Did you know that the average woman will use up to 12 beauty products daily on her skin? Think cleansers, conditioners, hair dyes, fragrances, skin care products, scented lotions, nail polish, and makeup. If you still need to jump on the 'clean beauty' trend, we recommend looking at your product labels and what you find there. 

You may find a cocktail of chemical components, and if you are a trusting person, you would assume that all these ingredients have been tested to ensure that they are safe for long-term use for people. That would be the assumption, but safety is only sometimes the case.

Possible Dangers of Skin Care Products

When you use health, beauty, cosmetic, or personal care products, you repeatedly expose the contents to harmful bacteria that could lead to illness. 

Think about all the products you touch daily, such as mascara, eye shadow, face powders and foundations, face cream, shampoos, conditions, and face powders.

Every time you touch these products, you contaminate them with unclean hands and then apply them to your skin, increasing the risk of infections. 

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
• fluorescent/putida,
• Staphylococcus aureus
• Enterococcus faecalis
• epidermidis
• warneri

Many of these bacteria are also resistant to medications, making them even more dangerous to human health. 

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, responsible for many clinical cases of infections. However, other gram-negative microorganisms may include Neisseria, Haemophilus spp., Helicobacter pylori, and Chlamydia trachomatis.

Research shows that GNBs are responsible for many skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs), and shared cosmetics are almost always contaminated with some bacteria. This is why it is essential to keep skin care products private and not share them. However, it is also vital to ensure your skincare products are safe to use and tested for bacteria, even if you do not share them.

According to one study, gram-negative bacteria often accumulate on your arms, armpits, face and feet, increasing your risk of skin infections that antibiotics cannot easily treat. Contaminated skin care products can also change your skin's molecular and microbial composition. TRIXSENT products are tested for purity to ensure you get the safest product.

How Are TRIXSENT Skin Care Products Tested?

Cosmetic and personal care manufacturers must ensure 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 undergo 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. 

At TRIXSENT, we test our health, beauty, cosmetics, and personal care products for the following:

Yeast and Mould

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

Campo explained that mould grows when it finds an ideal environment. Food, moisture, and warmth are all necessary for mould to grow. This means that keeping your skin care products in a warm, humid place may cause them to spoil or grow mould.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

It is crucial 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 skincare line might contain preservatives, it does not always protect against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Some products with a high water content or stored in humid environments are susceptible to being contaminated with this bacteria, which could spread and infect users.

Staphylococcus Aureus

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

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 exposed to contaminated water. It may occur in ambient water due to an overflow of domestic sewage or human and animal waste. Cosmetic products with a high water content may be contaminated with fecal coliforms.

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.

Let's Talk about pH Levels

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

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

If you have any questions about our testing process and ingredients, please reach out to us via the Contact page. A Team TRIXSENT member will follow-up with you.