In Australia the ACCC regulates Australian Consumer Law which states when a consumer purchases a product they have the right that it will be of an acceptable quality and safe to use. There is no guidance or regulation offered how to achieve this in the case of cosmetics therefore the cosmetic industry has to rely on best practice guidelines.

 

Stability testing is one way to prove your product is of an acceptable quality however is not a legal requirement but still considered best practice in Australia and recommended. Various aspects of stability are tested to ensure the quality and safety of the product. These can include: emulsion stability, physical stability which includes appearance, form, aroma and colour, chemical stability and microbial stability.

 

As a brand owner it is your responsibility to be able to provide evidence your products are of acceptable quality and safe to use if requested by ACCC. Therefore if you create your own customised private label products we recommend you have your products tested. We can perform the tests for you or you can outsource them elsewhere.

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No standard for stability testing is available in Australia for cosmetics so we have adapted the stability testing standard for therapeutic sunscreens in the Australian Regulatory Guidelines for Sunscreens (ARGS) determined by the TGA. 

 

The stability testing program put together by Private Label Cosmeceuticals (PLC) includes:

 

1. Freeze/Thaw Test – 5 cycles – 10 day Test

Test pH, viscosity test, visual test for appearance, form and aroma and emulsion stability.

If stable indicates 2 year expiry.

 

2. Accelerated Stability Test @ 35C for 6 months

Test pH, viscosity, visual test and microbiology test at times = 0, 2, 4 and 6 months.

If stable indicates 2 year expiry.

 

3. Accelerated Stability Test @40C for 4 months

Test pH, viscosity, visual test and microbiology test at times = 0, 1, 2 and 4 months.

If stable indicates 2 year expiry.

 

Total Number of Tests:

pH tests x 8

Viscosity tests x 8

Visual test for appearance, form and aroma x 8

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Microbiology Tests x 4. Each test involves taking a sample of the cream incubated at 35C at 0, 2, 4 and 6 months and plating it up on 4 separate growth plates - each plate is specific to test for the presence of bacteria, fungus, pseudomonas and staphylococcus. The plates are then incubating for 2-5 days (depending on the specific plate requirements) then doing a colony count on each plate. 

 

Product Requirement for Testing

700g of product.

 

Costs:

$1700 for tests + cost of 700g of product

 

Test Duration

The test takes 6 months to complete however we will update you at the 4 month mark if your waiting to go to market as soon as possible or at any time the test fails*

 

At completion of the test the results will be emailed to you to keep on record.

 

Private labeling differs from manufacturing where in the latter case a batch is produced every 3 years or so in a quantity that would last the 3 year period hence why a 3 year expiry date is a minimum requirement for mass produced manufactured cosmetic products. With PLC the batch sizes we produce are much smaller and made a lot more frequently - we make them fresh with each order which ideally the quantity ordered should last around 3 to 6 months. Therefore going to market with a product that initial testing indicates has a 12 month expiry would be sufficient and if/when it eventually passes the 2 year stability test mark would provide a more than ample shelf life.