Imagine reaching for a skincare or cosmetic product from your bathroom shelf, only to find it has changed color and lost its effectiveness. It's a disappointment no one wants to experience.

This is where stability testing comes in. Stability testing is a vital aspect of product development in the skincare and cosmetic industry. It ensures that products maintain their desired quality, effectiveness, and safety throughout their shelf life. Discover why it is an indispensable process by reading on:

Definition and purpose of stability testing

Stability testing refers to a series of evaluations performed on skincare and cosmetic products to assess their ability to maintain their properties over time. The goal is to determine how a product's integrity is affected by environmental factors. To achieve this, manufacturers subject products to accelerated aging conditions, allowing them to establish the appropriate storage recommendations, expiration dates, and packaging requirements.

Importance of stability testing

There are a myriad of reasons for why stability testing is crucial for skincare and cosmetic product manufacturing. To begin with, it ensures that products remain safe and do not cause harm to consumers, as it helps identify potential issues such as chemical reactions or physical changes that could compromise the product's safety or efficacy.

Secondly, stability testing helps companies meet regulatory requirements and comply with industry standards. It provides scientific data to support claims related to important information such as product shelf life and storage conditions.

Types of stability testing

There are various types of stability testing that personal care products undergo. These include physical stability testing, chemical stability testing, and microbiological stability testing. The former assesses changes in appearance, color, texture, odor, and viscosity. Chemical stability testing investigates the degradation or interactions of active ingredients, preservatives, and antioxidants. And the latter examines the product's susceptibility to microbial contamination.

Accelerated stability testing

Accelerated stability testing involves exposing products to exaggerated conditions that simulate the effects of long-term storage in a short period. This testing helps predict the product's stability over its intended shelf life. Some of the factors include elevated temperatures, increased humidity, and exposure to air. Manufacturers can analyze the product’s performance under these conditions, and use the information gleaned to estimate its shelf life, determine appropriate packaging, and establish how the product should be stored.

For a company that formulates personal care products, conducting stability testing is not just a box to tick—it's a commitment to excellence. Here at Adonis, we invest in rigorous stability testing, so that we can deliver products that exceed expectations. To provide your customers with products that go beyond the ordinary, get in touch to speak to one of our specialists.