Effectiveness testing

Realizamos estudios de evaluación de eficacia de principios activos y productos acabados gracias a un equipo multidisciplinar de biólogos, farmacéuticos y peluqueros con amplia experiencia en los campos de Tricología y Cosmética capilar.



 



Scalp

The scalp is where the active principals work, along with formulations designed to treat affectations such as alopecia, seborrhoea or dandruff.

TECHNIQUES

  • Wash test
  • Pull test
  • (Photo)trichogram
  • Microviewer
  • Micro video camera (x140)
  • Image analysis with Skin-well © software (x150, x375 + zoom microscope)

USES

  • Hair loss: effectiveness of active principals and formulations. Specific formulae for men or women. Hair regeneration products
  • Effectiveness of apparatus for hair regeneration
  • Post-depilatory products: effectiveness of active principals and formulations
  • Effectiveness of apparatus for inhibiting body hair

TECHNIQUES

  • Micro video camera (x140)
  • Image analysis with Skin-Well © software (x150, x375 + zoom microscope)
  • Sebumetry (Sebumeter © y Sebutape ©
  • Fluorimetry
  • Cutaneous pH

USES

  • Effectiveness of seborregulating active principals
  • Effectiveness of formulations to control seborrhoea: shampoos, lotions, etc.
  • Study of excipients

TECHNIQUES

  • Micro video camera (x140)
  • Image analysis with Skin-Well © software (x150, x375 + zoom microscope)
  • Flake gravimetry
  • Sebumetry (Sebumeter © y Sebutape ©
  • Corneometry

USES

  • Effectiveness of purifying, keratolytic, antiseptic, etc. active principals
  • Effectiveness of formulations to control dandruff: shampoos, lotions, etc.
  • Study of excipients

TECHNIQUES

  • Image analysis
  • Micro video camera (x140)
  • Clinical assessment

USES

  • Effectiveness of soothing active ingredients
  • Effectiveness of formulations for sensitive hair
  • Study of excipients

TECHNIQUES

  • Sorption-desorption of humidity
  • Thermogravimetry
  • Differential sweeping calorimetry (DSC)
  • Corneometry

USES

  • Effectiveness of hygroscopic and moisturising active principals
  • Effectiveness of formulations: shampoos, conditioners, masks, etc.
  • Study of excipients

Hair

Most hair cosmetic products are applied to the most visible part of the hair, the covering of hair. Hair care and beauty products stress numerous qualities such as shine, combability or body, which are highly valued by consumers. These and other actions can be scientifically proven by means of instrumental methods.

TECHNIQUES

  • Gonioreflectometer
  • Dynamometer
  • Sorption-desorption of humidity
  • Ring method
  • Hair length measurement
  • Sweeping electron microscope (SEM)
  • MicrospectroFluorimetry
  • Mass spectroscopy TOF-SIMS

USES

  • Effectiveness of active principals: nutrients, moisturising, restructuring, volumising, repairers, thermal protectors, straighteners, polymers, cathionic surfactants, etc.
  • Effectiveness of formulations, with and without rinsing (masks, serums, etc.)
  • Lines for ethnic hair types (Afro and Asian)
  • Products for temporary and permanent hair curling and straightening
  • Fixing products
  • Protective products for hairdrying, etc.

TECHNIQUES

  • Exposure to light (Xenotest)
  • Amino acid analysis
  • Lipid analysis
  • Spectrophotometry / Chromometry
  • Dynamomenter
  • Sweeping electron microscope (SEM)
  • Gonioreflectometer

USES

  • Study of effectiveness of active ingredients: solar filters, anti-oxidants, etc.
  • Study of effectiveness of formulations, with or without rinsing: sun lines for hair

TECHNIQUES

  • Exposure to light (Xenotest)
  • Chromometry
  • Amino acid analysis
  • Dynamometer
  • Sweeping electron microscope (SEM)
  • Gonioreflectometer

USES

  • Effectiveness of active principals: hair colourings (temporary, semi-permanent or permanent)
  • Effectiveness of formulations, with or without rinsing: shampoos, conditioners, etc.
  • Effectiveness of temporary, semi-permanent or permanent hair colouring products
  • Colour boosting lines (blond, chestnut or brown hair)
  • Colour protection lines
  • Head and body hair decolouring products

TECHNIQUES

  • Clinical assessment

USES

  • Effectiveness of antiseptic and insect repellent active principals
  • Effectiveness of formulations, with or without rinsing: shampoos, creams, etc

Other Tests: Tests of the effectiveness of:

  • Products for hair prostheses
  • Apparatus for hair regeneration: electric currents, laser, etc.
  • Apparatus to inhibit body hair growth
  • Instructions for use

Sensory Assessment

Sensory assessment studies are used to measure, analyse and interpret different properties of products which are perceived though the senses.

To select participants in studies of effectiveness, C.T.C. possesses an extensive database of volunteers with:

    • hair of all origins: Mediterranean, Nordic, Afro, Asian, Brazilian, etc.
    • hair with different features: straight, thick, decoloured, etc.
    • different scalp affectations – dandruff, seborrhoea, alopecia – to assess treatment products

Volunteers are selected in accordance with the aims of the study.

CTC’s facilities include insulated booths for assessing products. Assessment booths feature controlled light, temperature and humidity conditions to ensure optimum working conditions.

 

 
  • Locks of human hair
  • Quantitative descriptive studies carried out by a panel of experts
  • Salon test, carried out by hairdressers
  • Consumer test
  • Affective or preference test
  • As a complement to instrumental methods: the correlation between physical-chemical parameters and sensory responses
  • Effectiveness of active substances
  • Effectiveness of preparations: conditioners (with and without rinsing), masks, serum, volumisers, fixers, re-structuring, etc.
  • Modification of formulations
  • Development of new products
  • Marketing arguments
  • Cost optimisation
  • Tests of stability over time
  • Quality control
  • Check on competition

In Vitro Studies

In vitro studies complement and complete tests of effectiveness conducted using instrumental methods or by means of sensory assessment.

Some of the most common studies include the following:

 

 
  • Proliferation of keratinocytes and/or fibroblasts
  • In vitro cultures of hair follicles in various media
  • Microbiological culture of dermatophytes, MIC
  • Enzymatic inhibition: 5-alpha-reductases, DHT receptors
  • Increase in cellular metabolism
  • Increase in trophic factors: EGF, FGF, IGF, etc.
  • Anti-oxidant effect
  • Increase in neovascularisation potential

Chemical analysis of minerals in hair