Specialists in carbon-14 (or radiocarbon) analysis, CIRAM laboratories comply with all applicable standards to deliver results that meet regulatory requirements.
CIRAM laboratories analyze all cosmetic products to study their bio-based content, whether in active ingredients, excipients, or finished products.
Using radiocarbon (or carbon-14) analysis, we measure the proportion of natural components relative to synthetic components. With CIRAM measurements and subject to a pMC of 100, you can label your products as 100% natural.
Discover the different methods used to analyze cosmetics with CIRAM laboratories.
Radiocarbon analysis for in-depth analysis of cosmetics
Radiocarbon analysis is based on measuring the activity ofthe carbon-14 isotope. This isotope decays naturally over time and has completely disappeared from fossil resources after approximately 60,000 years. Petroleum-based materials therefore no longer contain carbon-14 and consist exclusively of fossil carbon, unlike recent biomass (plants, essential oils, natural extracts), which has a modern carbon reservoir.
Radiocarbon, to distinguish between old and modern carbon
The radiocarbon technique allows the proportion of fossil carbon and bio-based carbon in a sample to be measured accurately. This analysis method offers numerous advantages:
- It is applicable to all types of materials, whether solid, liquid, or gaseous;
- It offers high accuracy (≈ 0.4%) with a detection limit of approximately 0.3%;
- It is fast, with results available within 7 business days, and offers excellent value for money.
Carbon-14 testing for natural products
In cosmetics, high natural ingredient content has become a key criterion in terms of marketing, regulations, and the environment. Carbon-14 testing is used at various stages: in the developmentof natural products, the qualification of suppliers, and the inspection of cosmetic products before they are marketed.
This analysis technique is used from the R&D stages through to the finished product, and can also be applied tothe analysis of bio-based packaging.
Measuring the percentage ofbio-based carbon in cosmeticsmakes it possible to verify regulatory compliance, authenticate ingredients from organic farming, and check the actual origin of an essential oil or plant extract.
Please note: the water content of a cosmetic product is not taken into account in radiocarbon dating and does not affect the results. The analysis focuses exclusively on the total amount of carbon and its isotopic ratios; hydrogen and oxygen atoms are not quantified.
Additional analyses to understand product origins
In addition tocarbon-14 analysis, the study of stable isotope ratios of carbon,nitrogen,oxygen, andhydrogen (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, δ¹⁸O, and δ²H), carried out by EA-IRMS (elemental analysis coupled with isotope ratio mass spectrometry), makes it possible to:
- Determine a geographic origin,
- Detect adulteration or undeclared blending,
- Identify the botanical origin of certain natural compounds, particularly in the case of high value-added essential oils.
CIRAM laboratories comply with all applicable standards
CIRAM laboratories comply with key international standards, including ASTM D6866 and EN 16640, to ensure reliable scientific expertise.
The EN 16128 standard, dedicated to natural and organic cosmetic products, explicitly recommendscarbon-14 analysis for determining the bio-based fraction.
Reliable methods for cosmetics analysis with CIRAM
In summary, the use of radiocarbon for the characterization of cosmetic products is a reliable, accurate method that can be applied to all cosmetic matrices (liquid, solid, or gel), without the need to know the detailed chemical composition of the sample.
This scientific analysis method is relevant at all stages of the industrial process, from the research project to the final product, including sourcing raw materials, validating processes, formulating, and obtaining labels that highlight the naturalness of cosmetic products.
Would you like to analyze an essential oil, a cosmetic ingredient, or a finished product?
The CIRAM teams are at your disposal to assess your needs and offer you a tailored, reliable analysis solution that complies with your regulatory and industrial requirements.
