Notes

A colored close-up image of a woman with red lipstick.

Kiss Pseudomonas good-bye.

You know that Pseudomonas and other microorganisms specialize in making makeup old before its time. You should also know they’re no match for the broad-spectrum activity of DOWICIL* 200 preservative, the one that’s still on the job when cosmetics are on the face. You’ll find it’s 2 to 8 times more effective than almost any other shelf preservative. And compatible with common formulation components, too, including nonionic emulsifiers. DOWICIL 200 preservative is effective at low concentrations, has a favorable toxicity profile, supported by tox data, and is fully registered. Your DOW representative has all the details.

DOW CHEMICAL U.S.A.

Designed Products Department, Midland, Michigan 48640

Gram-negative bacteria were problematic in cosmetics for decades. Pseudomonas, a kind of gram-negative bacteria, was especially problematic in the mid-1970s. Mascara applicator brushes contaminated with Pseudomonas resulted in several cases of blindness in the mid-1970s, causing eye cosmetics to come under intense scrutiny.

Information from: https://www.proquest.com/docview/196450126/fulltext/E3A707E2F2A848C5PQ/1?accountid=14512&sourcetype=Trade%20Journals

Considering this, it was especially important for cosmetic manufacturers to have an effective way to defend against Pseudomonas. DOWICIL 200, which is claimed to do just that, would then be especially appealing to cosmetic manufacturers. The lipstick in the image, which appears glossy and smooth (and likely was preserved well), likely served to reinforce how effective DOWICIL 200 can be.

Christy Lam