ABSTRACT
Every cosmetic or personal care manufacturer has the responsibility to ensure the microbiological safety of their finished products. This goal is accomplished by ensuring that their product formulations are free from the numbers and types of objectionable microorganisms that may affect either the product quality and/or the health of the consumer. However, it is not unusual for these product formulations to have some type of a microbial bioburden or content (1). This microbial bioburden should not be harmful to either the product’s esthetics or the consumer especially if they have a pre-existing condition such as being immunocompromised or otherwise sensitive to a particular microorganism by having a disease, open wounds, or organ damage (2).
