The
acquisition of SGS Stephens in January 2020 has significantly expanded SGS’s
clinical performance and claim support services for cosmetics and personal care
items in North America. Based in Dallas, Texas, and Phoenix, Arizona, SGS
Stephens has a long history of providing best in class services for the
skincare product industry, including safety and efficacy testing solutions.
Skincare
products will often have claims attached to their use. For example, the claim
may state the product reduces the appearance of lines and wrinkles. In the US,
and many other markets, these claims must be substantiated before the product
can be offered onto the market.
One of the primary claims made by many skincare companies
is that using it will make you look younger or more youthful. To test this
claim, SGS’s clinical testing laboratories will often use photoaging studies. A
tailored study will be designed to match the specific claims being made for the
product. For example, to test claims relating to the ability to reduce the
appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, the testing laboratory will conduct a
study lasting eight to twelve-weeks and using females aged 35 to 68 years of
age. Everyone in the study will begin the trial with visible signs of mild to
moderate facial lines and wrinkles. Improvements will then be evaluated during
the course of the study. The same scientific rigor is used in these studies as
in drug trials.
One major difference between the US and European
approaches to these clinical studies is the use of the placebo group. In the
US, it is not common for the study to include a placebo group but in Europe
there is often a placebo or untreated group within the trial for
reference.
At predetermined stages during the trial a PhD or MD
trained in dermatology assessments will evaluate or grade participants to
assess the effectiveness of the skincare product. In addition,
bio-instrumentation is used by trained clinicians to take objective
measurements of improvements in hydration, firmness, texture and wrinkle
reduction. Finally, participants in the trial are asked for their opinion of
the product and its performance.
A report is then produced at the end of the trial period. This contains a full
evaluation of the effectiveness of the product, with all conclusions backed by
evidence. This report is then submitted to the standards departments in media
companies and to standards attorneys for their evaluation that the claims have
been substantiated.
The
market for skincare products is growing rapidly. By 2025, the global market
will be worth an estimated USD 189.3 billion. In the US alone, total sales of
facial skincare products were estimated at USD 62.3 billion in 2018, with total
revenue for all skincare products at around USD 17.78 billion.
Consumers are clearly keen to buy skincare products. What they need is reassurance
that the products they buy are safe, comply with market regulations, and will
live up to the claims that are being advertised.
SGS
Performance and Claim Support Services
SGS offers a wide range of performance and claim
support services to the global cosmetic and personal care industry. Its network
utilizes both laboratory testing and consumer panel solutions to help
manufacturers evaluate their products against competitors, while giving them
valuable insights into consumer opinion and product positioning. Learn more about SGS Performance and Claim Support
Services
for the Cosmetics and Personal
Care Industry.
For more information, please contact:
Thomas
J. Stephens, Ph.D
Vice President
SGS Stephens
Email: crs.media@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/cpch
About SGS
SGS is the
world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company.
SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more
than 94,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,600 offices and
laboratories around the world.