The Eyes Have It: Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry for the Analysis of Cosmetic Products

The global cosmetic market was estimated at approximately $336 billion (USD) in 2024 and is projected to grow at a rate of 6% between 2025 and 2032. Cosmetics are defined as any product that is applied to the body to improve its appearance. Products range from skin to hair care. Many types of chemical compounds are used in cosmetics, including polymers, surfactants, stabilizers, solvents, plasticizers, pigments, thickeners, and fragrances, resulting in very complex final products.

Pyrolysis GC-MS can be a valuable tool for identifying polymers and other chemicals in these complex matrices. A sample can be thermally extracted at low temperature to identify volatile and semivolatile compounds. The same sample can then be rerun at a higher temperature to pyrolyze it for polymer identification.

This work will examine cosmetics related to the eyes. These include mascara, false lashes, eyelash glue, eyeliner, and eyeshadow. The GERSTEL pyrolysis system, in combination with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, was used for the analysis.