Combining Points of View
Hello,
We are glad to share with you the 3rd FOCUS, the biannual discussion panel of Skinobs dedicated to the Anti-Aging Testing. The latest Focus was published in June and was considering the Sun care testing for both Clinical and Preclinical evaluations. This new publication is 8 articles, 8 points of view of the today testing evolution for personal care, actives, ingredients and medical devices.
For some years, the beauty industry is gradually leaving the era of anti-ageing behind. Today, most consumers are more in the mood for a well aging, slow aging or pro aging approach… Some brands have used the idea of “improves the appearance of skin quality” and “restore the skin comfort”. A new vocabulary of renewal, regeneration, plumpness and “glow” now dominates the language of the anti-aging claims.
Beauty then becomes more integrative, it will globalise well-being, the silhouette, the sleep quality, or the lifestyle… resulting in a different look expecting new codes and expressions. In this quest for mindful beauty radiance, what women expect from skin care is emotional pleasure, sensoriality. It is all about supporting the aging process rather than fighting the signs of aging.
The Exposome Process beyond the Aging
During consultations with the elderly, the signs of aging observed are mainly: skin atrophy, xerosis, various keratoses. The skin abnormalities that characterise photoaging depend on the light or dark phototype. Light skins become cut instead, dark skin becomes thicker. UVB and UVA ultraviolet rays cause severe damage to the dermis. The exposome can be summed up mainly by the oxidative stress caused by different environmental conditions. The pro-age treatment can boost blood circulation, encouraging collagen production and helping lift, plump and define contours for a firmer appearance.
The Studies of Skin Age Perception
To look more closely at the category of anti-aging, it represents the most numerous, precise and specific claims of all skin care products. In addition to the geographical variations of their regulatory status according to each country, their performances generally announce several effects on mechanisms which are:
More than classical efficacy on the skin surface and structure, skin care dedicated to mature skin reveal improvements on emotional, well-being, sensoriality properties…but the cutaneous signs of aging are still seriously studied with a great accuracy as a tangible proof of the product performances. The promise is a recovery of the tissue elasticity, the face’s shape, the plump and volume appearance.
A list of the principal signs of aging influencing the age perception can be established even their importance differs among different ethnicities. Skin tone is generally considered aging among Asian, with skin dullness and hyperpigmentation. Among Caucasian wrinkles – particularly around the eye and forehead area – are the important signs. Sagging skin around the mouth and jawline is also described earlier than other ethnicities.
We suggest to categorize the various and vast anti-aging claims, in 6 categories :
The Various Ways of Objectivation
In the notion of “well-being” the notion of “anti-aging” comes little, one might as well say “pro-age” or “plain age”, the condition of the skin being thought in its entirety. The identification of the properties of these products uses a sensory approach, sometimes neurosensory and holistic. The feeling, the impacts on the quality of life are measured.
The investigators can choose the tests between 4 main categories or combine them: consumer tests, sensory or emotional analysis, biometrological studies, or clinical scores. In the Clinical Testing Platform you can find all the devices enabling a quantitative, semi-quantitative or imaging objectivations. Whether for small or big areas, these biometrological techniques always look for perfect data acquisition with the best repositioning, the higher resolution, the quicker capture time, and the automatic rotation system.
The Bright Future of Skin Science
Now the imaging of the skin from the centimetre to the nanoscale is more and more used. And the analyse of the several elements and structure of the skin: water, lipids, dermal-epidermal junction, extracellular matrix, fibres…is under the light. Whether for aging, radiance, biomechanical properties, the several techniques look for higher resolution, larger measurement area, non-invasive, contactless, and direct methods. The algorithms related ti I.A are the principal future contribution of the success of these new technologies.
The various high-tech biometrological measurements give the opportunity to connect the technology with the new digital use of personalisation from the shop to the bathroom. In another way, the industry anticipates the latest and global technological evolution such as genomic, A.I, the Internet of Thing, to develop, product and market these specific skin cares and answer the regulation constraints and the consumer’s demand.
We are glad to introduce the several topics presented by our partners
Since more than 20 years, our company develops, conceives, and offers innovation in the skin measurement especially for anti-aging effects like wrinkles and sagging on the face and body in general. Our solutions are composed of a positioning device, a very accurate and sensitive 3D scanner and a clinical studies oriented software, used every day by a big number of company acting in the cosmetic field (manufacturer of active ingredients or cosmetic product or research laboratories) to support claims or measure the anti-aging efficacy of those products.
Each solution can either measure locally or globally a face and extract any zone of interest where aging effect are visible (crow’s-feet, eye bags, front, peri-oral, glabella or nasal folds, neck). Objective parameters can be calculated from each of these zones to quantify their number, depth or volume of those wrinkles and folds.
Images are also produced to illustrate those effects. The strong advantage of our solutions is the ability to reproduce the same measurement at different time points of the volunteers due to reliable repositioning, and the ability of our algorithms to extract the exact zones at these different time points.
Our technology improved significantly the past year to offer all of these capability of the full face by extracting all zone of interest (18) from one set of measurement and give a global evaluation of ageing signs like the wrinkle density witch is calculated by the ration of detected features divided by the total surface of the face.
Contact: jj.servant@eotech.fr
Discover Eotech profile and instrumentation on the Clinical Platform: Eotech Link
Clotilde Fourault, Anne Sirvent and Michael Anthonavage
Eurofins Evic France; Eurofins Dermscan; Eurofins Clinical Research Labs
Today, advertising and new product developments highlight integrative beauty that sublimates beauty at any age. Anti-aging claims are abandoned in favor of pro-aging, creating new opportunities for growth. As a result, it becomes essential to assess the impact of cosmetic products on the emotional aspect. Emotions can be understood through 3 components: expressive (behavioral), visceral (physiological) and subjective (psychometry). This last component is very often employed in cosmetics, due to its ease of use and its relevance. Thanks to standardized and objective questionnaires, subjects are asked to document and quantify the intensity of their emotional engagement (joy, relaxation, excitement, etc.) or the frequency of well-being situations.
Understanding the mechanisms behind skin aging has led to creative technologies design to slow down the signs of aging, accompany physical changes and promote sense of well-being. Developing studies that encompass the physiological/biophysical, behavioral and subjective aspects of skin care product performance to understand the relationship between mechanism of action and consumer perception are key to successful product development. Adopting standardized processes as part of a comprehensive testing protocol not only contributes to a better reliability of research results, but also allows for the industry to properly peer review published results.
By developing and using cutting-edge measurement tools and methods, we at Eurofins are applying our expanding knowledge of skin and skin measurement science to help create new therapies, as well as making current ones more effective.
Contact: ASI@dermscan.com, cosmetics@eurofins.com
Discover Eurofins profile and tests on the Clinical Platform: Eurofins Cosmetics & Personal Care Link
Jane TERVOOREN – Vice President
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.
Contact: www.validatedcs.com
Discover Validated Claims Support profile and tests on the Clinical Platform: Link to Validated Claims Support
Pascale BARLIER – General Manager
CERCO has been studying cutaneous relief for more than 40 years; wrinkles are the first visible sign of aging and concern women and men very early on. Studying their evolution over time but especially their decrease under the effect of a cosmetic treatment remains a priority. The methodologies are multiple but must be carefully chosen according to the context. There are many to study the finest furrows to the deepest.
The choice of technique is major in the evaluation of anti-wrinkle effects: 2D photography combined with image analysis or clinical scoring, 3D profilometry with or without contact have each of the particularities to consider; more the wrinkles are small, more the methodology should be sensitive.
The measurement kinetics, the targeted facial area are also elements to be taken into account to define the most appropriate methodology.
In young adults between the ages of 20 and 30, the concern is to prevent wrinkles. For this, moisturizing and nourishing the skin and protecting it from the sun are the 3 most important factors. At this age, it is a question of studying the cutaneous micro-relief otherwise known as micro-depressive network. The skin is covered by these micro-lines that on areas of permanent fold related to facial expressions, such as the crow’s feet, the contour of the lips, the forehead, will be deepened over the years, to become fine lines and then wrinkles.
This micro-relief, hardly visible to the naked eye can only be studied with very resolving technologies such as the projection of fringes associated with the skin replica. We can thus study the smoothing effects on less marked relief.
When fine lines become visible with the naked eye, other measurement methods can be used such as high-resolution photography combined with image analysis or clinical scoring, based on wrinkles severity scales and trained experimenters.
We thus move from studying an small area by an replica to the measurement of a whole face and the study of all the lines included. These measurements are currently based on a motionless and inexpressive face.
The next step is the assessment of the variations of the folds in «dynamic» mode, that is to say during the facial movements. The study of the anti-wrinkle effects on a face in motion will be more representative as close as possible to the image showing when we express ourselves. The difficulty lies in achieving the same movement before and after application of a cosmetic treatment. But this will be a major breakthrough in the impact of a cosmetic or surgical anti-wrinkle effect. Limit the digging of folds during our expressions without making disappear the facial expressions and emotions.
Contact: pascale.barlier@cercotests.com
Discover CERCO profile and tests on the Clinical Platform: CERCO Link
Christine Braud – General Manager
Nowadays, the increase of life expectancy is correlated to a higher demand of anti-ageing skin care. The appearance of ageing skin is highlighted by skin roughness, wrinkling, pigmentation change, loss of elasticity and decreased firmness. Wrinkles are the results of a combined impact of internal and external factors on skin ageing, such as diet, smoking, sleeping disorders, photo-ageing, chronic and oxidative stress. A highly polluted environment can also be viewed as an extrinsic factor accelerating the skin ageing process.These multifactorial causes could accelerate the natural decline of skin structure and functions and are growing evidence that environmental factors associated with lifestyle and comorbidities deserve greater attention from dermatologists and may require new approaches in the management of skin ageing. This environment encourages the improvement and development of more personalized formulations with additional benefits for general skin health and age associated skin signs.
Considering consumers needs the new generation of cosmetics has been developed offering a multipurpose formulation comprised of unique active complexes toward pollution, pollution induced inflammation, anti-oxidant and anti-ageing concerns, with beneficial results demonstrated by in-vitro (culture model with primary human skin cells), – ex-vivo studies with full-thickness human skin and in-vivo clinical trials.
In particular, the clinical objectivation of similar multifunctional cosmetic formulas entails a combination of measures. Indeed, to the dedicated wrinkle-depth measure by profilometry (Primos® 3D small and large field capture), it is common to associate skin hydration (Corneometer®), skin color and gloss (CM-700D, Konica-Minolta), skin firmness and skin elasticity (Cutometer®), transepidermal water loss (Tewameter®), skin density (ultrasound Aloka alfa6 pro-sound, Hitachi), skin microrelief (Visioscan®)…
Image analysis performed with dedicated softwares on highest resolution facial photographs taken by Visioface®RD or Visia® Skin Analysis System, as well as clinical evaluations performed by dermatologists and expert technicians are a complementary analysis methods.
The beneficial anti-ageing effects of probiotics are now widely reported. A recent study has proved their significant anti-ageing effect by increasing the skin water content, the skin elasticity, the skin gloss and decreasing transepidermal water loss as well as the wrinkle depth. The analysis on skin microbiome performed by PCR technology could be a valid support for objectifying the action of probiotics.
All the described methods could also be used for nutraceuticals presenting new nutritional strategies for anti-ageing care.
Feel free to contact Complife Italy for more information on anti-ageing clinical studies performed on cosmetics and nutraceuticals: info@complifegroup.com.
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