Efficacy and safety focus: insights on testing cosmetics products
Irene Zaldivar, business strategy expert with Zurko Research (a CRO), outlined some key points formulators should be aware of when it comes to testing at a recent industry event - the Cosmetics Consultants Europe group’s Open Academy in Barcelona.
Zaldivar particularly notes that substantiated verification of claims is essential for successful differentiation of products on the market.
Key considerations
The testing expert suggests that there are three main industry-wide considerations concerning testing for safety and efficacy:
Globalisation
Regulation
Segmentation
Success for products, Zaldivar suggests, depends on marketing departments working in collaboration with technical departments to develop differentiation of products.
Claims are very important in differentiating products, and as such, testing for these is essential. Another major priority is safety, which again is ensured through adequate and appropriate testing.
Claims: best-practice and proving
Six common criteria need to be considered when it comes to best-practice claims verification for personal care and cosmetics products:
Legal compliance
Truthfulness
Evidential support
Honesty
Fairness
Informed decision-making
Zaldivar suggests open test assays are more appropriate than patch testing, including strip patch tests, although she notes that fotopatch tests offer a good level of security in terms of safety testing.
In terms of efficacy testing, because there are so many types, Zaldivar suggests it’s important to ensure the correct study is selected for the specific product, the client and the claim.
According to the testing expert, there are four key common considerations for these tests, however: conditions of use, sample size, pre-treatment phase and study design.
What is the Open Academy?
The CCE’S Open Academy first edition (16 October 2017) saw a series of eminent experts from across the industry Europe present on various hot topics.
Highlights include presentations on non-animal testing methods for next generation ingredients, software tools for formulation and regulatory affairs, and CPR, REACH and Brexit. Further information on the CCE can be found here.
