An Investigation into Incidences of Microbial Contamination in Cosmeceuticals in the UAE: Imbalances between Preservation and Microbial Contamination

Abstract

In recent years, concern about certain personal care products and cosmetics suffering from microbial contamination has increased. In this research, we aimed to determine the types and incidence of the most common microorganisms found in unopened/unused personal care and cosmetic products in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) market. This research involved an analysis of 100 personal care products and cosmetics. For every product, microbial (Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, aerobic mesophilic bacteria, Escherichia coli, yeast and mold, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) contamination was assessed, and levels were compared with the guidelines used in Europe. Of the total samples, 15% (95% CI: 0.79–22.1) were contaminated by aerobic mesophilic bacteria compared to the maximum microbial limit of 1000 CFU/g. In addition, 13% (95% CI: 0.63–19.7) of the samples were contaminated with yeast and mold compared to the maximum microbial limit of 1000 CFU/g. Of all samples, nine (9%) were contaminated with both aerobic mesophilic bacteria and yeast and mold. However, none of the tested samples were contaminated with Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, or Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Manufacturers of cosmetics and personal care products should be developing and implementing best practices regarding quality control/quality assurance in partnership with government regulators. Additionally, there should be greater control of the quality and safety of this type of product regarding good manufacturing practice (GMP), regulation, research, education, and the reporting of adverse events.

1. Introduction

Personal care products/cosmetics are popular across the globe and can be easily purchased, with no need for a prescription. This means that these products are not under the same strict regulations as those of prescription medicines. Cosmetics include any substance designed to be applied to the exterior of the human body with the intention of altering a person’s appearance, cleaning the body, perfuming the body, maintaining the skin, addressing any body odor, and/or offering skin protection [1]. Because the skin and its defenses are capable of protecting the body against external substances, there is usually no requirement for cosmetics to be aseptic [2].

Cosmeceuticals are functional cosmetic products that provide features that extend beyond the conventional purpose of enhancing or scenting skin. However, while they claim to deliver tangible benefits, they are not formally recognized from a regulatory perspective in the United States and are viewed in the same light as alternative cosmetics [3]. Many dermatologists hold the view that cosmeceuticals can improve the appearance of the skin beyond that possible using standard cosmetics because they incorporate biologically active ingredients that can penetrate below the skin barrier to improve the health of the skin [4]. Cosmeceuticals combine active ingredients with a topical mechanism that serves to preserve the integrity of the active ingredient while delivering it in a biologically viable manner, accessing the target location in an adequate way to achieve a given effect. The topical employed also needs to have the ability to allow the active ingredient to be released from the carrier vehicle. In light of the lack of the regulatory acceptance of cosmeceuticals, there is a need for an efficacy assessment to be performed to verify the effectiveness of cosmeceuticals.

Although most cosmetic/personal care products are not harmful, recently, numerous concerns have been voiced regarding product quality and the marketing of such products. The manufacturing and sale of cosmetic/personal care products should undergo strict monitoring and regulation, and data should be collected and evaluated in relation to any adverse effects caused by them to make them safer for use. A significant concern regarding the quality/safety of cosmetic products is that the product can become spoiled by contamination with microorganisms, which can pose significant health risks for users [5,6].

The skin barrier ceases to function with certain inflammatory dermatoses, such as atopic dermatitis; this is also the case where mechanical trauma or burns have been experienced. In these instances, the dangers of infection are significantly increased when the subject uses a cosmetic that has been microbially contaminated. Elderly people, children (below the age of three), and those whose immune systems are compromised are especially vulnerable to such contamination [7]. Because the skin in the periocular region is particularly delicate, products intended for application on or around the eyes are of particular concern [2].

Cosmetics can become microbially contaminated in two instances: (1) When manufactured or placed in a container and (2) when the consumer uses the product. In the first instance, the manufacturer must take steps to prevent microbial contamination so that the product is of the specified quality and consumer safety is protected. When the product is in use, consumers have a responsibility to keep it safe, e.g., by following the instructions for safe storage [2]. If cosmetic creams contain microorganisms, either from the manufacturing process or due to poor handling by users, this may cause a health hazard. Researchers have isolated a range of pathogenic microorganisms found in cosmetics [8].

One concerning issue is that cosmetics are not provided with production and/or expiration dates, which is surprising given that the preservatives used in cosmetics can degrade over time. In addition, cosmetics contain growth factors, organic and inorganic compounds, and essential minerals, and they are often stored under humid conditions, e.g., bathrooms, allowing microorganisms to flourish [9].

Cosmetic/personal care products sold in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are generally tested as part of the consumer standards process, with regulators checking products for microbial contamination in the laboratory to make sure that there is no microbial growth in the product. Regulators also check that all products contain ingredients specified on their labels. One element of being approved for sale is that manufacturers provide a declaration that they have tested the product, that it does not have any microbial contamination, and that it is fully compliant with health and safety regulations. Guidelines specify that every new batch of products offered on the market should be routinely tested for microbial contamination. Such monitoring is essential as products are increasingly being recalled, and most recalls are due to contamination with potentially pathogenic microorganisms [8]. Further information about how these products become contaminated is required [10]. The objective of this study was to determine the type and incidence of predominant microorganisms and microbial contamination in unused cosmetic and personal care products (finished products) at the point of sale in the UAE.

2. Methodology/Materials

2.1. Collection of Samples (Sampling Methodology)

A search was performed on local business directories to find all retail outlets that offer cosmetic/personal care products. The business directories list all healthcare retailers, pharmacies, and parapharmacies in the UAE. In total, 2183 were listed, and a sampling framework was created using an Excel spreadsheet that contained all of the information required, e.g., the name of the business, address, telephone number, and email. The study sample was selected using standard random sampling methods employing the business ID numbers, which were categorized by location and type. For each location selected, a package of every cosmetic/personal care product being sold was randomly selected with no screening for the place of manufacturing. All items were given code reference numbers so that they could be tracked and to prevent duplication. The following details were recorded for each sample: The product name, brand name, type of item, country of origin/manufacturer, subcategory, dosage form, batch number, bar code, size/volume, recommended dosage, and location of the retail outlet supplying the particular product. If an identical product was stocked by multiple outlets (i.e., identical product name, manufacturer, formulation, barcode, and size/volume), the earliest selected product underwent testing, and duplicate products were returned. Products sharing the same name but had different manufacturers or more than one format (e.g., emulsion and cream) were classified as individual products, and both underwent testing. Each selected product underwent laboratory analysis on the same day it was chosen.

2.2. Standards and Guidelines Used for the Detection of Microorganisms

The BS EN ISO 21150:2015 standard was used to detect and identify the specified microorganisms. This procedure, which was applied to enumerate the microorganisms from cosmetic products, involves direct colony counts and enrichment culturing. In direct colony counts, we could count the total aerobic mesophilic bacteria (total aerobic microbial count and total yeast and mold count). In enrichment culturing, we could detect specified harmful pathogens and their presence, such as the detection of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. All the chemicals used were of analytical grade and purchased from Sigma-Aldrich, USA.

2.3. Enumeration of Aerobic Mesophilic Bacteria

Based on the solubility of the product, enumeration was performed using the pour plate method or membrane filtration method. The pour plate method utilized 1 g/1 mL of the product transferred to 9 mL of diluent (MLB), which was mixed well until the sample dissolved. In the case of water-insoluble products, we transferred a 1 g/1 mL of sample to 9 mL of MLB containing 0.1% polysorbate 80 (neutralizer) and mixed it well. From this preparation, 1 mL of each sample was plated on a sterile 90 mm Petri dish in duplicate and pour plated with 20 mL of MLA for enumeration of the aerobic mesophilic bacteria. The MLA plates were incubated at 32.5 ± 2.5 °C for 3 to 5 days, and we calculated the number of CFUs per mL or per g of the product and reported the results.

2.4. Enumeration of Yeast and Mold

Based on the solubility of the product, enumeration was performed using the pour plate method or membrane filtration method. The pour plate method utilized 1 g/1 mL of the product transferred to 9 mL of diluent (MLB), which was mixed well until the sample dissolved. In the case of water-insoluble products, we transferred 1 g/1 mL of sample to 9 mL of MLB containing 0.1% polysorbate 80 (neutralizer) and mixed it well. From this preparation, 1 mL of each was plated on a sterile 90 mm Petri dish in duplicate, with 20 mL of SDCA for enumeration of the yeast and mold. For known or noncontaminated bacterial products, SDA medium was used. The media plates were incubated at 255 ± 2.5 °C for 3 to 5 days, and we calculated the number of CFUs per mL or per g of the product and reported the results.

2.5. Detection of Escherichia coli

First, 1 g/1 mL of the product was transferred to 9 mL of diluent (MLB) and incubated at 30–35 °C for 20–72 h. After completion of the enrichment broth, incubation of the subculture on a plate of Macconkey agar at 30–35 °C was performed for 18 to 72 h. The growth of brick red colonies with a surrounding zone of precipitated bile on the Macconkey agar indicated the presence of Escherichia coli. This was confirmed by an identification test using Indole and EMB agar. The confirmation test for Escherichia coli was the indole test. A loop full of culture was transferred to 5 mL of sterile tryptone broth and incubated at 42–44 °C for 24 h. After incubation, 0.5 mL of Kovac’s reagent was added to each tube, shaken well, and allowed to stand for 10 min. If any red color was observed in the reagent layer, indole was present, which confirmed the possible presence of Escherichia coli. From the Macconkey agar subculture, a loop full was placed on EMB agar and incubated for 18–24 h at 30–35 °C. E. coli colonies were dark, centered, and flat, with or without a metallic sheen. We performed Gram staining and found Gram-negative rods and motile and smooth colonies.

2.6. Detection of Staphylococcus aureus

First, 1 g/1 mL of the product was transferred to 9 mL of diluent (MLB) and incubated at 30–35 °C for 20–72 h. After completion of the enrichment broth, incubation of the subculture on a plate of Baired Parker agar was performed and incubated at 30–35 °C for 18 to 24 h. Black, shiny colonies surrounded by clear zones were observed. Further confirmation was performed using the catalase test, coagulase test, and Gram staining. Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus, catalase positive, and coagulase positive.

2.7. Detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

First, 1 g/1 mL of the product was transferred to 9 mL of diluent (MLB) and incubated at 30–35 °C for 20–72 h. After completion of the enrichment broth, incubation of the subculture on a plate of cetrimide agar was performed, and the plate was incubated at 30–35 °C for 18 to 24 h. Yellow to green colonies were fluorescent under UV. Further confirmation was performed by the oxidase test and Gram staining. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative and oxidase-positive bacterium, allowing for the detection of pycocyanin in Pseudomonas agar.

2.8. Detection of Candida albicans

First, 1 g/1 mL of the product was transferred to 9 mL of diluent (MLB) and incubated at 30–35 °C for 20–72 h. After completion of the enrichment broth, incubation of the subculture on a plate of Sabouraud Chloramphenicol agar was performed, and the plate was incubated at 30–35 °C for 18 to 24 h. Candida albicans produces white to beige colonies on media. The presence of this fungus was also confirmed by a germ tube test using horse serum.

2.9. Reporting of Values

The total bacterial count and total fungal count are reported as CFU/g or mL, accounting for a dilution factor, and the detection parameter is reported as present or absent/g.

2.10. Quality Control and Assurance

All the media prepared were checked for sterility and contamination, and a quality control evaluation was performed with suitable positive and negative control strains of the respective media.

2.11. Ethical Considerations

The study was awarded approval from the Institutional Review Board of An-Najah National University (reference number Phd/3/20/3).

3. Statistical Analysis

The data were analyzed using SPSS version 24 (Chicago, IL, USA). Percentages and frequencies were used to summarize the qualitative variables. The concentrations of microbial contamination (mold and yeast, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and aerobic mesophilic bacteria) were measured and checked against European guidelines (

Table 1. Number and percentage of cosmetics and personal care product characteristics (n = 100).

Characteristics	Groups	Frequency	Percentage
Categories	Body care	39	39%
	Eye care	8	8%
	Face and neck care	21	21%
	Hair and scalp care	21	21%
	Oral hygiene products	11	11%
Country of origin	China	9	9%
	EU	15	15%
	India	14	14%
	Korea	8	8%
	The Middle East	10	10%
	UAE	32	32%
	USA	12	12%

). The incidence of microbial contamination was classified as the proportion of the product that exceeded the maximum permitted microbiological level for any of the pathogens tested. Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were employed to study the prevalence of microbial contamination in accordance with the product characteristics. The statistically significant boundary was set at p < 0.05.

4. Results

4.1. Sample Description

A total of 100 cosmetics and personal care products were analyzed in this study. Of the 100 samples, 39 (39%) were body care preparations, 8 (8%) were eye care preparations, 21 (21%) were face and neck care preparations, 21 (21%) were hair and scalp care preparations, and 11 (11%) were oral hygiene products. Regarding the country of origin, 9 (9%) were manufactured in China, 15 (15%) in the EU, 14 (14%) in India, 8 (8%) in Korea, 10 (10%) in the Middle East, 32 (32%) in the United Arab Emirates, and 12 (12%) in the United States (Table 1).

4.2. Evaluation of the Incidence of Bacterial and Fungal Contamination in the Cosmetics and Personal Care Products

Table 2. Distribution of cosmetic products that contained the tested microorganisms below the limit of detection (n = 100).

Microorganism Type	Number of Cosmetics with Microorganisms under the LOD
	Frequency	Percentage
Aerobic mesophilic bacteria	80	80%
Yeast and mold	82	82%
Escherichia coli	100	100%
Staphylococcus aureus	100	100%
Candida albicans	100	100%
Pseudomonas aeruginosa	100	100%

summarizes the number of test results in which the measured colony-forming units were below the limit of detection (LOD). The incidence of microbial contamination is summarized in

Table 3. Estimation of the microbial contamination rate in the sampled cosmetics and personal care products (n = 100).

Microorganism Type	Microbiological Maximum Limits	Cosmetics Exceeding the Maximum Limit
		N	%	95% CI
				Lower	Upper
Aerobic mesophilic bacteria	1000 CFU/g	15	15%	0.79	22.1
Yeast and mold	1000 CFU/g	13	13%	0.63	19.7
Escherichia coli	Absence	ND	ND	ND
Staphylococcus aureus	Absence	ND	ND	ND
Candida albicans	Absence	ND	ND	ND
Pseudomonas aeruginosa	Absence	ND	ND	ND

Maximum allowable limits according to BS EN ISO 21150:2015. ND, not deleted.

. These are the proportions of cosmetics and personal care products that were contaminated with microorganisms. Of all the samples, 15% (95% CI: 0.79–22.1) were contaminated by aerobic mesophilic bacteria compared to the maximum microbiological limit of 1000 CFU/g. Additionally, 13% (95% CI: 0.63–19.7) of the samples were contaminated with yeast and mold compared to the maximum microbiological limit of 1000 CFU/g. Of all samples, 9 (9%) were contaminated by both aerobic mesophilic and yeast and mold. However, none of the tested samples were contaminated with Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, or Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The overall incidence of microbial contamination was 19% (95% CI: 11.2–26.8). The estimated microbial contamination for the 100 products is presented graphically in histograms (Figure 1 and Figure 2). The relevant microbiological maximum limits are displayed as vertical “cut-off” limits. The results of the microbial contamination categorized by sample characteristics for each sample are provided in

Table 4. List of tested cosmetics and personal care products according to microbial contamination and sample characteristics.

Name of the Product	Main Category	Country of Origin	Staphylococcus aureus (per g)	Yeast and Mold CFU/g	Candida albicans (per g)	Aerobic Mesophilic Bacteria CFU/g	Pseudomonas aeruginosa (per g)
Body lotion	Body care preparation	UAE	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Facial cleanser	Face and neck care	UAE	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Petroleum jelly	Body care preparation	UAE	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Petroleum jelly	Body care preparation	UAE	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Henna	Hair and scalp care	India	ND	100	ND	500	ND
Henna	Hair and scalp care	India	ND	7500	ND	57,000	ND
Herbal henna	Hair and scalp care	India	ND	3800	ND	13,800	ND
Shampoo	Hair and scalp care	UAE	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Hair crème	Hair and scalp care	UAE	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Hair styling gel	Hair and scalp care	EU	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Shower gel	Body care preparation	EU	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Face moisturizing cream	Face and neck care	UAE	ND	2369	ND	6876	ND
Facial scrub	Face and neck care	UAE	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Body crème milk	Body care preparation	USA	ND	1500	ND	1235	ND
Body wash	Body care preparation	EU	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Hair styling gel	Hair and scalp care	Korea	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Hair oil	Hair and scalp care	UAE	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Eyeliner	Eye care	UAE	ND	<10	ND	50	ND
Hair oil	Hair and scalp care	EU	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Moisturizing body cream	Body care preparation	UAE	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Smooth hair cream	Hair and scalp care	India	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Vaseline body butter	Body care preparation	UAE	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Eyeliner	Eye care	UAE	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Moisturizing body emulsion	Body care preparation	China	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Facial nourishing cleanser	Face and neck care	China	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Mouthwash	Oral hygiene product	USA	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Vaseline body cream	Body care preparation	China	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Face toner	Face and neck care	China	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Petroleum jelly	Body care preparation	UAE	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Fair cream	Hair and scalp care	India	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Anti-stretch-mark moisturizing body cream	Body care preparation	Korea	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Anticellulite stretch mark firming body cream	Body care preparation	USA	ND	2462	ND	1120	ND
Cleansing facial soap	Face and neck care	Korea	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Face cleansing and brightening	Face and neck care	India	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Hair loss shampoo	Hair and scalp care	UAE	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Sunscreen	Body care preparation	USA	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Mouth rinse	Oral hygiene product	EU	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Face mask	Face and neck care	Middle East	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Hair styling gel	Hair and scalp care	China	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Toothpaste and mouth rinse	Oral hygiene product	USA	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Facial cleanser	Face and neck care	India	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Hair styling gel	Hair and scalp care	Middle East	ND	2345	ND	1700	ND
Soap	Body care preparation	Middle East	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Facial scrub	Face and neck care	EU	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Facial scrub	Face and neck care	Middle East	ND	<10	ND	4200	ND
Mouthwash	Oral hygiene product	UAE	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Moisturizing body lotion	Body care preparation	EU	ND	2000	ND	<10	ND
Hair styling gel	Hair and scalp care	UAE	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Toothpaste	Oral hygiene product	UAE	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Face foundation	Face and neck care	USA	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Mouthwash	Oral hygiene product	USA	ND	1239	ND	<10	ND
Face cleaning water	Face and neck care	Korea	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Antistain body cream	Body care preparation	Middle East	ND	1246	ND	5780	ND
Firming and wrinkle removal body cream	Body care preparation	Middle East	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Body cream	Body care preparation	Middle East	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Body cream	Body care preparation	USA	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Face wipe off fleck	Face and neck care	Middle East	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Whitening skin cream	Body care preparation	Middle East	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Extensions volume mascara	Eye care	China	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Fluoride toothpaste	Oral hygiene product	EU	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Toothpaste	Oral hygiene product	China	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Toothpaste	Oral hygiene product	China	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Talc body powder	Body care preparation	UAE	ND	<10	ND	200	ND
Talc body powder	Body care preparation	UAE	ND	1235	ND	8965	ND
Talc body powder	Body care preparation	UAE	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Talc body powder	Body care preparation	UAE	ND	<10	ND	400	ND
Talc body powder	Body care preparation	UAE	ND	<10	ND	600	ND
Talc body powder	Body care preparation	UAE	ND	1872	ND	<10	ND
Talc body powder	Body care preparation	UAE	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Talc body powder	Body care preparation	UAE	ND	100	ND	1200	ND
Talc body powder	Body care preparation	UAE	ND	100	ND	1500	ND
Hair styling gel	Hair and scalp care	India	ND	700	ND	21,000	ND
Henna	Hair and scalp care	India	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Body oil	Body care preparation	EU	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Sun cream	Body care preparation	Korea	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Body oil	Body care preparation	Korea	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Face scrub	Face and neck care	India	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Deodorant powder	Body care preparation	EU	ND	<10	ND	1800	ND
Face cream	Face and neck care	EU	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Eyeliner	Eye care	EU	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Milk body mask	Body care preparation	Korea	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Fragrance talc body powder	Body care preparation	USA	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Mouthwash	Oral hygiene product	Korea	ND	<10	ND	<10	ND
Dead Sea concentrated water	Body care preparation	Middle East	0	<10	ND	<10	ND
Eyeliner	Eye care	India	0	<10	ND	<10	ND
Eyebrow powder	Eye care	China	0	<10	ND	<10	ND
Eyes brow gel	Eye care	EU	0	1287	ND	<10	ND
Facial balancing cleanser	Face and neck care	India	0	<10	ND	<10	ND
Hair conditioner	Hair and scalp care	USA	0	<10	ND	<10	ND
Face powder	Face and neck care	EU	0	<10	ND	<10	ND
Facial argan oil scrub	Face and neck care	UAE	0	<10	ND	<10	ND
Detoxifying scrub	Body care preparation	UAE	0	<10	ND	<10	ND
Hair oil	Hair and scalp care	India	0	<10	ND	<10	ND
Heat powder	Body care preparation	India	0	300	ND	1900	ND
Face cleansing gel	Face and neck care	UAE	0	<10	ND	<10	ND
Under eye cream	Eye care	UAE	0	<10	ND	<10	ND
Shampoo	Hair and scalp care	EU	0	<10	ND	<10	ND
Shampoo	Hair and scalp care	USA	0	<10	ND	<10	ND
Toothpaste	Oral hygiene product	USA	0	7623	ND	1234	ND
Facial scrub	Face and neck care	UAE	0	<10	ND	<10	ND

.

4.3. Comparison of Microbial Contamination According to Sample Characteristics

Table 5. Incidence of microbial contamination according to sample characteristics.

	Incidence of Microbial Contamination
	Aerobic Mesophilic Bacteria	Yeast and Mold	All
Total	15 (15%)	13 (13%)	19 (19%)
Categories
Body care preparations	8 (20.5%)	6 (15.4%)	10 (25.6%)
Eye care	0	1 (12.5%)	1 (12.5%)
Face and neck care	2 (9.5%)	1 (4.8%)	2 (9.5%)
Hair and scalp care	4 (19.0%)	3 (14.3%)	4 (19%)
Oral hygiene products	1 (9.1%)	2 (18.2%)	2 (18.2%)
p-Value	0.492	0.782	0.633
Country of origin
China	0	0	0
EU	1 (6.7%)	2 (13.3%)	3 (20.0%)
India	4 (28.6%)	2 (14.3%)	4 (28.6%)
Korea	0	0	0
Middle East	3 (30.0%)	2 (20.0%)	3 (30.0%)
UAE	4 (12.5%)	3 (9.4%)	5 (15.6%)
USA	3 (25.0%)	4 (33.3%)	4 (33.3%)
p-Value	0.191	0.257	0.281

p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

shows the distribution of microbial contamination according to the sample characteristics. The table also provides the estimates with the p-values. These p-values were obtained from the results of the chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests.

Comparisons of the groups did not reveal any significant differences in relation to microbial contamination.

Although not significant, the incidence of microbial contamination with aerobic mesophilic bacteria was higher for body care preparations (20.5%) and hair and scalp care (19%) than for the other categories of cosmetics. Moreover, the incidence of microbial contamination by yeast and mold was higher for oral hygiene products (18.2%) and body care preparations (15.4%) than for the other categories of cosmetics. Regarding the country of origin, products manufactured in the Middle East (30.0%), India (28.6%), and the USA (25.0%) were more susceptible to contamination with aerobic mesophilic bacteria than those manufactured in the other studied places. In addition, products manufactured in the USA (33.3%) and Middle East (20%) were more likely to be contaminated by yeast and mold than by the other contaminants.

5. Discussion

In recent years, concern has been increasing regarding the biological contamination of cosmetic/personal care products. As the consumption of such products has increased, considerable research has been undertaken to evaluate the microbial contamination in these products. The number of people buying these products has risen, and the size of the market has expanded more quickly than the population. This research looked at the levels of microbial contamination in cosmetic/personal care products offered to the market in the UAE and assessed the most important risk factors causing this type of contamination.

In this study, 19 of the 100 samples (19%) were shown to carry some level of microbiological risk. First, 15 samples (15%) displayed aerobic mesophilic bacteria contamination. The levels of contamination with colony-forming units of these microorganisms were between 200 and 8965 CFU/g for talcum powder, 7623 CFU/g for toothpaste, between 700 and 2345 CFU/g for hair gel, between 1120 and 5780 CFU/g for body care preparations, between 4200 and 6876 CFU/g for facial/neck care products, and between 500 and 57,000 CFU/g for henna products. Past research has revealed similar problems of microbial contamination with aerobic mesophilic bacteria in both new and partly used cosmetics [11,12].

Thirteen of the 100 samples under analysis in this study (13%) exhibited yeast and mold contamination. The levels of total colony-forming units were between 100 and 1872 CFU/g for talcum powder, between 1239 and 7623 CFU/g for oral hygiene products, 1287 CFU/g for eyebrow gel, between 700 and 2345 CFU/g for hair gel, between 300 and 2462 CFU/g for body care preparations, 2369 CFU/g for facial moisturizer, and between 100 and 7500 CFU/g for henna products. These findings agree with past research in which mold and yeast were found in certain tested cosmetic products [8,9,13]. However, other research found no mold or yeast in any of their product samples [14].

Microbiological contamination of cosmetic/personal care products can be caused by the conditions/environment employed for growing and harvesting raw materials, how these materials are stored and transported, and/or the manufacturing environment used for the final product. Therefore, high standards of manufacturing protocols must be adhered to, and all raw materials, especially those that originate naturally, should be analyzed for contamination beforehand and checked that they fall within acceptable parameters. Every area susceptible to contamination should be identified and suitable controls should be introduced. Interestingly, our findings showed that talcum powder was one of the most contaminated products, exhibiting yeast and mold and aerobic mesophilic bacterial contamination. Such products are frequently exposed to air. Additionally, the natural ingredients that comprise these products, including bentonite, Fuller’s earth, and talc, could increase the contamination levels [15]. Another significant concern surrounding this research was the high levels of contamination of yeast and mold and aerobic mesophilic bacteria in cosmetic creams. These levels are due to the fact that cosmetic creams have rich textures created using growth factors, essential minerals, and high moisture levels; with a wide spread of organic and inorganic compounds, this creates a good environment for microbes to grow [16,17,18]. Cosmetic products that have a high moisture content are those that are most likely to have microbial contamination; consideration should be given to changing the ingredients of these products, or they may threaten consumer health [19,20]. In terms of other forms of microbial contamination, this research found positive outcomes, with no samples displaying any contamination from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, or Escherichia coli. These findings do not match those of some European studies, which found that the majority of cosmetic contamination was caused by Gram-negative bacteria, chiefly Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter gergoviae; Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently identified of the Gram-positive bacteria. The same research found that Candida albicans was the most prevalent fungus [2]. The fact that products offered for sale in the UAE have such low levels of microbiological and other contamination may be attributed to the robust regulatory provisions in the UAE. All cosmetic/personal care products offered on the market are obliged by municipalities and health regulators to register so that they can be checked for safety, effectiveness, and quality. Furthermore, microbial contamination remains a central reason for the recall of products worldwide, especially in developing nations in the tropics [21]. The results of this study showed that products from India, the Middle East, and the USA had the highest levels of microbial contamination. In the European study previously mentioned, almost 50% of the products that were found to have microbiological risks were produced in one of the following five nations: Germany (18.27%), France (7.69%), the Czech Republic (6.73%), Greece (6.73%), and India (6.73%). Therefore, it is essential that preservative systems [20,21,22,23] are improved to prevent microorganism contaminants from growing or being manufactured, stored, and employed by consumers; the use of noninvasive packaging would also improve matters [24,25].

6. Conclusions

To date, no study has investigated the microbial contamination of cosmetic/personal care products offered for sale in the UAE. Furthermore, a quantitative analysis of international reports regarding this issue is lacking. This information could be useful for manufacturers, regulators, and health care providers, who may need to treat patients experiencing skin infections caused by organisms of unknown provenance. This study is a significant contribution to the knowledge regarding the distribution of microbiota within cosmetic products. Manufacturers should be prioritizing the ability to guarantee that their cosmetics contain appropriate preservatives. The findings of this study could be helpful for those producing novel challenge tests in experiments to develop guaranteed ways of preserving cosmetic products by identifying the most prevalent types of bacteria. These results have also indicated that it is vital that manufacturing facilities, equipment, tools, storage containers, etc., should all adhere to the highest standards of hygiene. To reduce contamination levels, manufacturers must adhere to all good manufacturing practice (GMP) protocols. All raw materials should meet an agreed standard and be properly tested for quality control. Further measures that manufacturers could take against contamination are taking control of validating processes, introducing training for workers, and revising and enhancing cleaning/sanitation procedures.

Cosmetic microbiology is a complicated field because there are numerous different formulations, manufacturing processes, and products that are used by a wide variety of consumers in many different environments. This study revealed two important elements: (1) Cosmetics are exposed to a wide range of possible contaminants in the manufacturing process, especially those carried by raw materials, and (2) moisture content (water) is the most frequently included ingredient that poses clear difficulties. However, even apparently benign substances, such as talc, may contain hazardous levels of pathogens. The manufacturers of cosmetic/personal care products must formulate and put into practice rigorous protocols for quality control and assurance, and these should be monitored by government regulation. Both the quality and safety of cosmetic/personal care products must be more strictly regulated concerning reporting mechanisms for issues of concern, research, education, regulatory procedures, and GMP.