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Do Powder Cosmetics Need A Preservative?
  • Dreniva
    Do Powder Cosmetics Need A Preservative
    http://thebeautybrains.com/2007/02/10/do-powder-cosmetics-need-a-preservative/

    If the loose face powder doesn't need preservative because no organism will stay alive in a waterless environment but why the Anthrax Virus remain to be alive in the powder that has no water. Remember that incidents in 2001 about Anthrax attacks?
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_anthrax_attacks
  • JeffB31JeffB31
    Interesting point.

    I wonder if adding anthrax to a powder base which even does contain a preservative would have any effect on the anthrax? I still don't think I want to inhale it. I think we are talking about naturally occuring contaminates. There are many spor-forming bacteria which would not be affected. This is why surgical instruments are autoclaved, using steam under pressure in order to penetrate the spore.
  • tsunamino
    I don't think that the preservative would affect the anthrax spore. Those things are pretty hardy. However, they're also pretty rare in spore form. You're more likely to get anthrax in it's natural form from farm animals.
  • Dreniva
    ^ Why? Could you explain why the anthrax can't be killed by preservative?
  • PurpleRulesPurpleRules
    Spores have adapted to survive for extended periods of time in adverse conditions. Once they find favorable conditions, they develop into a new organism. The conditions that they require are very specific so they need to be able to survive in a dormant state for long periods of time. In the case of anthrax or botulism, the spores are very difficult to kill because they've adapted to survive in incredibly harsh conditions. Any preservative potent enough to kill anthrax would not be anything you'd want in a product that you'd put on your skin. The good news is, botulism or anthrax spores are not likely to find their way into your cosmetics unless someone intentionally puts them there, which only happens in the movies (so far.) 
    Speaking of which, does anyone remember what  Jack Nicholson's Joker was doing to the cosmetics in "Batman" that caused the horrific scarring? 
     
  • tsunamino
    The Joker would put certain chemicals into cosmetics that were harmless by themselves, but when they were used in combination (hairspray + lipstick + perfume was one, I think), they were deadly :)

    And back to anthrax: for the spores to be destroyed, they pretty much need to be blasted with radiation or heat. The good news is that, yes, they're very rare in spore form and fairly hard to find. They're also only dangerous if you breathe them in, because warm, moist lungs are an excellent place for them to reactivate. Putting them on your face won't do too much unless it gets into your eye.
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