Challenge Test: Guides and Articles – Page 2

I. Person / company ordering the safety assessment

Company name *

Contact person *

Address *

City *

Postcode *

Country *

Email *

Phone *

II. Product information

Product name (as it appears on the labels) *The exact commercial name printed on the packaging. If the same formula is sold under several names, list the one this report is for.

Product category *Where on the body the product is used. This decides which exposure model the assessor applies.

Is the product already sold on the market? *A product already on sale needs its existing safety history and any customer complaints taken into account.

Is the product intended to be used on children under 3 years of age? *Products for the under-3s are assessed against stricter margins of safety under Regulation (EC) 1223/2009.

What is the physical form of the product? *The form as the customer uses it. Powders and sprays carry an inhalation risk, so they are assessed differently.

Please specify the physical form *Describe the form in a few words so we can match it to the closest exposure category.

Is the product leave-on or rinse-off? *Leave-on stays on the skin (creams, serums); rinse-off is washed away (shampoo, shower gel). Leave-on means far longer exposure, so the limits are tighter.

Explain how the product is used *Describe the routine and we will classify it for you.

III. Use conditions and packaging

Is this a professional use only product? *Sold only to salons, clinics or trained users rather than to consumers. Professional products may use ingredients at higher concentrations.

Is this a single use / single application product? *Used once and discarded — a sheet mask or a sachet — rather than a container used repeatedly over months.

Is the product filled at more than 65 °C? *Hot filling affects which packaging materials are compatible and how they may interact with the formula.

What kind of packaging is the product packaged in? *The container the product reaches the customer in. Pressurized dispensers need an extra inhalation assessment.

Please specify the packaging *Name the container type so we can judge how the product is dispensed.

Which material(s) is the packaging made from (the parts in contact with the product)? *Only the parts touching the formula. Materials can migrate into the product, which the assessment has to account for.

Please specify the packaging material *Name the material, and the coating or liner if there is one.

Is the pH of the product below 3 or above 10? *Strongly acidic or alkaline products can irritate skin, so they need extra justification in the report.

What is the pH of the product? *The measured pH of the finished product.

Have there been any undesirable or serious undesirable effects related to the use of this product so far? *Any reaction reported by a user — irritation, allergy, anything that needed medical attention. Part B of the CPSR has to record these.

Please describe the effects *What was reported, how many times, and what you did about it.

IV. Product formula

Does your product come in different shades or colour variations? *

Quantitative and qualitative formula *Ingredient names should be written according to their INCI names — search them at the COSING database. Concentrations must add up to exactly 100%.

#INCI nameCAS numberNano% in product

May contain

Total0/ 100%

I confirm the formula is correct

V. Specifications and tests of the finished product

Physical, chemical and microbiological specifications of the finished product *Either type the values you have, or attach the specification sheets you already hold.

Physical and chemical specificationsLeave anything you do not have measured blank.

Colour

Odour

Taste

Morphological form

Density

Relative density (kg/m³)

Viscosity (kg/ms)

Melting temperature

Boiling point

Flash point

Auto-ignition temperature

Solubility (state the temperature)

Total aerobic mesophilic microorganisms (bacteria plus yeast and mould)

The product has been tested for pathogens and does not contain:

Escherichia coli Pseudomonas aeruginosa Staphylococcus aureus Candida albicans

Specification sheets *

Drop files here, or click to browse

Up to 10 files, max 10 MB each. Physical, chemical and microbiological specifications.

Stability and compatibility test report

Drop files here, or click to browse

Up to 5 files, max 10 MB each. Do not have it yet? We can run the test for you — add it to your order afterwards.

Shelf life of the product (in months) *How long the unopened product stays within specification.

This product does not require a challenge test

A challenge test is required for every cosmetic product except microbiologically low-risk ones, which are:

Products that do not contain water, or have low water activity
Products with a pH below 3 or above 10
Products containing more than 20% alcohol
Products containing raw materials that create a hostile environment (strong oxidising agents, polar organic solvents, oxidising dyes, aluminium chlorohydrate and related salts, propellant gases and so on)
Products filled into containers at more than 65 °C
Products packaged in pressurised containers, pump dispensers or single-dose units

When is a challenge test not required?

A challenge test is required for every cosmetic product except microbiologically low-risk ones, which are:

Products that do not contain water, or have low water activity
Products with a pH below 3 or above 10
Products containing more than 20% alcohol
Products containing raw materials that create a hostile environment (strong oxidising agents, polar organic solvents, oxidising dyes, aluminium chlorohydrate and related salts, propellant gases and so on)
Products filled into containers at more than 65 °C
Products packaged in pressurised containers, pump dispensers or single-dose units

Challenge test (preservative efficacy test) report

Drop files here, or click to browse

Up to 5 files, max 10 MB each. Do not have it yet? We can run the test for you — add it to your order afterwards.

VI. Product packaging and artworkOptional — we check the label against the finished CPSR, so the artwork for the outer packaging and the primary container helps. You can also send it to us later.

Drop files here, or click to browse

Up to 6 files, max 10 MB each. Outer packaging and primary container labels.

VII. Review your order

Price—

I agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I confirm the information provided is accurate.

I. Information about the client

The client

Company name *

Address *

City *

Postcode *

Country *

Email *

Phone *

Will you act as holder (supplier) of the SDS? *The holder is the legal entity named as the supplier on the safety data sheet.

Holder of the SDS

Company name *

Address *

City *

Postcode *

Country *

Email *

Phone *

II. Information about the product formula

Product type *

Trade name of the final product/substance *

Quantitative and qualitative formula *Ingredient names should be written according to their INCI names — search them at the COSING database. Concentrations must add up to exactly 100%.

#INCI nameCAS number% in product

Total0/ 100%

Have a long ingredient list? Start from our spreadsheet.

Download the template, fill it in Excel, Numbers, LibreOffice or Google Sheets, then upload it here — every field lands in the right place. Filling the form by hand works just as well.

Download template (.xlsx) or .csv Upload filled template

I confirm the formula is correct

III. Regulatory area and language versionsAn SDS must be supplied in the official language of every market where the product is placed. Pick each market you distribute to — we issue one language version per selection.

IV. Additional information about the productEverything in this step is optional, but the more you give us the faster we can finalise the SDS.

Physical and chemical specifications of the mixture/productFill in as much as is relevant — leave the rest blank.

Physical state

Colour

Odour

Melting point

Initial boiling point

Flash point

Evaporation rate

Flammability

Explosion limits

Vapour pressure

Vapour density

Density

Solubility

Auto-ignition temperature

Decomposition temperature

Viscosity

Oxidising properties

Weight organic solvents

Solids content

Pour point

Recommended use and special features

Additional properties

Chemical is used as an aerosol Preparation is intended for use by spraying Preparation is sold to the general public Gas under pressure

Other information

Supporting documents

Drop files here, or click to browse

Up to 5 files, max 10 MB each. Existing SDS, specifications, CoA, test reports — anything that helps.

V. Review your order

Starting from—

I agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I confirm the information provided is accurate.

Cosmetic Product Safety Report

Safety Data Sheet

Your Cart

Challenge Test

How to Read Your Challenge Test Report

Wet Wipes Challenge Test: Water-Based Products

Reduce Preservatives in Cosmetics: Prove It Still Works

Does Packaging Change a Challenge Test Result? Pumps, Jars and Tubes

Preservative Boosters and Multifunctionals: Can They Pass a Challenge Test?

Refillable and Multi-Use Cosmetics: Challenge Test Considerations

Re-Challenge Testing: When a Double Inoculation Makes Sense

USP 51 Antimicrobial Effectiveness Test vs ISO 11930: US and EU

Challenge Test Log Reduction and Test Microorganisms Explained

Is a Challenge Test Mandatory for Cosmetics? EU, UK and US Rules

Edit a previous CPSR Safety Report or start a new one?

Added to your cart

Drop files here, or click to browse

Drop files here, or click to browse

Drop files here, or click to browse

Drop files here, or click to browse

Edit a previous Safety Data Sheet or start a new one?

Added to your cart

Have a long ingredient list? Start from our spreadsheet.

Drop files here, or click to browse

I know what I need

I'm not sure what I need