Well Hydrated Skin is Happy Skin
Protecting Your Skin’s Natural Barrier and Moisturization Go Hand in Hand
Clinical Hydration Claims
- Moisturizes the skin by up to XX%
- Immediate hydration
- Helps to soothe dry skin
- Helps restore natural skin balance
- Hydrates in as little as one use
- Provides a protective barrier for the skin
- Forms a protective barrier
- Moisture lock
- Helps the skin retain its moisture
- Improves Moisture Retention
Film Forming Capabilities and Barrier Protection Claims
Methods to Support Skincare and Cosmetic Hydration Claims
Expert Clinical Grading
Trained graders score visible changeSupports claims like “Clinically proven to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles”
Learn more →Biomarkers and Microbiome
Tape strips, swabs and collectionsSupports claims like “Microbiome friendly” and “Won’t disrupt the skin’s natural microbiome”
Learn more →Biophysical Instrumentation
Hydration, TEWL, elasticity, colorSupports claims like “Hydrates by up to 87% in as little as one use”
Learn more →Peer-Reviewed Writing
Clinical and scientific publicationsScientifically validated study summaries for publication in peer-reviewed medical journals
Learn more →Before and After Photography
Controlled, reproducible clinical imagingSupports claims like “Up to a 44% reduction in redness in as little as 2 weeks”
Learn more →Consumer Perception
Panelist questionnaires and self-assessmentSupports claims such as “97% of women agreed their skin felt smoother and more supple”
Learn more →
Photographically Supporting Moisturization Claims
Clinical photography
Before & After Photography: Custom Teaneck NJ Studio
Clinically Validated, High Resolution Before and After Images and Analysis Over Time. Validated Claim Support uses high-resolution clinical photography to document how a product performs over a treatment timeline or product usage cycle.
See our before and after photographyGet a quoteSee the gallery
Redness reduction: 44% less redness from baseline to week 2. The lower circle shows the average skin color in the treated area. Drag to compare.
Before and after case studies
Hair Growth Efficacy And Clinical Density Improvement →
Hair Density And Hair Growth Clinical Imaging Side Profile →
Full Face Acne Reduction Lesions With Analysis →
Dry Scalp And Dandruff Improvement Clinical Study Photo →
Anti-Aging, Wrinkle Reduction And Clinical Claim Support Imaging →
Full Face Before And After Anti-Aging And Fine Line Reduction →
Pore Size Reduction Clinical Photograph →
High Resolution Redness Reduction →
From the VCS blog
What panelists are asked
At each visit, panelists rate statements like these on a five-point scale. Each statement is written to match a claim you want to make, and the result is reported as the percentage of panelists who agreed (Strongly Agree plus Agree).
Strongly agreeAgreeNeitherDisagreeStrongly disagree
- My skin feels more hydrated.
- My skin looks more hydrated.
- My skin feels softer and smoother.
- My skin feels less rough and dry.
- My skin looks more radiant.
Example statements from VCS questionnaire templates. Final wording is agreed with you in the protocol.
Where to next
Keep exploring
Start a Conversation About Your Product Study
Tell us about your product, your intended claims, and your timeline. Our business development team will review your needs and follow up with a customized proposal, typically within one business day. There is no cost for the initial consultation or study design review.
FAQ
Moisturization Testing: frequently asked questions
How does Validated Claim Support test moisturization and hydration?
Validated Claim Support supports moisturization and hydration claims with all four of its main clinical techniques: before and after photography, biophysical instrumentation, expert objective grading and subjective consumer perception. Studies run in an FDA registered clinical laboratory so results are documented in a well supported, reproducible environment.
Can a study show both immediate and long-term hydration?
Yes. Moisturization can be measured immediately and compared to baseline, and it can also be measured over time to show long-term cumulative effects. That allows claims such as "Immediate hydration" and "Hydrates in as little as one use" as well as moisture retention claims.
Which instruments measure skin hydration?
Validated Claim Support measures hydration through the skin's dielectric properties, using capacitance from the Corneometer. For barrier and moisture retention claims, the Tewameter measures the rate of water evaporation from the skin as a function of relative humidity and temperature.
How do you prove a product forms a protective barrier?
A product retains the skin's moisture when it forms a protective barrier or film over the stratum corneum. Validated Claim Support analyzes the rate of evaporation from the skin with a Tewameter, which shows whether a product is in fact forming a barrier and supports claims such as "Forms a protective barrier" and "Moisture lock."
Can photography show an improvement in dry skin?
Yes. Validated Claim Support's before and after photography visually quantifies dry skin as light, flaky or ashy image data, and calculates the relevant pixels before and after application to show a measurable improvement. Cross-polarized lighting removes reflection, and areas such as the feet and heels work well for showing a reduction in dry skin.
What moisturization claims can VCS help support?
Validated Claim Support can help support claims such as "Moisturizes the skin by up to XX%," "Immediate hydration," "Helps to soothe dry skin," "Helps restore natural skin balance," "Hydrates in as little as one use," "Provides a protective barrier for the skin," "Moisture lock," "Helps the skin retain its moisture" and "Improves moisture retention."