Shiseido Company, Limited (“Shiseido”) has developed two types of tactile evaluation device, Vibration Friction Sensor and Contact Force Sensor(*1), through joint research with Tokyo Metropolitan University. Previously, it was thought to be difficult for a third party to understand the tactile sensation that a consumer may experience.

Now, with the new sensors that can quantify tactile sensation with higher accuracy, and focusing on the hand movements when a consumer checks their skin condition, we are able to objectively and numerically grasp the tactile sensation that the consumer is feeling with their hands. The Vibration Friction Sensor measures vibration and friction using a contactor(*2) which strokes the skin to evaluate the consumer’s perception of “moistness” and “smoothness” of the skin, while the Contact Force Sensor measures contact force when the contactor presses the skin to evaluate “softness” and the consumer’s perception of “elasticity” of the skin. We have also confirmed that the measured values of these two sensors correlate with the sensory evaluation scores of expert evaluators.

Going forward, we will clarify the sensitivity characteristics of people attributed to differences in culture and custom around the world, and will optimize the use of the two tactile sensors based on our knowledge of hand movements accumulate from our consumers. Moreover, by applying them to product development and services, we will be able to deliver more satisfying and comfortable-to-use cosmetics for people worldwide.

Shiseido will continue to deepen its research in sensory and psychology fields, not only to improve the effects and efficacy of its products, but to develop new values that satisfy and resonate with the mind and skin of consumers.

*1 Contact force: Force generated when an object comes into contact with another object.
*2 Contactor: A component of a sensor that is in contact with or inserted into the measurement object. It may also be called a probe.

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By Shiseido – Jul. 29, 2021