The importance of microbiological control in cosmetic industry
Quality control of cosmetic products is essential to ensure the safety and high efficacy of formulations and raw materials and confirm that the characteristics of the product remain constant over time. Microbiological control in cosmetics includes all areas in the laboratory during formulation and chemical analysis, production, storage and human resources. If you want to learn more about implementing microbiological quality control in the cosmetics industry, you can expand your knowledge in our specialized training courses.
How do participants like our Microbiology Academy?
The Microbiology Academy has exceeded my expectations. I learned more about the importance of implementing high-quality microbiological control. I will definitely focus additional attention on certain aspects in the production of our cosmetic products. Thank you for your dedication and knowledge, it was extremely useful and pleasant for me.
Gloria Galić-Volarić, Founder of the cosmetics brand Gloria natural cosmetics
Learning materials
Faq about cosmetic & chemical industry
For additional information on the chemical compatibility of our products, feel free to contact us at sartorius@sartorius.hr.
The liquid attached to the outside of the tip is extra and not part of the set volume. To avoid picking up extra liquid on the outside of the tip, insert the pipette tip only 3-5 mm below liquid surface, or slightly deeper for very large volumes. Touch the tip on to the vessel wall after aspiration to remove excess liquid from outside the tip. Do not wipe the tip on a tissue cloth as it can contaminate the sample, or absorb liquid from inside the tip.
If the pipette tip cone comes into contact with corrosive liquids, clean it with alcohol and a soft tissue. You can minimize the risk of corrosion by using Safetyspace™ Filter Tips that protect the pipette's tip cone and other internal parts. You can also protect the insides of the pipette by installing Safe-Cone plus filters into the tip cone.
We recommend using pipettes with tips that are validated for fit and performance on those pipettes. For example, Sartorius pipettes are designed to be used with Sartorius pipette tips, which are a perfect fit together. While other manufacturer’s tips might be compatible, it is the user's responsibility to validate the pipette and tip combination for compatibility and performance. Check the ISO 8655 standard on how to determine pipette and tip combination performance. Also, be sure to calibrate your pipettes with the tips you plan to use.
The maintenance interval is affected by various factors, including pipetting frequency, liquids dispensed, and the age and model of the pipette. For example, more frequent maintenance is required if you dispense a lot of volatile liquids or solvents. At minimum, a maintenance interval of one year is suggested, with calibration done annually or more often, such as every 3 – 6 months.
Industries that need a record of water quality data must select a system that has this capability. There are different options for saving water quality data. Depending on the system, it can either be saved electronically (via USB or SD-card) or printed as a hard copy. Using a printer ensures data cannot be manipulated or falsified.
Regular check-ups help ensure high water quality and purity, as well as system and consumables quality. Customers can maintain their system to some degree. However, to avoid risk of losing high-quality water or damaging the system - and to reduce downtime and ensure error free operation - it is recommended that maintenance is done by qualified service technicians. Look into the service contract options with the manufacturer at the time of purchase.
The infrared moisture meter (or Moisture Analyzer) has applications in many industries. The infrared moisture meter is used in weighing of water, milk, dew, cream, powder, soap, oil, plastic, and more. the table we listed is the actual measurement: nail polish, nitro alkali solution, makeup remover, talcum powder / prickly heat powder, shaping spray, antibacterial soap, body milk, after shower gel, etc. According to your local regulations (if applicable), the moisture reference comes from a defined method in a related norm. Typically, the oven method is the reference, and the Moisture Analyzer needs a Homologation SOP.
Our customers use the Sartolab® P20 Plus Plus large-volume positive pressure filter. Since the filter volume is large, it is often used in the R&D phase. There are different membrane pore sizes to choose from, and we normally recommend a pore size of 0.2 µm. The benefit of the Sartolab® P20 Plus is the fast and efficient filtration. At least 5 liters of water sample can be filtered by combining with a peristaltic pump. Many of our customers also use Tangential Flow ultrafiltration membrane to pack a Vivaflow® cassette to concentrate hyaluronic acid and remove impurities.
It depends on which process step the balance is used in, and how critical the step is. In the cosmetics industry, calibration is typically performed annually, unless there are deviations in the daily verification or when earlier calibration is recommended by a service technician. For internal/external calibration, we recommend using the Internal calibration program with a calibration weight to ensure adjustment by time and by temperature deviations.
You can calibrate balances in our accredited calibration laboratory.
Sartorius Croatia calibration laboratory for balances, weights and pipettes
You can perform research to find the typical moisture content values for the samples (if available) to get a rough idea of how much moisture they contain and then work backwards to determine an optimal sample size.
Conversely, you can start with a very small sample size, knowing that the moisture content will be a percentage of the overall sample. Then, correlate the amount of moisture found with the measurement sensitivity of the moisture analyzer to make sure that you are within the effective measuring range of the instrument based on the sample size selected.
Moisture analyzers can generally provide accurate and repeatable results within just a few minutes. These times can be optimized by adjusting measurement parameters, like sample size, temperature and other settings.
It depends on a number of factors, including the sample size and the degree of fluctuation in the measuring environment. To determine the exact amount of potential fluctuation, you should experiment and compare results against measurements taken when complete acclimatization has taken place.
For microbiology testing, disposable devices are ideal as they reduce the risk of cross-contamination. The Microsart® filter is the best suited for microbiology testing, as long as the assay is chemically compatible with the plastic. The Microsart® filter can be used in conjunction with the Microsart® media or the Nutrient Pad sets depending on the assays requirements.
The fastest way to test lipid-based cosmetics is to emulsify the cosmetic to break up the lipids. This allows for filtration using the Microsart® filter. It is also helpful to pre-wet the membrane to minimize lipid binding and pass through.
This can be done using the Cubis® II density kits and proper accessories. The exact accessories will depend on the nature of the cream and how it behaves - liquid, solid or paste.
We recommend glass microfiber filters, which are depth filters. They can easily capture particles in the structure of the filter or on its surface. Therefore, they combine flow rates with high load capacity and retention of very fine particles. Glass microfiber filters without binders are biologically inert and are resistant to most chemicals.
Yes, with a LIMS system you can capture data in any number of ways, but the exact options depend on your specific LIMS system. Most LIMS systems allow the user to document data in internal or external storage devices and databases, as well as networked printers.
Yes. However, precautions are needed in extremely dry environments as they increase the chances of static electricity, which can negatively influence the performance of your balance. Countermeasures against static include anti-stat mats, ionizers, and other devices.
In our portfolio, you can find the Stat-Pen probe for removing static electricity.
Regular verification and adjustment by using internal, external or automatic calibration ensures precision.
Weighing low sample quantities is common in analytical labs. In the area of chemical analysis, such as quantitative gravimetric analysis, thermogravimetry or elemental analysis, accuracy plays an essential role.
During the weighing processes, sample spillage may be difficult to detected due to the very small sample quantities. The Sartorius YSH48 Anti Spilling Weighing Pan has a reduced surface design to prevent spilled sample from landing on the weighing pan and affecting your weighing results. Any spilled substances land outside the weighing pan, ensuring reliable and highly accurate measurement.
Big data refers to extremely large or complex datasets that must be analyzed using advanced statistical methods and tools. These tools reveal patterns, trends, and associations, especially relating to processes, behavior, and interactions. Chemical manufacturers use advanced data analytics to compare and measure the effect of various production inputs, such as coolant pressure, temperature, or carbon dioxide flow on yield – often finding surprising and unexpected dependencies that impact output.
Data and analytics can have hugely beneficial effects in the chemical industry:
- select the right raw materials by predicting properties of compounds and reducing the number of experiments
- optimize production processes by visualizing data and providing guidance on process adjustments
- keep processes under control by enabling corrective actions to reduce scrap and increase yield
