Comprehensive Testing for Cosmetics & Personal Care Products
Certified Laboratories provides ISO 17025-accredited cosmetic and personal care product testing, including microbiology, chemistry, and preservative efficacy testing for manufacturers and distributors. As a trusted leader in in-package stability testing and microbial challenge studies, we deliver accurate, timely lab data to ensure product safety, regulatory compliance, and brand protection.
Reliable Testing Labs for Personal Care & Cosmetic Products
Our cosmetic testing labs offer a broad range of microbiology and analytical chemistry testing services for cosmetics and personal care products. Certified Laboratories is cGMP/GLP-compliant and adheres to 21 CFR 111 subpart J and ISO 17025 standards.
Our lab testing and other services include the following:
- Microbiology Testing
- Analytical Chemistry
- In-Package Stability Testing
- Custom Testing Solutions
- Regulatory Consulting
Microbiology Lab Testing for Cosmetics and Personal Care Products
Our microbiology lab addresses contamination issues, verifying your cosmetic products’ microbial safety and integrity.
Our cosmetic testing labs offer an extensive range of tests, including microbial-limits testing of common pathogens and presence/absence testing of specific microbes. Our cosmetic product testing laboratories test for total aerobic plate count, yeast and mold count, and specialized tests like microbial identification.
- USP <60>
- Burkholderia cepacian complex (BCC)
- Water-born opportunistic pathogens
- Presence/Absence
- USP <61>
- “Bioburden” or “Microbial Limits Testing”
- Staph aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans, Aspergillus brasiliensis
- Determines Enumeration
- Acceptance Criteria on USP 1111
- USP <62>
- Staph aureus, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, Bile tolerant Gram-Negative, Clostridia, Candida Albicans
- Presence/Absence
- USP <71> Sterility
- Ensures products are free of viable microorganisms
- ISO-certified class-5 environment
- Membrane filtration or direct inoculation
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- Aloe Vera Testing
- Antifungal
- Antimicrobial
- Antibacterial
- Enrichment
- Kill Rate
- Microbial ID
- Mold Testing
- Preservative Challenge
- Preservative Design
- Preservative Efficacy (PET)
- Product Safety
- Total Aerobic Plate Count
- Total Yeast and Mold Count
- Water Testing
Amazon TIC Organization
Certified Laboratories is an Amazon-approved TIC (Testing, Inspection, and Certification) organization for ophthalmic and skin-lightening products. We can conduct the lab testing required by Amazon and verify your products against Amazon’s cosmetic testing requirements so you can confidently list these products on the platform.
Analytical Chemistry Testing for Cosmetics and Personal Care Product
Certified Laboratories excels in chemistry testing for cosmetics and personal care products, leveraging advanced instruments and USP compendial methods.
Our cosmetic testing labs offer heavy metals testing, specialized assays for precise ingredient analysis, residual solvents and VOC testing, SPF determination for sunscreens, and more.
- 1,4 Dioxane
- Acid Value
- Acidity or Alkalinity
- Aluminum
- Artificial Colors (Blue #1, Blue #2, Green #3, Red #3, Red #40, Yellow #5, Yellow #6)
- Bacterial Endotoxins
- Benedict’s Test
- Benzene
- Brix
- Calcium
- Chloride
- Chlorinated Compounds
- Clarity of Solution
- Colloidal Oat
- Color
- Color of Solution
- Conductivity
- Congealing Range Biochemical Oxygen Dependence
- Content of Carboxylic Acid
- Diethylene Glycol
- Dimethicone
- Ester Value
- Ethyl Acetate and Cyclohexane
- Ethylene Glycol
- FTIR Identification
- Fatty Acids
- Food Allergens
- Dairy
- Egg
- Peanut
- Fish
- Crustacean Shellfish
- Gluten
- Soy
- Tree Nuts (Cashew, Hazelnut, Macadamia, Almond, Walnut, Pecan, Brazil, Pistachio, Macadamia)
- Formaldehyde
- Heavy Metals (Lead, Mercury, Arsenic, Cadmium, Antimony; USP <232> and USP <233>)
- Hydroxyl Value
- Iodine Value
- Ion Chromatography
- Anion
- Cation
- Loss on Drying
- Loss on Heating
- Melting Range
- Methanol Precipitable Solids
- NaCl%
- Nitrilotriacetic Acid
- Nitrosamines
- Organic Volatile Impurities
- Oxalic Acid
- Parabens
- pH
- Phthalates
- Platinum Cobalt Color Value
- Readily Carbonizable Substances
- Refractive Index
- Residual Solvents Class I/II/III
- Residual Solvents/VOC Testing (Class 1, 2, 3; 1,4 dioxane, Benzene; USP <467>)
- Residue on Ignition
- Retinyl
- SPF Determination (Broad Spectrum)
- Assay confirmation of active levels
- Saponification Cloud Test
- Saponification Value
- Specialized Assay Testing (SPF active assay testing, Preservative assay testing, An array of cosmetic/OTC assay testing)
- Specific Gravity
- Sulfate
- Total Dissolved Solids
- Total Organic Carbons
- Total Solids
- USP Identification Tests
- Viscosity
- Water Activity
- Water Conten
Simple 4-Step Process to Start Your Lab Testing Program
New Client Form
Complete our new client form.
Submit Samples
Ship yourself or use our courier service (subject to geographic requirements).
Laboratory Testing
Our labs perform your cosmetics or personal care product testing.
Receive Results
Use our online portal to access your COA.
In-Package Stability Testing
With more than 100 stability chambers, we offer an extensive range of stability testing capabilities to support your shelf-life, expiration, and period-after-opening (PAO) claims.
Our cosmetic testing labs provide data about your product’s microbial activity and chemical degradation over time in a variety of ICH storage conditions. This data helps you verify product safety and achieve your quality standards, protecting your brand. Service highlights include:
- Long-Term, Intermediate, and Accelerated
- Photostability
- Antimicrobial Effectiveness/PET
- Package Compatibility
- Freeze/Thaw Analysis
View our full stability testing services for cosmetics and personal care products.
Preservative Efficacy Testing & Challenge Studies
Certified Laboratories excels in preservative efficacy testing for cosmetics and personal care products, verifying their safety for consumer use.
Aligning with FDA guidelines, we conduct comprehensive microbial challenge testing to evaluate the effectiveness of preservatives in protecting against microbial growth and degradation.
USP <51> for Sterile and Non-Sterile Products
- Demonstrates the efficacy of antimicrobial preservatives in multi-dose products, including injections, topicals, oral products, and antacids.
- Over a 28-day incubation period, we meticulously observe changes in microbial growth, providing manufacturers and formulators a reliable assessment of product stability and safety.
Why Choose Certified Laboratories for Personal Care Product Testing?
Accurate Results
Reliable safety and quality verification using advanced instruments and validated methods.
Competitive Turnaround & Pricing
Efficient sample processing with timely COAs and budget-friendly pricing.
Responsive Service
Reliable communication, including access to the Lab Manager.
Industry Experience
25+ years in cosmetic and personal care testing, offering expertise in microbiology, chemistry, and more.
Industry Trust
Serving 1,200+ clients; actively engaged in trade organizations & conferences.
Accurate Cosmetic Lab Testing for Innovative Formulations
We support product development from prototype to market. Our lab cosmetic testing verifies safe, high-performing products that meet customer expectations.
Our cosmetic and personal care product laboratory testing services cater to formulators throughout the product lifecycle, from prototype to product stewardship. We support your need for data to meet your safety and quality goals, helping you strengthen your product portfolio.
In Vitro SPF Determination
The use of our technology enables the determination of broad-spectrum SPF levels during the development process. This will help ensure your formula will perform for the final in vivo testing.
Certifications & Accreditations
- ISO 17025
- FDA (21 CFR 210, 211)
- DEA
- Health Canada
- cGMP/GLP
View our certifications and accreditations by lab location here.
Certifications & Accreditations
Certified Laboratories is a fully compliant cGMP/GLP testing facility following the 21 CFR 111 sub J and ISO 17025 standards.
Burbank, CA
Formerly Micro Quality Labs
- FDA (21 CFR 210, 211)
- ISO 17025:2017 – Biological
- ISO 17025:2017 – Chemistry
- DEA
- Health Canada
Carrollton, TX
Formerly Microconsult
- FDA (21 CFR 210, 211)
- ISO 17025:2017
- ISO 9001
- DEA
- Health Canada
Safety Testing & Regulatory Compliance
We provide a robust suite of regulated testing services tailored to the cosmetics and personal care sector ensuring consumer safety and quality.
- Using advanced microbiology and chemistry assays, our scientific assessments extend from raw materials to finished goods.
- Our thorough protocols encompass the entire supply chain, identifying allergens, and other contaminants to verify safety.
- We offer expertise across a diverse range of products, from cosmetics and hair care to skincare and sunscreen, delivering critical data for maintaining safety and quality standards.
Support for Industry Consultants
For consultants who help manufacturers choose a high-quality laboratory, we offer a broad range of services to help your clients obtain the data they need to meet regulatory requirements and produce products safely. Our cosmetic testing labs and other services help your clients…
- Detect potential contaminants
- Ensure label accuracy
- Verify product claims
- Establish optimal expiration dates and use-by dates
- Verify preservative efficacy
Cosmetic Lab Testing & Personal Care Product Testing Methods & Equipment
Certified Laboratories uses the latest compendial USP and non-USP methods and leading-edge equipment to test cosmetic and personal care products.
When compendial methods are not available our scientific experts design methods unique to your matrices. Certified Laboratories is committed to ensuring integrity of our testing competencies.
- USP <60>, <61>, <62>
- UHPLC: Ultra High-Performance Liquid Chromatography
- HPLC: High-Performance Liquid Chromatography
- GC: Gas Chromatography
- GC-MS/MS: GC-Tandem Mass Spectrometer
- ICP-OES: Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectrometers
- ICP-MS: Inductively Coupled Plasma – Mass Spectrometers
- LC-MS/MS: Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrophotometers
- FTIR, NIR: Fourier Transform Infrared with Near IR capabilities
- UV/VIS Spectrophotometry
- Fluorometry
Why Test Cosmetics with Certified Laboratories?
Consistent, Compliant, Collaborative
ISO 17025-accredited cosmetic testing labs
Direct-connect to technical experts
Turn-key pricing & flexible courier service
Real-time data access – anytime, anywhere