Testing in Cosmetic Valley
By: Elian Lati, Pascal Svinareff, Marc Feuilloley and Patrick Beau
Posted: February 19, 2010
(La version Française est disponible ici./The French version is available here.)
by Elian Lati, BIO-EC:
What are the biggest factors currently impacting testing in cosmetics R&D?
In the current context, budgets obviously put a brake on tests. Oftentimes, even when tests are not cancelled, they are less developed. Nevertheless, with new cosmetic regulations, more requests for higher levels of evaluation for the safety and efficacy of cosmetic products are expected. With regard to efficacy testing, consumers are increasingly becoming experts, and there are more and more requests from the cosmetic industry for innovation in products.
Can you describe recent developments in testing that have impacted or will impact the cosmetics industry?
Methods for testing are becoming ever more pointed. What was once reserved for medical research is now finding application in the cosmetics industry. In addition, cosmetic products are becoming increasingly technical, thus methods of objectivation are as well. Raman spectroscopy, for example, is a technique being used very little at the moment, but it can be very useful in the cosmetic industry. We are developing this technique in the cosmetic field to increase investigation possibilities. For example, thanks to this method, we can determine very precisely, in vivo, the level of hydration and the concentration of different compounds in the skin, or locate an active compound in it.
by Pascal Svinareff, BIOGALENYS: