Cosmetic Microbiome Studies
Frequent cosmetic use may disrupt skin microbiota balance by causing derma effects. At QACS, we assist manufacturers avoid cosmetic derived skin dysbiosis with Cosmetic Microbiome studies. We support the maintenance of the beneficial skin microflora by using microbiological/molecular methods and clinical trials for Microbiome Friendly and Microbiome Balance claim substantiation. Cosmetic Microbiome studies are supported by years of clinical efficacy testing experience and molecular biology know-how. Studies, adopted to your product’s needs and budget, are provided in the form of customized protocols.
Microbiome Friendly
Cosmetic future is Microbiome Friendly
Microbiome Friendly studies reveal information about the product’s effect on the skin microbiome and it is an in vitro/ex vivo or in vivo study.
Competent microbiome friendly in vitro/ex vivo studies are offered in rapid turnaround times to prove that the skin microbiome is not altered significantly by the product during use. It is a very cost-effective analysis giving data about the effect of a product on normal microflora, pathogenic microflora, and biodiversity.
In vivo skin microbiome studies with volunteers that are using a product are offered upon request.
The product is challenged with a complete set of microbes, specific for the skin area in question (face, body, scalp, armpit, foot etc) including the usual pathogens of the area. Also, a solution comprising the total microflora of the specific skin region, swabbed from selected volunteers, is challenged against the formulated product. This gives information regarding product effect on microbial biodiversity of the area.
Microbiome Balance
Start the Biome era for your cosmetics
If the goal of your product is to re-balance or improve the skin microbiome, a different approach is used including both in vitro and in vivo testing. Cosmetic Microbiome Balance studies are designed to produce confirmatory data on skin improvement caused by cosmetics. To prove cosmetic claim substantiation, trials are more extensive.
First, a in vitro study is undertaken to demonstrate the effect of your product on target microorganisms.
Second, a dedicated team that includes Dermatologists, Molecular Biologists, Microbiology experts, Efficacy experts and Bioinformaticians can undertake
- Trial design
- Selection of suitable volunteers from QACS extensive database (more than 1500 volunteers)
- Chemical and physiological skin measurements during trial
- Sampling and Microbiome samples study
- Results interpretation & Claim substantiation report
Basic package: includes volunteer swab samples, microbiological and clinical efficacy studies. The study reveals the effect of your product on the different groups of microbes (like Staphylococcus spp, TAMC and Propionibacterium spp, LAB, Yeasts etc) of selected volunteers during the study period.
Standard package: Same as the basic package, with the inclusion of species identification in selected bacterial colonies. This package provides more detailed information on the composition of skin microbiome at the species level.
Premium package: Same as the basic package, along with Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) analysis of the samples taken. Bioinformatics and statistical analysis of results make this package the most sensitive and suitable to reveal the effect of your product on the entire skin microbiome during the study period.
Skin Friendly Preservation
Testing support for Mild Formulations
QACS provides a testing package for formulators of mild cosmetics to evaluate Preservation Efficacy and support Microbiome friendly claims. Besides the optimized preservative content and microbiome claim substantiation, Skin Friendly Preservation, also benefits manufacturers with reduced formulation costs as smaller amounts of preservatives are being used.
Products to be tested undergo Challenge Testing along with In vitro Microbiome studies. This leads to the optimization of Preservation Efficacy, reduced preservative content and Microbiome Friendly claim substantiation.
Why conduct Cosmetic Microbiome Studies?
Over the last years, the connection between skin microbiome and cosmetics use is under thorough study. The skin is colonized by myriads of different microorganisms, the majority of which are bacteria while fungi & viruses are also present in lower numbers. Those microorganisms represent the skin microbiome. They form an ecosystem and are usually harmless or may even be beneficial, as they cooperate with the immune system and compete against pathogenic microbes. The antimicrobial activity of cosmetic preservatives and long-term cosmetic usage may disrupt the normal skin microflora. This can lead to dysbiosis, the disruption in the balance of the skin microbiota with adverse effects on the skin such as new allergies, skin irritation, discoloration and others. For Cosmetic Microbiome studies and microbiome claim solutions contact us at [email protected]