Conquering Photography during the Pandemic by Validated Claim Support

It’s no secret that our eyes are often one of the first areas to show the signs of aging. Our skin there is significantly thinner than the rest of our face, making it more delicate. When we smile or squinch our eyes, crow’s feet (or aptly named “smile lines”) become more visible. There are a multitude of eye serums and eye products claiming to reduce the appearance of crow’s feet, so the big question is, have the claims you are seeing been the result of the most accurate third-party testing?

A common method to measure the improvement of reduction of the fine lines and wrinkles involves “inside the box” photographic solutions with a wide range of underlying lighting conditions. While these imaging systems are outstanding for a myriad of parameters, often times they are inherently limited when it comes to crow’s feet claims. The fact that the volunteers must squinch their eyes shut to avoid a close-range strobe flash when an image is taken prevents a true and accurate measurement of the area.

There is no way to produce a consistent before and after image because it is impossible to control how hard the volunteer closes their eyes at each timepoint. Many of these systems are also not particularly COVID friendly since the face of each volunteer is effectively encased inside the device and it would be nearly impossible to properly sanitize between subjects.

So, what is the solution? The answer is VCS clinical imaging! At VCS we offer a proprietary system which was created by our clinical photographer who has over 20 years of experience in the business. The VCS system allows the subjects to keep their eyes open, and there are no constraints on or around the face which could cause inconsistencies.

Our Validated Clinical Photography Technique utilizes socially distant, high resolution image capture (approximately 50 megapixels) as a means of visual claim support in order to demonstrate product efficacy. Panelist facial expressions, focal distances, equipment positioning, lighting, and ambient temperature and humidity are all meticulously controlled, ensuring that the main delta from one image to the next is a function of time and the effect of an individual treatment product.

These images serve as a wonderful “study summary,” and when cropped and aligned side by side, they provide an easy to understand and incredibly compelling visual presentation package. Industry professionals, retailers and distributers, and end users and consumers can all clearly and quickly get a feel for what the product is actually capable of doing.

When taken in conjunction with clinical visits and paired with biophysical instrumentation or expert grading, these “direct from a clinical study” images offer a unique bridge between the science behind your products and marketing friendly claim support.
With consumers stuck at home and more products going direct to market, there is no time like the present to uniquely and powerfully demonstrate your product’s core attributes. As always, remember to backup your labels and marketing materials with a Validated Claim Support laboratory.

Read the complete FOCUS#3: Focus#3 Anti-aging Clinical Testing.v2