Skin Longevity Studies
Skin Longevity Testing provides scientific data to support the development, evaluation, and claim substantiation of cosmetic products and ingredients. The studies are designed to assess the effects of a cosmetic product or ingredient on specific characteristics and biological processes associated with skin aging. At QACS Lab, we combine complementary methodologies to evaluate skin longevity across three levels, from visible skin characteristics to biological responses and molecular mechanisms.
1. Clinical Level – Visible and Functional Skin Characteristics
Clinical evaluation of measurable characteristics associated with skin aging, including wrinkles, skin texture and other relevant parameters.
2. Biological Level – Skin Biology and Microbiome
In vitro evaluation of biological and microbiome-related biomarkers associated with skin health, youthful skin characteristics, and skin function.
3. Molecular Level – Gene Expression and Biological Pathways
Transcriptomic profiling to investigate changes in gene expression and explore molecular pathways and biological mechanisms associated with skin aging and skin function.
By bringing together clinical, biological, and molecular data, Skin Longevity Studies provide a more comprehensive understanding of how cosmetic products and ingredients affect the skin. This integrated approach connects measurable changes in skin appearance and function with underlying biological and molecular processes, providing valuable scientific evidence to support product development, efficacy evaluation, and cosmetic claim substantiation.
A Three-Level Scientific Evaluation Framework
The first pillar of the study focuses on the clinical assessment of skin aging through phenotypic and molecular endpoints, providing objective and measurable evidence of visible and functional skin improvements. These assessments provide quantitative data on visible signs of skin aging and support the scientific evaluation of a product’s effects. Parameters evaluated include:
- Measurement of wrinkles
- Skin Firmness & Texture
- Barrier function – Epidermal water loss
- Moisture levels
- Brown spots
- Skin pH
Learn more on Cosmetic Efficacy Testing
Optionally, the impact of a cosmetic product on the skin microbiome can also be evaluated as part of the same clinical study. The analysis includes:
• Identification of microbiome biomarkers associated with skin health
• Detection of microbial characteristics linked to skin ageing
• Evaluation of the composition and diversity of the skin microbial ecosystem
• Study of interactions between microorganisms and changes in the microbial community over time
This approach provides valuable insights into how cosmetic products and active ingredients interact with the skin microbiome. It helps brands better understand product performance, skin compatibility, and the biological mechanisms behind cosmetic efficacy.
The second level of evaluation is an in vitro analysis that examines the effect of a cosmetic product on the youthful skin microbiome, which is considered an important biological indicator of skin youthfulness, structure, and firmness.
Through a pioneering QACS Lab study involving a large and diverse population across different age groups, specific microbial markers associated with youthful skin, as well as microorganisms linked to mature skin, were identified. The study evaluates the effect of the cosmetic product on these microbial biomarkers, investigating whether it promotes a microbial profile associated with youthful skin or alters the composition of the skin microbiome in other ways.
In parallel, Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) analysis of the skin microbiome before and after application of the cosmetic product can capture changes in the composition and dynamics of the skin’s microbial ecosystem, providing a more comprehensive view of the product’s biological effects.
This approach provides scientifically supported insights into the interaction between cosmetic products and the skin microbiome, as well as their effects on microbial biomarkers associated with different stages of skin aging.
The third pillar explores the molecular mechanisms underlying skin longevity through an in vitro transcriptomic study using advanced 3D reconstructed skin tissue models. Gene expression profiling is performed to determine the impact of test products on key biological pathways involved in skin aging, including:
- Dermo-epidermal junction integrity and regeneration
- Cellular stress adaptation mechanisms
- Longevity-associated signaling pathways
- Extracellular structure
- Oxidative stress defense systems
- Anti-inflammatory activity
This molecular-level assessment reveals how a product interacts with fundamental biological processes related to skin aging, providing mechanistic evidence that complements clinical and microbiome findings.
An Integrated Cosmetic Testing Approach for Skin Longevity
By combining clinical assessment, in vitro analysis of youthful skin and transcriptomic profiling, Skin Longevity Studies provide a multidimensional framework for the scientific evaluation of skin longevity cosmetic products. The integration of visible skin parameters, microbiome-related biomarkers and molecular responses generates robust evidence that can support product development, innovation programs and claim substantiation strategies, while offering a deeper understanding of the biological mechanisms associated with skin health, resilience and age-related skin changes.
The study modules can be performed individually or combined into an integrated evaluation approach, depending on the specific objectives of the project. Assessments can be conducted on both finished cosmetic products and individual ingredients to support product development and scientific claim substantiation strategies.