The circumstances of COVID-19 have drastically shifted our lifestyles to a new normal. Cleansing products have become more critical to daily hygiene as we face the pandemic globally. With repetitive use, however, cleansers can damage the skin’s barrier function, as many surfactant-containing formulas are known to dehydrate the stratum corneum (SC).

As a result of this dryness, individuals having highly sensitive skin are more likely to experience frequent adverse effects.¹ Moderate to mildly sensitive skin conditions also could be exacerbated. Care cleansing products will therefore be a major focus for the skin care market in the future; in fact, products that are effective yet mild, e.g., sulfate-free or based on mild surfactants, are already at the forefront of consumer regimes.²

Accordingly, cleansing products must be developed to overcome the potential adverse effects caused by more frequent use.³ Cleansing products with moisturizing effects, for example, are in high demand.^{4, 5}

To test such products for their mildness and efficacy after repeated use, it is important to consider that traditional patch testing is not likely to demonstrate the cumulative effects of continuous daily washing to sanitize the skin.³ As such, an exaggerated cumulative clinical test is proposed, which is demonstrated here in a study assessing the mildness of a care cleansing test formula.