Screening technique detects illegal cosmetics

Eye make up Researchers in Belgium have road-tested a technology that could be used to screen cosmetic products for illegal whitening agents.

 

The team from the Scientific Institute of Public Health used a technology called attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR) alongside simple chemometric analysis to identify samples of creams, lotions and soaps containing illegal substances.

 

They recorded spectra for 150 suspicious cosmetic products and compared them to test samples representing both bona fide agents – with approved whitening agents such as kojic acid, arbutin and nicotinamide – as well as illegal agents that were adulterated with corticosteroids, hydroquinone and the severe acne drug tretinoin.

 

 

http://www.securingindustry.com/cosmetics-and-personal-care/screening-technique-detects-illegal-cosmetics/s106/a2054/#.U6PkHpSSzlI