Skin products follow industry demands for friendly and mild cosmetics, therefore for the last couple years the connection between skin microbiome and cosmetic use is under thorough study. The skin is consisted by myriads of microorganisms which represent the skin’s microbiome. Forming an ecosystem, microorganisms may even be beneficial, as they cooperate with the immune system and compete against pathogenic microbes. But 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.
At QACS, we assist manufacturers avoid cosmetic derived skin dysbiosis with Skin 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. Skin 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 customised protocols.
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. In vivo skin microbiome studies 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
If the goal of your product is to retain or restore the natural balance of the skin microbiome, a different approach is used including both in vivo and laboratory testing. Microbiome Balance studies indicate skin alterations caused by cosmetics. To prove cosmetic claim substantiation, trials are more extensive.
- 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, 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.
- Premium package: includes volunteer swab samples, microbiological and clinical efficacy studies along with Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) analysis. Bioinformatics and statistical results make this package the most accurate to reveal the effect of your product on the entire skin microbiome during the study period.
Skin Friendly Preservation
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 optimisation of Preservation Efficacy, reduced preservative content and Microbiome Friendly claim substantiation.
For Cosmetic Microbiome Analysis contact QACS Lab at info@qacs.gr
