Forensic Analysis of Cosmetic Materials
Summary
Cosmetic materials such as lipsticks, foundations and blushes are increasingly recognised as valuable trace evidence in forensic investigations. Their complex formulations, comprising pigments, oils and polymers, can transfer readily during interpersonal contact or at crime scenes, providing a chemical fingerprint that links individuals or locations. Analytical approaches combine non-destructive spectroscopic methods with multivariate statistical analysis to discriminate brands, shades or ageing, while chromatographic and mass spectrometric techniques afford detailed molecular profiling. Developments in field-deployable instruments and hyperspectral imaging are enhancing the ability to detect and visualise cosmetics on diverse substrates. Establishing comprehensive spectral databases and standardised protocols is vital to ensure reproducibility, support source attribution and underpin expert testimony in legal proceedings worldwide.
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Forensic Analysis of Cosmetic Materials publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in forensic analysis of cosmetic materials across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Trace evidence: Material transferred during contact that can link individuals or locations in forensic investigations.
Chemometrics: Multivariate statistical methods used to analyse complex chemical data and differentiate samples.
Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR): Non-destructive technique measuring vibrational overtone absorbances in the near-infrared region for compositional analysis.
Attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR): Surface-sensitive method for obtaining infrared spectra of materials with minimal sample preparation.
Principal component analysis (PCA): Unsupervised statistical technique that reduces data dimensionality to reveal patterns and clusters within multivariate datasets.
Raman spectroscopy: Vibrational technique based on inelastic scattering of light to identify molecular composition and structure.
References
- Near-infrared spectroscopy combined with chemometrics to classify cosmetic foundations from a crime scene. Science & Justice (2022).
- Considerations and future perspectives for the vibrational spectroscopic analysis of forensic cosmetic evidence. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Forensic Science (2024).
- A Reflective Spectroscopy and Mineralogical Investigation of Cosmetic Blush (Wet‘N’Wild) Potentially for Forensic Investigations Related to Interpersonal Violence—An Experimental Feasibility Study. Journal of Forensic Sciences (2023).
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