Cosmetics & Personal Care | Monthly bulletin | October 2024

Analysis of anti-static hair effect on digital photographs: A new method developed by Eurofins C&PC

Static electricity is a common annoyance for many, particularly when it affects hair, causing it to stand up or disperse in an unruly manner. To better understand and quantify this phenomenon, Eurofins Cosmetics & Personal Care has developed an innovative method. This approach uses a specially designed device to generate static electricity in hair strands, allowing researchers to study how hair behaves under everyday conditions.

The custom-built device features two brushes attached to a cylindrical rotating blade that spins for several minutes. This motion generates static electricity in the hair strands, simulating conditions in humid environments like bathrooms. The friction from the rotating brushes replicates the everyday static effect often observed in hair.

Once static electricity is generated, the hair strands are photographed under diffuse perfectly reproducible lighting conditions. A high-resolution camera is used to capture clear, reproducible images, providing a reliable visual dataset to study the effects of static electricity on hair behaviour.

In addition to the photography process, Eurofins Cosmetics & Personal Care has developed specialised software to analyse the images and quantify the intensity of static electricity in the hair strands.

This method is particularly valuable for assessing the effectiveness of cosmetic products designed to reduce static electricity in hair. By comparing treated and untreated hair strands, researchers can determine a product’s efficiency. A significant difference in the hair's dispersion between treated and untreated strands indicates the product’s anti-static effect, providing a rigorous evaluation of its performance.

This new method, developed by Eurofins Cosmetics & Personal Care, provides a detailed and innovative approach to studying the effects of static electricity on hair. By combining a specialised device, high-quality digital photography, and custom software for image analysis, it is now possible to precisely measure the effectiveness of cosmetic products in protecting hair from electrostatic effects.

NGRA unleashed: Redefining safety standards in the cosmetics industry

The identification of emerging biomarkers enhances the precision and reliability of safety testing across various sectors, including cosmetics, by incorporating more sensitive and relevant indicators.

Next Generation Risk Assessment (NGRA) is defined as an exposure-led, hypothesis-driven approach that has the potential to support safety decision-making. The framework integrates a tiered approach combining evidence from existing literature and several in vitro and computational models to provide appropriate endpoints and assess potential hazards and exposures of cosmetic ingredients and products (Dent et al., 2018, 2021).

Potential hazard endpoints include bioactivity parameters evaluated in high throughput target and cell-based assays. The Cosmetic Europe Systemic Toxicity Task Force, including Eurofins Discovery, has led a project to define a screening approach using in vitro binding and enzymatic assays to identify and predict the potential bioactivity of cosmetic-relevant chemicals. The initiative aimed to generate a resource for NGRA as a benchmark dataset on the relevant systemic mechanism of action of 100 cosmetic ingredients. The selection of relevant biological targets for screening, including G Protein-Coupled Receptors, enzymes, nuclear hormone receptors, transporters, and ion channels, will be published in the coming months.

This initiative represents a significant step forward in achieving reliable and ethical safety assessments for cosmetic ingredients. Eurofins is committed to proposing a diverse portfolio to meet the specific needs of all industries related to human safety.

Safeguard your products under the sun: Photostability testing for reliable skincare and cosmetics

In today's market, consumers are increasingly aware of the importance of product stability, especially when it comes to skincare and cosmetics exposed to environmental factors such as heat and UV radiation. Prolonged exposure to sunlight can significantly affect the effectiveness and safety of products, particularly those containing active ingredients like benzoyl peroxide (BPO) or sunscreen agents. To ensure these products perform as intended and remain safe for use, photostability testing has become a crucial step in the development and quality assurance process.

At Eurofins Cosmetics and Personal Care, we offer comprehensive photostability testing tailored to assessing the effects of UV exposure on acne treatments, sunscreens, and other BPO-containing products.

Our testing protocols are designed to meet the highest safety standards, providing a thorough evaluation of how environmental factors, such as UV exposure, might affect your product's stability. By simulating real-world conditions, we ensure that your products maintain their quality and safety over time.

We are committed to being your trusted partner by offering reliable, science-backed testing solutions that help you deliver safe, high-quality products.

What’s next?

Trade show

Annual Clinical Trials Symposium – 8 Nov

Bucharest

SCS Formulate – 12-13 Nov

Coventry– Stand 1150

Making Cosmetics – 20-21 Nov

Milano – Stand 360

Webinar

Hygiene products: Guaranteeing safety, performance and innovation

14 November – 3:00 p.m. (CET)

Guardians of beauty: Ensuring microbiological safety in cosmetics

19 November – 3:00 p.m. (CET)

Dermatite Atopique : Tout savoir sur les tests de tolérance et d’efficacité

French Audience - 26 November – 11:00 a.m. (CET)