Stability Testing Cosmetics - MySwissLab

Why Stability Testing is Crucial for Cosmetic Products

Conducting appropriate stability tests on cosmetic products is vital for determining their performance, safety, and longevity. Stability testing helps manufacturers identify any potential issues and make necessary adjustments to ensure the final product meets consumer expectations. Factors such as ingredient interactions, packaging compatibility, and storage conditions can significantly impact product quality, making stability testing an essential step in product development.
Regulations require cosmetic product manufacturers to perform stability tests to ensure their products are safe and effective. Meeting these requirements is essential for entering the market and maintaining consumer trust. Different countries and regions may have specific guidelines for stability testing, so it's crucial to familiarize yourself with the local regulations and ensure your products comply with these standards.
In order to ensure a cosmetic product's quality and safety, physical, chemical, and microbiological stability studies must be performed. These studies help manufacturers understand how their products will perform under various environmental conditions and in the hands of the consumer in the market.
Accelerated stability testing under accelerated conditions is crucial for evaluating the functionality and aesthetics of cosmetic products. This helps manufacturers maintain product quality by identifying potential issues with appearance, texture, and color. Techniques such as freeze-thaw cycling, centrifugation, and vibration testing can be used to simulate the stresses that products may encounter during transportation and storage, allowing manufacturers to address these challenges proactively.
Assessing conditions that may vary, such as emulsion stability or manufacturing process, is vital for determining a product's shelf life. Viscosity readings and other stability test methods help evaluate the compatibility of ingredients in cosmetic formulations. Additionally, chemical stability testing can identify potential degradation pathways and determine the product's sensitivity to factors such as light, heat, and humidity, enabling manufacturers to develop strategies to mitigate these risks.
Evaluating the impact of environmental conditions, such as temperature and relative humidity, on cosmetic products is a critical aspect of stability testing. Microbial stability tests ensure that products remain safe and effective throughout their shelf life. These tests involve exposing the product to various microorganisms and evaluating its ability to resist contamination and maintain its integrity.

Our Expertise in Stability Testing for Skincare Products

State-of-the-Art Laboratory Facilities and Equipment
Our cutting-edge laboratory facilities and equipment enable us to manufacture and test cosmetic product formulations to the highest standards.

We adhere to stringent testing protocols to ensure the stability tests we conduct are accurate and reliable. Our labs are equipped with the latest technology, such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), allowing us to provide in-depth analysis and accurate results.

Experienced and Qualified Scientists and Technicians
Our team of experienced cosmetic chemists and technicians is well-versed in the testing requirements of various regulatory bodies, including the European Medicines Agency. We are equipped to determine and evaluate the stability testing needs of your cosmetic products in our state-of-the-art lab. Our team members are constantly updating their knowledge and skills, ensuring that we stay at the forefront of industry standards and best practices.

How We Can Help You with Cosmetic Formula Stability Testing

Customized Stability Testing Services Tailored to Your Needs
We offer a range of stability tests, including centrifuge testing, exact tests, pH value measurement, photostability testing, and spray pattern analysis, all tailored to your specific needs. Our customized approach ensures that we address the unique challenges and requirements of your product, allowing you to make informed decisions throughout the development process.

Timely and Comprehensive Test Reports to Support Your Product Launch
Our accelerated stability testing and detailed test reports will help you launch your cosmetic product with confidence, knowing it meets the highest quality and safety standards. Our reports provide clear, concise, and actionable insights into the stability of your product, enabling you to make data-driven decisions and address potential issues before they become costly problems.

When is Stability testing required?

Stability testing is a crucial step in the development of any cosmetic product, as it ensures that the product maintains its quality and effectiveness over time. It is not only necessary for new prototypes, but also for various other scenarios where changes are made to the formulation, raw materials, manufacturing process, or packaging. In each of these scenarios, cosmetic chemists and manufacturers must conduct appropriate stability tests under specific conditions to ensure that the product meets the required quality standards and has an adequate shelf life.

New prototypes:
Whenever cosmetic chemists develop a new formulation, they must perform a stability test to assess its shelf life and determine the appropriate conditions for storage. Stability testing ensures that the cosmetic product remains stable and does not undergo any unacceptable changes over time. For example, the European Union’s Cosmetics Regulation (1223/2009/EC) requires cosmetic manufacturers to perform stability testing on new formulations to ensure the safety and quality of their products.

New raw materials:
Whenever a manufacturer changes a raw material in a cosmetic formulation, it is important to perform a stability test to determine if the change affects the stability and safety of the product. Stability testing also ensures that the cosmetic product remains safe and effective throughout its shelf life. ISO 16128 provides guidelines for cosmetic formulation development, and it recommends that stability testing be performed on any new raw materials to ensure that they do not negatively impact the product quality.

New manufacturing procedure:
Manufacturers are always looking for ways to improve the efficiency of their production processes, but any changes in the manufacturing procedure can impact the stability of the cosmetic product. Therefore, it is essential to perform a stability test whenever a new manufacturing procedure is introduced. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has established guidelines for stability testing, such as ISO/TR 18811:2018, to ensure that cosmetic products remain safe and effective throughout their shelf life.

New packaging:
Whenever a cosmetic product is packaged in a new container, it is essential to perform a stability test to ensure that the packaging does not negatively impact the product stability. Packaging can affect the chemical and physical properties of a cosmetic product, and stability testing helps identify any changes that may occur. The Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 2008 in the UK requires manufacturers to perform stability testing on new packaging to ensure that it does not affect the product quality.

How do you stability test a cosmetic?

Step 1: Preparation
Before conducting a stability test, cosmetic chemists need to prepare their formulations, including selecting raw materials and determining the desired shelf life. They also need to ensure that the samples have the correct pH, viscosity, and other parameters to meet the product’s functionality and aesthetics requirements. Initial values are taken as reference.

Step 2: Sampling
The next step involves creating samples of the cosmetic product in question. The number of samples needed may vary depending on the product’s formulation, but typically, it is recommended to create at least three identical samples, which will be used in three different storage conditions.

Step 3: Testing in various environmental conditions
The samples are then placed unde stressful temperature conditions, to determine how the product holds up over time. This process usually lasts for weeks or months, with checkpoints at different intervals to check the samples’ stability. To replicate natural conditions, the temperature used typically mimics air-freight (5.C Fridge) and sea-freight (45.C Incubator).

Step 4: Physical and chemical analysis
During the stability testing process, cosmetic chemists monitor the samples’ physical and chemical changes, including pH, viscosity, appearance, and fragrance. By analyzing these factors, they can determine how the product may change over time and anticipate future problems before they arise.

Step 6: Evaluation
Once the stability testing is complete, cosmetic chemists evaluate the results and determine whether the product meets the desired shelf life and quality standards. This process includes assessing the product’s physical and chemical properties, as well as any microbial growth and sensory changes.

Contact Us Today for Your Cosmetic Stability Testing Needs

Experience the Difference for your next cosmetic formula stability test

Stability Guarantee Insurance

Stability Guarantee Insurance is a unique feature offered at MySwissLab that provides peace of mind to our clients. By topping up the cost of the stability test with 50€, clients can ensure that if their product fails the test, they are entitled to a free replacement test. This policy allows clients to confidently test their products without worrying about incurring additional costs for a second test if the first test fails.

Our clients can rest assured that if their product fails, they can easily get it retested at no additional cost. This policy is a testament to our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, ensuring that our clients receive the best service possible

24/7 Customer support

At MySwissLab, we prioritize customer satisfaction and make sure that you can reach us whenever you need to. Our team of dedicated customer service representatives is available 24/7 to answer your questions, provide support, and address any concerns you may have by email. With our reliable and responsive customer support, you can rest assured that you’ll receive the assistance you need in a timely and professional manner.

Swiss tested claim

Choosing a Swiss testing lab for cosmetic stability tests allows a brand to make the claim that their products are Swiss-tested, which is highly valued by consumers worldwide. Switzerland is renowned for its precision and high-quality standards, and Swiss testing labs are held to some of the strictest regulations in the world.

By having your cosmetic products tested in a Swiss lab, you can demonstrate to your customers that your brand is committed to upholding the highest quality and safety standards. This can be a significant selling point for consumers who are willing to pay a premium for products that are rigorously tested and meet stringent quality requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Cosmetic Stability Test

The stability test of a cosmetic product makes it possible to analyze and understand the possible modifications (physical, organoleptic, chemical or microbiological) that can occur during exposure to different environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, vibration, light. This test makes it possible to agree on any adjustments to the formula if necessary. It defines the quality specifications of suitable packaging material, shelf life, conditions of use, storage and the most suitable means of transport.
The following countries or groups of countries/regions require a microbiological specification test (this list is not exhaustive) :
  • European Union and EEA: composed of the 27 EU Member States plus Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland.
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom
  • Turkey
  • Israel
  • Serbia
  • Gulf Cooperation Council countries: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Oman.
  • ASEAN countries: Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Brunei, Myanmar, Laos.
  • South Africa
  • New Zealand: it is customary to provide microbiological specifications, but not required.
  • South Korea: Testing must be performed by a Korean company or KFDA certified laboratory.
  • Argentina
  • Brazil
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Mexico
Our team typically completes stability testing within 90 days of receiving your samples. When the results are observed, they are transmitted to you automatically electronically.
Once you have registered and placed your order, you will receive an email with instructions. Warning! You must complete our "Sending Samples" form so that we can identify and register them correctly.
Once you have registered and placed your order, you will receive an email with instructions. Warning! You must complete our "Sending Samples" form so that we can identify and register them correctly.
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