Moisturization Testing

Hydration, Moisturization, Dryness Reduction, Flakiness Reduction, D Squame and Scaliness

Hydrated Skin is Happy Skin

The natural environment can be harsh enough on the skin even without the constant bombardment of man-made pollutants and secondary concerns.

One of the single most important considerations of skin health is hydration, and it is affected by everything from our diets to the sun and the type of clothes we wear.

Protecting Your Skin Starts With a Good Foundation

While we may not be able to control all of the variables that we come into contact with each day, maintaining a consistent moisturization routine is something that is fairly easy for most people with a little bit of forethought.

Moisturization and Hydration claims can be supported in a number of different ways, and it is important to note that they can reference both immediate improvement and long-term cumulative effects.

Hydration Claims

VCS can help to support a wide range of label claims that consumers seek from their skincare and makeup providers in these areas including:

• Moisturizes the skin by up to XX%
• Helps to soothe dry skin
• Helps restore natural skin balance
• Hydrates in as little as one use
• Provides a protective barrier for the skin

Claim Support Validation Techniques

Moisturization represents both something that can be measured immediately and compared to baseline as well as something that can be measured over time.

Additionally, skin can be measured for hydration through dielectric properties such as capacitance via Corneometer or Novameter, and then there are products that can help to retain moisture over time.

Film Forming Capabilities and Barrier Protection

Retaining the skin’s moisture can be accomplished when a product forms a protective barrier or a film over the stratum corneum.

Analyzing the rate of evaporation via Tewameter as a function of relative humidity and temperature is a great way of proving that a product is indeed forming a barrier.

Film Forming Claims

• Forms a protective barrier
• Helps the skin retain its moisture
• Improves Moisture Retention

Moisturization and Hydration Instrumentation

Corneometer

Measures hydration levels of the skin via dielectric properties. Useful for hydration, dry skin, and moisturization-related claims. The Corneometer is the most commonly used instrument for hydration claims in the industry and has been a staple of hydration support for 30 years.

Tewameter (TEWL)

Transepidermal Water Loss – Measures the density gradient of the water evaporation from the skin indirectly via two different sensors that are calibrated to collect temperature and humidity data inside of a hollow cylinder.

Novameter

Nova Dermal Phase Meter – Utilized to get measurements of skin surface impedance to determine the individual treatment site’s electroconductivity. This data delivers a relative measure of retained water content, which is a direct function of hydration levels in the skin.

pH and Skin Balance

Another area related to moisturization and often overlooked is the surface pH of a given product. By utilizing a pH meter, it is possible to determine if a product is impacting the skin’s natural balance, and there are a number of related secondary claims that this can lead to as well.