Monitoring of Pesticide Residues and Preservatives in Cosmetics Using Natural Materials

Cosmetics using natural materials which was purchased in retail stores, distributed in Gyeonggi province(32 samples) and online through internet(24 samples) were analyzed by pesticide residues and target preser- vatives for assessing the safety of it. Natural or organic certifications was identified in 22 samples among 56 samples and most of them were Ecocert. Pesticide residues was detected in 3 samples among 56 samples and each compound and concentration was permethrin(0.6 mg/kg), tricyclazole(11.7 mg/kg) and malathion(0.05 mg/kg). All of it was pur- chased through internet. Target preservatives was detected in 13 samples among 56 samples and one of them was over the maximum allowed concentration and the rest of them were within the maximum allowed concentration of the respective preservatives. The compound which was over the maximum allowed concentration was benzoic acid and compounds which were within the maximum allowed concentration were sorbic acid, benzoic acid and methylpara- ben. They were all identified substances in products and the number of detected preservatives in retail stores were higher than online samples purchased through internet. As a result of this study, The method of analyzing pesticide residues and limit in cosmetics using natural materials should be set up as soon as possible and the monitoring about preservatives in cosmetics using natural materials should be conducted on continuously.