Why Compatibility Testing Is Key For New Beauty Products
When getting ready to launch a new product there is a litany of tests which can be run, which is why it is important to carefully plan and budget for all the tests needed to ensure the product safety and marketing claims. Since the FDA doesn’t require specific testing for cosmetics that are not considered OTC, it can be up to the brand to choose which tests are done, and there are great resources that discuss many of these options.
One of the most basic tests is stability testing which analyzes how long the product will remain intact and usable, and thus determines the shelf life of the product. The formula is put into sealed glass jars and checked at various temperatures and time durations. This shows the stability of the formula itself but does not show how the formula acts in the chosen packaging. That is why it is extremely important to also do compatibility testing, which is essentially the same tests, but in the finished goods packaging instead of glass jars.
Compatibility testing can show unique failures that experts may not have any way of predicting. For example, a body lotion may seem perfectly fine for a two-year shelf life in a glass jar, but put it in a tube and the tube label starts peeling off after three months. This could happen if an ingredient is microscopically leeching through the tube wall and compromising the label adhesive.
Another example is a face serum in a screen-printed glass bottle with a pump. The formula may test just fine, but over time the serum could eat away at the screen-print decoration until it can be wiped off with your finger.
These are issues that will definitely cost more in the long run if the tests are not done prior to production, both in terms of returns and in terms of consumer loyalty. No one wants their products to be associated with damaged packaging or compromised formulas. That’s why Athena Beauty Group has close relationships with reputable testing labs and works with them to confirm which tests are needed, and to identify any issues in testing so there are no surprises. When it comes to testing, cutting corners to save money or time it just not worth it in the end.