Comparative Microbiological Study between Traditional and Modern Cosmetics in Saudi Arabia

The Ministry of Health of Turkey defined “Cosmetics as all the preparations that were prepared to be used for epidermis, nails, hair, lips, genital organs and teeth and mouth mucosa and their only aim is to clean, give odors, change the morphological appearance and/ or to regulate the body odors and keep them in good positions”. However the Federal Food and DrugCosmetic Act criteria defined it as the articles intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, or sprayed on, introduced into, or otherwise applied to the human body or any part thereof for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance, and articles intended for use as a component of any such articles; except that such term shall not include soap. 

Cosmetics microbial contamination may lead to spoilage of the product and when pathogenic and act as serious health risk for consumers cosmetics mostly are not sterile and manufactured of non-sterile raw material. However cosmetics do not have to be sterile, limit values have been reportedaccording to the type of the cosmetics. So these preparations should follow the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) rules Limits of microorganisms that can be found in cosmetic preparations such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp.,Candida albicans, Clostridium spp., and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Should be limited and mentioned. For example; 500 CFU/g in cosmetics that are used for eye area, 1000 CFU/g in other cosmetics in 1g or 1ml of the preparation.