Antimicrobial effectiveness of tea tree oil in cosmetic formulations

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Cosmetic products are often exposed to open environments and come into contact with skin. A need therefore exists for a suitable preservative to minimize microbial contamination of the product. Traditional cosmetic preservatives are becoming controversial due to health concerns. For example, paraben preservatives have been linked to cancer, DNA damage, and may have unwanted hormonal effects. Consumers are in search of natural and safer alternatives that are as effective in preserving the product as the current synthetic compounds. A need therefore exists to research the effectiveness of natural preservatives and the quantity required to reach effectiveness. The present project addresses the potential use of naturally-occurring antimicrobial (namely tea tree oil) as an antiseptic and/or preservative used in complex multi-component cosmetics products. The main objective is to determine the preferred composition of these natural products resulting in increased shelf-life and decreased microbial contamination within the product during regular use.