{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,30]],"date-time":"2026-04-30T20:10:44Z","timestamp":1777579844981,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":118,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,10]],"date-time":"2025-09-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1757462400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"1H-TOXRUN\u2014CESPU: PhytoCandd_GI2-CESPU-2023\u2014Preventive and therapeutic potential of novel plants extracts in oral candidiasis"},{"name":"ToxiBug4Ca-GI2-CESPU-2025 Polymorphic toxins and Insect-Derived Peptides: potential anti-Candida and anti-biofilm effects"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Cosmetics"],"abstract":"<jats:p>European legislation defines cosmetics as substances or mixtures designed to contact external body parts for cleaning, protection, fragrance, maintenance, or appearance modification. Cosmetic regulation has become increasingly important in recent years, as the number of consumers continues to grow. One of the major challenges of the cosmetic industry is effectively communicating to consumers the critical need to avoid using expired products for several safety reasons, with microbial contamination being among the most significant concerns. A key research priority involves understanding how bacterial and fungal populations commonly proliferate within cosmetic formulations. Regulatory standards strictly prohibit specific microorganisms in finished cosmetic products, as specified in EMA guidelines, making microbiological assessment an essential component of product evaluation. This review examines the prevalence, risks, and control measures associated with microbial contamination in cosmetic products. Special attention is given to the most isolated microorganisms, factors contributing to contamination, and current preservation strategies in the cosmetic industry.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/cosmetics12050198","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,10]],"date-time":"2025-09-10T12:04:55Z","timestamp":1757505895000},"page":"198","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Microbial Contamination in Cosmetic Products"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"given":"J\u00e9ssica Duarte","family":"da Silva","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Institute of Health Sciences\u2014CESPU (IUCS-CESPU), 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5960-3610","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Francisco A. M.","family":"Silva","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Institute of Health Sciences\u2014CESPU (IUCS-CESPU), 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8633-2230","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"C\u00e9lia Fortuna","family":"Rodrigues","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Associate Laboratory i4HB\u2014Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, University Institute of Health Sciences\u2014CESPU (IUCS-CESPU), 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal"},{"name":"UCIBIO\u2014Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Translational Toxicology Research Laboratory, University Institute of Health Sciences (1H-TOXRUN, IUCS-CESPU), 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal"},{"name":"LEPABE\u2014Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, ALiCE-Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,10]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"e002323","article-title":"Product Liability Law: Producer\u2019s Liability for Harmful Cosmetic Products","volume":"8","author":"Roslan","year":"2023","journal-title":"Malays. 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