Specialists in carbon-14 (or radiocarbon) datingdating, CIRAM comply with all applicable standards to deliver results that meet regulatory requirements.
CIRAM Laboratories analyzes all cosmetic productss to determine their content of bio-based products, whether in active ingredients, excipients, or finished products.
With the help of radiocarbon analysis (or carbon-14), we measure the proportion of natural components relative to synthetic components. With CIRAM measurements and subject to a 100% MC, you will be able to label your products 100% natural.
Discover the different methods used to analyze cosmetics with CIRAM laboratories.
Radiocarbon analysis for in-depth analysis of cosmetics
Theis based on measuring the activity of the carbon-14 isotope. This isotope decays naturally over time and has completely disappeared fromfossil resources after approximately 60,000 years . Petroleum-based materials therefore no longer containcarbon-14 carbon-14 fossil carbon , unlikerecent biomass ( recent biomass (plants, , natural extracts), which has amodern carbon modern carbon.
Radiocarbon, to distinguish between old and modern carbon
The radiocarbon dating technique : allows precise measurement of the proportion of , unlike and bio-based carbon in a sample. This analysis method offers many 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, the strong natural ingredient content has become a determining criterion in marketing, regulatory, and environmental terms. The carbon 14 test intervenes at different stages: éDevelopment of natural products, supplier qualification, control of cosmetic products before their marketing.
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 of bio-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 to thecarbon-14 analysis, the study of stable isotopic ratios of carbon, the object'snitrogen, the object'soxygen and of thehydrogen (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, δ¹⁸O, and δ²H), performed by EA-IRMS (Elemental analysis coupled with isotope ratio mass spectrometry), allows 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
The laboratories CIRAM supports conform to the main international standards, notably (ASTM D6866 and , ASTM D6866, in order to guarantee a reliable scientific expertise.
The EN 16128 standard, dedicated to natural and organic cosmetic products, explicitly recommendscarbon-14 analysis for determining the biosourced fraction.
Reliable methods for cosmetics analysis with CIRAM
To summarize, the use of radiocarbon analysis for the Characterization of cosmetic products constitutes a reliable method, precise and applicable to all of the cosmetic matrices (liquid, solid, or gel), without needing 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.
