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How do we determine the expiry date of a skincare cream or any other product?
I am trying some different skincare lotions at home using preservatives like optiphen, phenonip etc. How do I determine the expiry date if I were to sell it?
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5 Replies
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Expiration dates are generally not used in Cosmetics. There are liability issues attached.
To determine shelf lift, you must run stability testing. This is generally out of the scope of smaller manufacturers. Send it out!
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Thank you, Is stability testing and challenge testing the same?
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No stability testing challenges the formula to see if it is stable for the emulsion, changes in odor, color and any number of factors under a certain protocol. There is no mandated protocol but most follow the guidance of the PCPC.
Challenge testing only assesses the preservative, not the physical factors.
Go to the site for Microchem, a testing Lab in Texas. They answer some of these questions.
You can NOT do these tests yourself unless you have expensive equipment and the knowledge. Send it out to someone like Microchem.
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Thanks, I’ll reach out to them. Appreciate your help!
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Make products. Leave on shelf for a year, inspect every month.
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