Cosmetics Testing

Cosmetics analysis is a rapidly growing field of analytical chemistry due to the increasing demand for new cosmetic formulations and evolving ingredient requirements. Each country has strict regulations on prohibited or regulated substances in cosmetics. To ensure compliance, official analytical methods are used to detect and quantify these substances. However, constant changes in ingredients and regulations necessitate the development of dedicated analytical methods to meet new requirements. Researchers are exploring innovative techniques that are rapid, cost-effective, and sensitive to detecting target analytes in cosmetics.

Immunological techniques, based on antibody/antigen reactions, are gaining interest due to their specificity and selectivity. A very standard format for immunoassays is the lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) technique, which is used as a rapid qualitative test, adapted to detect the presence of an analyte of interest in a sample using a colorimetric-based visual method. The application of this bioanalytical tool in the quality control of cosmetics significantly reduces the costs and time associated with the analysis, thus, allowing the monitoring of the production chain from raw materials directly to finished cosmetic products.