How to get a cream tested?

glowgirl_2

This is a bit of an unusual one, I would like to get a cream I have tested so that I know the ingredients, I have contacted the company who make the cream but they say because the cream is all natural and intend for use on animals (its for my dog) they have no obligation to publish all the ingredients, they gave me 3 of them but said there where lots more and of course they didn't divulge quantities, I remember some posters on here work in the beauty industry developing products (beautyscientist I think?) so thought I would ask if anyone can at least point me in the right direction - thanks for any help:)

Toothsmith

As far as I'm aware, it's possible to get a chemical analysed to fnd out what molecules are in a substance and what proportions they're in. But that doesn't really tell you what substances those molecules have made, to be mixed together (IYSWIM).

So, for example, you could tell there was Carbon, Oxygen and Hydrogen - but not that it was in there as sugar.

That's how companies like Coca Cola keep their 'secret recepies' secret. Coke has never patented it's recipie because after (something like) 75 years the patent would have expired, and anyone could have reproduced it. They just go to extraodinary lengths to keep it secret - which is why things taste similar, but never quite the same.

The company is quite right in that it doesn't have to tell you the exact recipie. It is their 'intellectual property' and they are allowed to protect it.

jenniewb

You've probably already done this but if you know what the ingredients are that your dog is allergic to, contact the company and ask if those ingredients are in the cream.

beautyscientist

What you are asking for could be done, but it would cost a lot of money. You would need a lab with a lot of different bits of equipment and expertise. I can give you a contact at a commercial lab that could probably do it if you want to get a quote. It would be in the thousands.

Another approach would be to get in touch with De Montfort University in Leicester where they run a cosmetic science course and have well equipped labs. I have no idea what their reaction would be, but they might be willing to give it to a couple of students as a project.

Allergic reactions are not always to specific chemicals. There are people about who will react not only to stearic acid, but to anything that has stearic acid as part of the molecule for instance. So if your dog reacted to stearic acid it might well react to sodium lauryl sulphate as well.

Trying him on some different creams might be the most effective solution to your problem.

glowgirl_2

Thanks for the replies, beautyscientist, I wouldnt be willing to pay thousands but will consider the university idea, I was thinking along those lines anyway after a few hours research on Google - thanks again:)

Ivory_Tinkler

If you are worried about the cream giving your dog some sort of reaction, could you do a little patch test somewhere (rather like when you test your hair for hair colour etc).