Cosmetic Hygiene Practices and Fungal Contamination Risks: A Microbial and Behavioral Study of Personal Makeup Products Used by Academic Society | ||||
| Egyptian Journal of Medical Microbiology | ||||
| Volume 35, Issue 2, April 2026 | ||||
| Document Type: New and original researches in the field of Microbiology. | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejmm.2025.403751.1777 | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Authors | ||||
Marwan S. Hameed  1; Sarah A. Hasan2; Ruaa A. Abd_AL_Razuq2
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| 1Department of Biology, College of Education for Pure Sciences, Tikrit University, Iraq | ||||
| 2Department of Biology, College of Education for Women, Tikrit University, Iraq | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Background: Fungal contamination in personal cosmetics poses serious public health risks, yet hygiene behaviors and contamination patterns among Iraqi female university students remain poorly characterized. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the cosmetic hygiene practices and the level of fungal contamination in cosmetics utilized by female students at Kirkuk University, Iraq. Methodology: This cross-sectional study, conducted at Kirkuk University from January to June 2025, analyzed 200 cosmetic samples, including liquid foundation, mascara, lipstick, powder products, and eyeliners from female students. Data on usage Frequency, storage, and hygiene practices were collected via questionnaires. Samples were aseptically processed, cultured on potato dextrose agar at 25–28°C for 14 days, and fungal identification was performed through macroscopic, microscopic, and taxonomic analyses. Results: The study reveals that liquid foundation is the most frequently used cosmetic, while lipstick is the most common daily product. Powder products are generally stored at room temperature and last the longest, whereas mascaras are often kept inside handbags and tend to run out quickly. Hygiene practices vary, with mascara applicators being cleaned most often and lipsticks being cleaned the least. A study analyzing 200 cosmetic samples revealed fungal contamination in 53.5%, predominantly Candida albicans (42%), followed by Aspergillus niger (28%), Fusarium spp. (15%), Penicillium spp. (10%), and Rhizopus spp. (5%). User habits, such as frequent mascara use and humid storage, significantly influenced contamination levels. Extended use and poor hygiene practices heightened fungal presence. Conclusion: This study underscores the critical role of consumer education in improving hygiene and maintenance of cosmetics, emphasizing the need for regulations on preservatives and packaging to prevent fungal contamination, and advocating for further scientific investigation. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Makeup Products; fungal contamination; Cosmetic Hygiene Practices; Female University Students; Kirkuk University | ||||
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