Abstract:
Cosmetic contaminants and the antimicrobial activities of some commercial cosmetics
were studied on selected cutaneous microflora. The microbial load, pH, moisture content,
effect of microgravity of the most frequently isolated microorganisms from cosmetics and
antimicrobial efficacy of some commercial cosmetics on selected cutaneous microflora were
determined using standard methods. The study reveals that bacteria were the most dominant contaminant than fungi and 90.90% of the cosmetics employed during the course of this study
were contaminated with bacteria. The bacteria included Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas
aeruginosa, Escherchia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis and Proteus
vulgaris. Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the most frequently
isolated bacteria from the cosmetics, while 22.73% of the cosmetics were contaminated with
fungi. The fungi were Trichoderma piluliferum and Neocosmospora vasinfecta. The pH of the
cosmetics was within the range of 6.4 to 7.6. The creams had the lowest pH compared to other
cosmetics. The moisture content of most of the lotions was higher than other cosmetics
employed during the course of the study. The results of antibiotics susceptibility test on the
most frequently isolated microorganisms from cosmetics subjected to microgravity, indicated
that they were more resistant to conventional antibiotics than the microorganisms under one
gravity. The microorganisms isolated from the human skin were Staphylococcus epidermidis,
Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus subtilis, Proteus mirabilis,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus fumigatus.
Some of the cosmetics employed in the course of the study had antimicrobial effects on some
cutaneous microflora. The cosmetics used in the study were contaminated with
microorganisms particularly pathogenic bacteria, hence could serve as a reservoir of these
agents. Proper store-sales condition should be targeted as preventing microbial contamination
of the cosmetics.
