Have you ever tried to read the ingredients on your skin care products out loud? You probably couldn’t pronounce many of them, right? While preservatives are thought to keep your products shelf-stable and bacteria-free, this isn’t always the case.

Did you know that the bacteria in your skin care products can lead to skin infections as well as more serious conditions, such as pneumonia, bone infections, and heart valve infections? In this article, we will discuss skin care product safety and how to choose the safest products for your skin.

Possible Dangers of Skin Care Products

When you use health, beauty, cosmetic, or personal care products, you are repeatedly exposing them to harmful bacteria that could make you sick. Think about all the products you touch on a daily basis, such as mascara, eye shadow, face powders and foundations, face cream, shampoos, conditions, and face powders.

Every time you touch these products, you’re contaminating them with unclean hands and then applying them to your skin where you increase the risk of various types of infections. Research shows that many skin care products can be contaminated with the following bacterial strains, which are commonly found on your hands:

• Acinetobacter lwoffii
• Enterobacter cloacae
• Klebsiella pneumoniae
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• fluorescens/putida,
• Staphylococcus aureus
• Enterococcus faecalis
• epidermidis
• warneri

Additionally, many of these types of bacteria are resistant to medications, making them even more dangerous to human health. We will talk more about the effects of gram-negative bacteria on health and how you can prevent skin care product contamination in the next section.

What is Gram-Negative Bacteria (GNB)?

Gram-negative bacteria, or GNB, are a type of bacteria that are highly resistant to antibiotics. There are two primary groups: Enterobacteriaceae and the non-fermenters, which are responsible for many clinical cases of infections. However, other gram-negative microorganisms exist and may include Neisseria, Haemophilus spp., Helicobacter pylori, and Chlamydia trachomatis.

Research shows that GNB are responsible for many skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs), and shared cosmetics are almost always contaminated with some type of bacteria. This is why it’s important to NEVER share your skin care products. However, it’s also important to make sure your skin care products are safe to use and tested for bacteria, even if you don’t share them.

According to one study, gram-negative bacteria often accumulate on your arms, armpits, face and feet, which can increase your risk of skin infections that cannot easily be treated by antibiotics. Contaminated skin care products can also change the molecular and microbial composition of your skin. Trixsent products are tested for purity to ensure you’re getting the safest product available.

How Are Trixsent Skin Care Products Tested?

Cosmetic and personal care product manufacturers must make sure that their products are free from pathogenic or harmful microorganisms that could be unsafe for users. Research shows that microorganisms found in cosmetics might cause a chemical change or spoilage in the product. It can also harm the health of the consumer.

Trixsent products go through rigorous microbiological testing to ensure they are free from objectionable microorganisms. Our products are tested for total plate counts. This test is carried out for up to 72 hours and helps determine the total amount of aerobic bacteria present per mL or gram of each product. We test our health, beauty, cosmetics, and personal care products for the following:

1. Yeast and mold

Similar to bacteria, yeast and mold can cause serious skin conditions. According to Miami-based board-certified dermatologist Roberto Del Campo, yeast and mold may even be the reason why your favorite cleansing product suddenly makes your skin break out.

Campo explained that mold grows when it finds an ideal environment. Things like food, moisture, and warmth are all necessary for mold to grow. This means that if you keep your skin care products in a warm, humid place, they may spoil or grow mold.

2. Pseudomonas aeruginosa

It’s important to monitor your skin care products for Pseudomonas aeruginosa because this is a common pathogen that causes infections with a high death rate. These bacteria can hide in many commonly used skin care products, including shampoo.

Keep in mind that even though your skin care line might contain preservatives, it doesn’t always protect against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Some products that contain a high water content or are stored in humid environments are susceptible to being contaminated with this bacteria, which could spread and infect users.

3. Staphylococcus Aureus

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most dangerous types of staphylococcal bacteria. They are gram-positive, sphere-shaped bacteria that don’t just cause skin infections. They can also lead to heart valve infections, bone infections, and pneumonia.

4. Fecal coliforms

It may sound gross, but your skin care products may be contaminated with fecal coliforms. Fecal contamination is a potential health risk for people who are exposed to contaminated water. It may occur in ambient water as a result of an overflow of domestic sewage or human and animal waste. Cosmetic products with a high water content may be contaminated with fecal coliforms.

5. Heavy metals

Many skin care products contain heavy metals, such as lead, arsenic, aluminum, zinc, chromium, iron, and mercury. These are commonly found in personal care products, including eyeliner, whitening toothpaste, lipstick, and nail polish. Some metals are added as ingredients while others act as contaminants.

Research shows that exposure to heavy metals may cause reproductive, immune, and nervous system toxicity. Trixsent products are tested for heavy metals to ensure they never make their way into our products.

Final Thoughts

In addition to testing against many types of bacteria, mold, yeast, and heavy metals, Trixsent products are also tested for pH levels to ensure that they do not cause adverse skin reactions. Skin’s pH levels may differ between face and body.

However, optimal pH is between 4.7 and 5.75. A pH of 7 is considered neutral, such as that of pure water. Any pH level below this is considered acidic and anything above it is alkaline. This means that skin’s natural pH levels are mildly acidic. Trixsent products align with your body’s natural pH levels to ensure proper therapeutic effects.