
    Thanks!
    RobertG replied 8 years, 11 months ago 5 Members · 5 Replies
  • 5 Replies
  • belassi

    Member
    March 24, 2015 at 6:00 pm

    What country are you in?

  • OldPerry

    Member
    March 24, 2015 at 11:30 pm

    This depends on lots of different factors including the country you are in, the type of product, and the types of claims you’re going to make. 

    See this post we did on the subject.
  • sainthil

    Member
    March 29, 2015 at 8:08 pm

    I am located in the US. Washington state to be exact. 

    Thank you, Perry. I have read that article but was left wondering if I am responsible to do the testing myself, or am I required to send the products to a lab to do the testing? Also, if I can do this myself, what are the tools I need to test things like bacteria? 
    Thanks!
  • Microformulation

    Member
    March 29, 2015 at 8:16 pm

    These tests would need to be sent out. There are microbial stick tests for the Hobbyist BUT these will not be acceptable for outside testing. PET also needs to be sent out. Cosmetic Test Labs (a member of this forum) is pretty affordable.

    http://www.cosmetictestlabs.com/

  • RobertG

    Member
    December 21, 2015 at 4:04 am

    The tools you’d need to do your own microbiology?

    autoclave (pressure cooker will do)

    incubator

    supply of culture plates/dishes

    inoculation loop or supply of disposable sticks

    pipets (You can buy presterilized disposable.)

    burner (gas stove is OK)

    supply of culture medium nutrients & agar for jelling (You can buy pre-poured & pre-sterilized.)

    starter cultures (available from ATCC)

    refrigerator

    tubes for slants or stabs

    None of these is very expensive (assuming you already have a gas stove & refrigerator), and only the incubator is what you might consider a precision device.  However, unless you really want to get into this sort of thing & do it a lot, paying others to use their skill & equipment is going to be more cost-effective, and not require you to practice to get good at it.

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