8 Proven Cosmetic Testing Methods for Absolutely Safe and Stunning Products
Cosmetic testing is crucial to protecting consumers from health risks. This testing involves pharmaceutical aspects to measure the effects on the body and chemical testing to ensure the stability and safety of cosmetic products. Laboratory testing is a mandatory requirement for obtaining product approval or distribution permits.
Strict regulations require products to meet several safety acceptance criteria. In other words, laboratory testing is a form of the manufacturer's responsibility toward consumers. Besides being important for consumers, laboratory testing also offers many benefits for manufacturers. By conducting regular testing, manufacturers can ensure the quality of raw materials and finished products.
With quality data, better product development can be carried out. A series of tests can be conducted, including :
- Safety Testing
- Toxicity Testing
- Irritation Testing
- Sensitivity Testing
- Purity Testing
- Stability Testing
- Homogeneity Testing
- Microbiological Testing
1. Safety Testing
Safety testing aims to identify hazardous substances, including identifying compounds, classifying them, and understanding their harmful properties. The goal is to prevent adverse skin reactions.
Read more:
How Safe Are Your Cosmetic Products?
2. Toxicity Testing
There is also toxicity testing, which assesses the potential hazards or toxicity of a substance to organisms, particularly humans, to evaluate its effects in both short- and long-term exposure.
Read more:
Here is The List of Harmful Ingredients in Cosmetics!
3. Irritation Testing
Irritation testing is conducted to determine the concentration limits of a product that may cause irritation. This test is a crucial standard in cosmetic safety.
4. Sensitivity Testing
Sensitivity testing evaluates whether a substance can trigger specific allergic reactions on the skin, helping to identify ingredients that may cause allergies in certain individuals.
5. Purity Testing
In chemical testing, purity analysis is performed to determine the accuracy of the claimed ingredient levels, ensuring they align with product claims.
6. Stability Testing
Stability testing assesses how long a product can be stored while maintaining its safety, effectiveness, and compliance with specifications over a certain period.
7. Homogeneity Testing
Homogeneity testing aims to determine the uniformity of data from the same population. Cosmetic product safety testing also deals with contamination, whether from hazardous substances or microbes.
8. Microbiological Testing
Microbiological testing aims to identify and quantify microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and yeast. Additionally, antimicrobial efficacy testing measures a product’s ability to inhibit the growth of microorganisms.
BPOM Regulations and Sanctions for Manufacturers
In Indonesia, the regulatory body responsible for overseeing drugs and food distribution is BPOM (Indonesian Food and Drug Authority). BPOM Regulation No. 12 of 2020 governs the Procedures for Submitting Cosmetic Notifications, aiming to align cosmetic regulations with scientific advancements. This ensures that cosmetics circulating in Indonesia meet established safety and quality standards.
If manufacturers and distributors fail to comply with these requirements, they may face sanctions under Article 30 of the Indonesian FDA Head’s Decree No. HK.00.05.4.1745 of 2003 on Cosmetics, which outlines administrative sanctions for violations. These sanctions include written warnings, product recalls, destruction of cosmetics, temporary suspension of production, import, distribution, storage, transportation, and delivery, as well as the revocation of distribution permits.
In addition to administrative sanctions, violators may also face criminal penalties. Therefore, it is essential for manufacturers and distributors to conduct thorough cosmetic testing to comply with regulations.
Ensure your cosmetic products meet safety and quality standards before marketing. Conduct a series of laboratory tests according to BPOM regulations to avoid potential sanctions. With proper testing, you protect consumers while ensuring business continuity.
Author: Delfia
Editor: Sabilla Reza
References:
BPOM. 2020. Peraturan Badan Pengawasan Obat dan Makanan Nomor 12 Tahun 2020 Tentang Tata Cara Pengajuan Notifikasi Kosmetika. Diakses pada 24 Maret 2025. Tautan dapat diakses pada https://bbpom-yogya.pom.go.id/images/Peraturan_BPOM_No.%2012%20tahun%202020%20tentang%20tata%20cara%20pengajuan%20notifikasi%20kosmetika.pdf
FDA. 2024. Product Testing of Cosmetics. Diakses pada 24 Maret 2025. Tauta dapat diakses pada https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetics-science-research/product-testing-cosmetics.
