Clinical Studies Designed Around Your Claims
At Validated Claim Support, we conduct clinical studies for skincare, personal care, and makeup brands that need to substantiate the efficacy claims behind their products. No two products are identical, and no clinical study should be either. Whether you are launching a new moisturizer, developing anti-aging claims for a serum, validating a color cosmetic's performance, or substantiating the safety of a new personal care formula, VCS designs and executes studies that produce data you can actually use.
Our laboratory is FDA registered and inspected and GCP compliant, and Validated Claim Support is ISO 9001:2015 certified with TUV Rheinland of North America. Our data meets the standard required by major retailers, regulatory bodies, and legal teams. We are independently and privately held, with no ownership ties to ingredient suppliers, contract manufacturers, or brands, so our findings carry the credibility of a fully independent third party.
Why Clinical Data Matters for Consumer Products
The bar for marketing claims in skincare, personal care, and makeup has risen significantly over the last decade. The FTC's guidelines on substantiation require that any objective, quantified, or comparative claim be backed by competent and reliable scientific evidence before it appears in advertising, on packaging, or in digital marketing. Examples include “hydrates for 48 hours,” “reduces wrinkles by 37%,” and “clinically proven to improve skin tone.”
Retailers, particularly in the prestige and masstige channels, increasingly require brands to provide clinical study summaries at the buyer level before accepting new products. An independent study conducted at a GCP compliant, FDA registered facility is the most defensible form of that evidence available.
Clinical data also sets a product apart. In a market where thousands of products make similar claims, a brand that can put a percentage-based improvement, a clinical photography set, and a consumer perception score behind its claims stands apart from one that cannot.
Product Categories We Test
Validated Claim Support has conducted clinical studies across a wide range of consumer product categories.
Skincare
- Moisturizers and hydrating serums
- Anti-aging creams, retinol, and peptide formulations
- SPF and mineral sunscreens, including multi-cultural skin tone whitening effect studies
- Eye creams and under-eye treatments
- Acne treatments (OTC and adjacent claims)
- Hyperpigmentation and brightening serums
- Exfoliants and chemical peels (AHA, BHA, enzyme)
- Barrier repair and sensitive skin formulations
- Facial oils and multi-functional serums
- Toners, essences, and mists
Personal Care
- Shampoos, conditioners, and scalp serums
- Hair density and growth treatments
- Body washes, bar soaps, and cleansers
- Deodorants and antiperspirants
- Feminine care and intimate wash products
- Foot care and hand care formulations
- Lip care and lip treatments
- Oral care products (toothpaste, mouthwash, whitening)
- Baby and sensitive skin personal care
Makeup and Color Cosmetics
- Foundation and tinted moisturizer coverage and wear studies
- Concealer and color correction efficacy
- Mascara volume, length, and durability claims
- Eyelash and eyebrow serums
- Lip color durability and moisturization
- Primer, setting spray, and makeup longevity studies
- Cosmetic safety and non-comedogenic testing
- Shade range and color match validation across Fitzpatrick skin types
How we test
The Four Methods Applied to Consumer Products
Every consumer product study at Validated Claim Support draws from four core testing methods, applied individually or in combination based on the claims you intend to make. Most studies use two or more methods to produce a full data package, covering both the objective clinical endpoints and the consumer perception data that resonates with shoppers.
Method 1 of 4
Expert Clinical Grading
Expert grading by a trained clinical evaluator is the foundation of the majority of skincare and personal care studies. Our graders evaluate visible skin and hair conditions using validated, industry-standard scales, assessing changes from baseline at each study timepoint in a controlled laboratory environment with standardized lighting, temperature, and humidity.
Expert grading produces percentage-based improvement data without the per-parameter cost of instrumentation, making it one of the most cost-effective routes to a substantiated claim. It covers a wide range of endpoints at once and is particularly well suited to:
- Fine line and wrinkle severity (Fitzpatrick, Lemperle, Merz, or client-specified grading scales)
- Skin tone, clarity, radiance, and evenness
- Skin dryness, flaking, and texture assessment
- Redness, erythema, and irritation scoring
- Acne lesion counting: papules, pustules, comedones, and overall severity
- Pore visibility and size assessment
- Hair density, shedding, scalp condition, and coverage
- Eyelash length, volume, and curvature
- Under-eye puffiness, dark circles, and crow's feet
- Lip fullness, definition, and moisture appearance
- Custom or sponsor-provided grading scales and parameters
Expert grading requires in-clinic visits, which is why it produces a higher level of defensible claim support than home use trials alone. VCS graders follow GCP protocols for each evaluation, with independent audit trails available on request.
Method 2 of 4
Instrumental Evaluations
Biophysical instrumentation produces direct, objective, percentage-based data tied to a specific measurable skin parameter. Claims such as “improves hydration by up to 125% in as little as one use” or “reduces transepidermal water loss by 43% in four weeks” (examples only) are among the most compelling in consumer product marketing, because they are precise, numerical, and instrument-verified.
Each instrument is dedicated to one specific endpoint. Building several parameters into one study design lets you build a multi-claim package from a single study. Instruments commonly used in consumer product testing at VCS:
- Corneometer (Courage + Khazaka): skin hydration, the industry standard for moisturization and hydration claims for 30+ years
- Tewameter / Vapometer (Courage + Khazaka / Delfin): transepidermal water loss (TEWL), barrier function and film-forming claims
- Cutometer (Courage + Khazaka): skin firmness and elasticity, the standard endpoint for anti-aging serums and creams
- Sebumeter (Courage + Khazaka): skin surface oil, for oil control, mattifying, and acne-adjacent claims
- Colorimeter / Minolta Chromameter: skin color and tone changes, for redness reduction, brightening, and pigmentation claims
- Visioscan (Courage + Khazaka): skin surface roughness, fine line structure, and texture analysis via UV-A camera
- pH Meter (Hanna Instruments / Courage + Khazaka): skin surface pH, for barrier balance and microbiome-supporting claims
- Glossymeter (Courage + Khazaka): gloss and shine, for hair care and lip products
- Antera 3D (Miravex): multi-spectral 3D imaging of wrinkles, fine lines, skin topography, and surface texture
- Dermo (Varenne Technologies): dermal collagen concentration and water content, for collagen-supporting claims
- Laser Doppler (AD Instruments): cutaneous blood flow and surface microcirculation, for redness, flushing, and active ingredient response
- AGE Scanner (Diagnoptics): advanced glycation end-product concentration in skin, for anti-aging and longevity claims
Data output includes the mean percentage improvement across the study population, the number of subjects showing improvement, and maximum improvement figures for “up to X%” claim support. VCS calibration records are maintained and available on request.
Method 3 of 4
User Trials and Consumer Perception Questionnaires
User trials capture what consumers actually experience when they use your product: the texture, the feel, the changes they notice in the mirror. This subjective data connects objective clinical findings to the consumer-facing claims that appear on packaging and in advertising.
At VCS, we add structured self-assessment questionnaires to most of our consumer product studies. They are written to match your intended claims and can be completed at in-clinic timepoints, alongside grading or instrumentation, or in a home use format where participants use the product in their normal routine. Typical endpoints include:
Skincare
- Self-perceived improvement in skin hydration, softness, and smoothness
- Perceived reduction in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Improvement in skin tone, brightness, and radiance
- Reduction in the appearance of redness, dryness, or irritation
- Satisfaction with how the product absorbs, layers, and wears under makeup
Personal care
- Self-perceived improvement in hair thickness, shine, and manageability
- Reduction in hair shedding or breakage
- Improvement in scalp comfort, balance, and health
- Satisfaction with lather, rinse, and post-wash feel for cleansers
- Perceived odor protection duration for deodorant and antiperspirant products
Makeup
- Self-perceived coverage, blendability, and color match
- Wear duration and resistance to transfer, sweat, or humidity
- Comfort, weight, and finish throughout the day
- Satisfaction with overall look at application and at end of wear
User trial data is typically reported as the percentage of participants who agreed or strongly agreed with a statement. That supports claims such as “97% of users reported noticeably softer skin after two weeks” (example only). Combined with grading and instrumental data, consumer perception results complete the claims package.
Method 4 of 4
Before and After Photography
High-resolution clinical photography from Validated Claim Support is produced in a custom-built studio under standardized, reproducible conditions: controlled lighting, fixed subject positioning, calibrated camera settings, and consistent framing across all timepoints. The result is a before and after set that is scientifically valid as study documentation and ready for advertising, packaging, and digital marketing without further post-production.
- Full-face and targeted-area image sets at baseline, midpoint, and final timepoints
- Polarized, cross-polarized, UV, and standard visible light imaging for different skin conditions
- 4K 360-degree video documentation for digital and social use
- Hair and scalp close-up imaging for haircare and scalp treatment studies
- Eyelash and under-eye close-up imaging for eye product studies
- Lip and perioral imaging for lip treatment and anti-aging studies
- Makeover and durability photography for color cosmetic wear studies
- Split-face and side-by-side comparative image sets
VCS clinical photographers have over 24 years of combined experience. Subject selection is aligned with your marketing objectives, prioritizing skin tones, ethnic diversity, and condition severity so the final image set is as compelling as the underlying data. Our techniques are QVC/HSN approved, and our photography has appeared on major brand websites, in retail packaging, and in television advertising.
Baseline
Week 6Sample Claims Validated Claim Support Can Substantiate
Moisturization and Hydration
- Clinically proven to improve skin hydration by up to X% in as little as one use
- Provides 24-hour, 48-hour, or 72-hour hydration
- Improves skin barrier function in X weeks
- Reduces transepidermal water loss by X%
Anti-Aging
- Clinically shown to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in X weeks
- Improves skin firmness and elasticity by X% in X weeks
- Visibly lifts and tightens skin
- Clinically demonstrated to improve the appearance of skin tone and radiance
Acne and Pore
- Reduces the appearance of acne lesions
- Non-comedogenic: clinically tested and shown not to clog pores
- Reduces the appearance of pore size
- Controls surface oil for up to X hours
Hair and Scalp
- Clinically shown to improve hair density in X weeks
- Reduces hair shedding by X% in X weeks
- Improves scalp condition and reduces dryness or flaking
- Increases hair shine and manageability
Safety and Tolerance
- Dermatologist tested
- Clinically tested and shown to be gentle on sensitive skin
- Non-irritating under clinical conditions
- Ophthalmologist tested (for eye area products)
Makeup and Color Cosmetics
- Clinically tested for X-hour wear
- Shown to provide X% coverage under clinical conditions
- Tested and shown to be non-comedogenic
- Clinically validated color match across X Fitzpatrick skin types
Study Design at Validated Claim Support
Every consumer product study is custom-designed for your product, intended claims, timeline, and budget. Our clinical team consults on study design before the proposal stage at no cost. We review your product category, your intended claim language, and your regulatory context before recommending a study framework. Common study structures include:
- Single-arm, open-label efficacy studies. Participants use only the test product, and baseline serves as the control. Cost-effective and appropriate for most cosmetic efficacy claims.
- Randomized, placebo-controlled or comparator studies. The test product is compared against a vehicle control or a named competitor. The strongest design for comparative or superiority claims.
- Split-face or split-body designs. Head-to-head comparison of two products or formulations within the same participant.
- Crossover designs. Participants use both test and control at different periods, which reduces participant-level variability. Common in rinse-off and cleansing product studies.
- Single-use or immediate-effect studies. For products claiming instant results, with timepoints at baseline and immediately after application, plus optional 1, 4, 8, and 24-hour follow-up.
- Multi-week longitudinal studies (1, 4, 8, or 12 weeks). The standard framework for products claiming cumulative or progressive improvement.
- Home use trials. Participants use the product in their normal routine and complete questionnaires at home, capturing real-world perception data without the cost of multiple in-clinic visits.
Why Consumer Product Brands Choose Validated Claim Support
FDA Registered and Inspected
Our facility meets the standard required for defensible, regulatory-grade claim support data.
Independently and Privately Held
No conflicts of interest. Our findings cannot be influenced by ingredient suppliers, manufacturers, or brands.
ISO 9001:2015 Certified
Validated Claim Support is ISO 9001:2015 certified with TUV Rheinland of North America.
GCP Compliant
All studies are conducted under Good Clinical Practice guidelines.
IRB Access
An active relationship with Allendale Investigational IRB for studies requiring ethical oversight.
Diverse Participant Database
5,000+ active panelists across all Fitzpatrick skin types, ages, ethnicities, and skin conditions in the Teaneck, NJ area.
115+ Years of Combined Team Experience
Clinical expertise spanning skincare, personal care, OTC drug, haircare, makeup, and device categories.
Industry-Leading Photography
A custom-built studio with 4K video, multi-spectral imaging, and QVC/HSN approved techniques.
Responsive Turnaround
Direct access to your study team from quote through final report, with no hand-offs to junior staff.
Onsite Product Testers
Our panelist community lives and works in Bergen County, NJ, enabling rapid enrollment for tight timelines.
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 →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.
Looking for a different claim?
See every claim we substantiate, what it means and how we test it.
Browse all claims