Cosmetic Stability Testing Laboratory India | Shelf Life Studies | NABL

Auriga Research provides NABL-accredited cosmetic stability testing for shelf life determination of skincare, haircare, colour cosmetics, and personal care products. Stability data is the scientific basis for shelf life claims and is required by regulatory authorities for product registration and market approval.

Our stability testing programme includes accelerated studies (40 degrees C / 75% RH for 6 months), long-term studies (25-30 degrees C / 60-65% RH for 12-36 months), photostability testing per ICH Q1B, and freeze-thaw cycling. Products are monitored for physical, chemical, and microbiological changes at defined intervals to establish a scientifically justified shelf life.

India's tropical climate zone (Zone IVa) demands robust stability data. Products stable under accelerated conditions in temperate zones may degrade faster in Indian market conditions. Our study designs account for climate-specific storage requirements.

Study Types

Accelerated stability — 40 degrees C / 75% RH for 6 months
Long-term stability — 25 degrees C / 60% RH or 30 degrees C / 65% RH
Photostability testing per ICH Q1B
Freeze-thaw cycling — 5 cycles between -10 degrees C and 25 degrees C
In-use stability studies
Packaging compatibility assessment
Physical monitoring: appearance, colour, viscosity, pH, phase separation
Chemical monitoring: active assay, degradation products, preservative content
Microbiological monitoring: TPC, yeast/mould, specified pathogens

Turnaround Time

Preliminary screening studies take 4-8 weeks. Accelerated studies run for 6 months with interim reports. Long-term studies run for 12-36 months. Photostability and freeze-thaw studies take 4-6 weeks.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is accelerated stability testing for cosmetics?

Accelerated stability testing subjects cosmetic products to elevated temperature (40 plus/minus 2 degrees C) and humidity (75 plus/minus 5% RH) conditions for 3-6 months. This accelerates degradation processes, allowing prediction of shelf life without waiting for real-time data. Products are evaluated at intervals (0, 1, 2, 3, 6 months) for appearance, colour, odour, pH, viscosity, microbial load, and active content. ICH Q1A guidelines provide the framework, adapted for cosmetic products.

How long does a complete cosmetic stability study take?

Accelerated stability studies run for 6 months at 40 degrees C / 75% RH. Long-term stability studies run for 12-36 months at 25 degrees C / 60% RH or 30 degrees C / 65% RH depending on the target market climate zone. Photostability testing per ICH Q1B takes 4-6 weeks. Freeze-thaw cycling studies (typically 5 cycles between -10 degrees C and 25 degrees C) take 4-6 weeks. Preliminary screening studies can be completed in 4-8 weeks.

What parameters are monitored during stability testing?

Physical parameters include appearance, colour, odour, phase separation, sedimentation, and viscosity. Chemical parameters include pH, active ingredient assay, degradation product profiling, and preservative content. Microbiological parameters include total aerobic count, yeast and mould count, and absence of specified pathogens. Packaging compatibility is also assessed for container-closure interactions.