Measure the texture of cosmetics and skincare products

The measurement of texture properties in cosmetic and skincare products constitutes a fundamental scientific endeavour with profound implications for the beauty and skincare industry. These properties encompass attributes such as smoothness, consistency, spreadability, and tactile sensations, all of which significantly impact product quality, performance, and user satisfaction. Accurate measurement of these textural characteristics is essential for formulating effective and desirable products, optimising manufacturing processes, and ensuring consistent consumer experiences. The scientific measurement of texture properties in cosmetic and skincare products serves as a cornerstone practice that drives advancements in product innovation, quality control, and overall efficacy within the industry. Now, more than ever, manufacturers are searching for up to date techniques to quantify their products’ attributes accurately and develop technically superior products at a faster rate than their competitors. It’s time to get the texture right to stand out for these aspects and win customer hearts.

The role of texture in the cosmetics and skincare industry is paramount. Consequently, formulators place a high emphasis on achieving specific textural attributes. Using a Texture Analyser in the development and manufacture of cosmetic and skincare products offers numerous benefits:

• Rheological properties: Understanding how products flow, spread, and behave under shear (e.g., during application) is critical. This helps in optimising the feel and performance of products like serums, creams, and foundations.
• Evaluating aging and stability: Over time, products can separate, harden, or undergo other textural changes. Regular assessment ensures that products maintain their desired properties throughout their shelf life.
• Optimising packaging: The ease with which a product is dispensed, whether from a pump, tube, or jar, can be evaluated to ensure a smooth user experience.
• Research & development: In the formulation phase, Texture Analysers help researchers understand the effects of various ingredients on product texture, aiding in the development of innovative products with unique textures and properties.
• Quality control: Consistency is key in the cosmetics industry. Regular texture and physical property assessments ensure that batches maintain the desired characteristics, ensuring product reliability and meeting consumer expectations.
• Claims substantiation: Many regulatory bodies require evidence to support product claims, especially if they pertain to performance or benefits. Texture Analysers can provide the necessary data to meet these regulatory requirements.
• Comparison with competitors: Texture Analysers can help benchmark a product's texture against competitors, providing insights for formulation improvements.
• Regulatory compliance: Certain regions or markets may have specific standards for cosmetic and skincare products. Texture Analysers provide the quantitative data necessary for regulatory submissions and ensure products adhere to these standards.
• Consumer feedback and preference: Analysing textural properties can help brands align their products with consumer preferences, whether it's a lightweight moisturizer, a full-coverage foundation, or a thick night cream.

In summary, the use of a Texture Analyser in the cosmetics and skincare industry ensures that products are consistently formulated to meet both functional requirements and consumer preferences. This reliability and optimisation enhance the overall user experience and foster trust in brands and their offerings.

Texture Analysers can evaluate a wide range of texture and mechanical properties, ensuring cosmetic and skincare products meet desired quality and performance standards. For cosmetic and skincare products, the following texture and mechanical properties can typically be measured:

By assessing these texture and mechanical properties, cosmetic and skincare product developers can optimise formulations to meet desired sensory attributes, ensure consistent performance, and support or refute marketing and efficacy claims. It also aids in ensuring compliance with industry standards and enhancing user satisfaction.

Whether its providing the solution for Estee Lauder to measure peel-off texture, allowing International Speciality Products to substantiate skin tightening claims or offering a method for Chanel and Lubrizol Advanced Materials to measure bending force and sensory properties of their lipsticks, a Texture Analyser is adaptable and flexible in its application to measure the bespoke texture of your product and then enable its quality to be controlled in your manufacturing to guarantee consistency and customer satisfaction.

With deep expertise in cosmetic and skincare texture analysis, we’re well equipped to support innovation in this sector – just ask our customers.

A wide range of probes and attachments can be integrated with our instruments, enabling precise testing tailored to the specific product or material under evaluation. Applications include compression tests to assess eye pencil firmness, bending tests to evaluate lipstick break strength, and back extrusion tests to measure the consistency of creams and lotions.

Through our active involvement in industry events such as In-Cosmetics and IFSCC, we remain closely aligned with the evolving needs of the cosmetics sector. When a suitable test solution does not already exist, we develop one—such as the Nail Polish Adhesion Rig, a Community Registered Design that exemplifies our commitment to innovation in solving complex testing challenges.

The examples provided highlight a selection of specialised attachments and commonly performed measurements in this application area. This list is not exhaustive; a wide range of additional options are available for the testing of cosmetic and skincare products. All instruments in the Texture Analyser range can be used to perform the tests described.

Exponent Connect software includes a comprehensive range of test methods for cosmetic and skincare products, all instantly accessible at the click of a button. We streamline your texture testing process, ensuring faster access to methods and ready-to-use analysis files for your product properties.

The cosmetics and skincare industries are perpetually evolving, spurred by technological advancements, emerging consumer trends, and a deeper understanding of skin biology. Here are some of the newer ingredient and product ideas in cosmetic and skincare research, development, and production and a typical academic reference to show how the Texture Analyser has already being applied:

Here are a few online articles which you may find interesting and useful in understanding the field of texture analysis in cosmetics:

The Pleasure of Texture in Cosmetics – This article presents today’s most striking trends in textures and explains how consumers will influence textures for cosmetics and gives an outlook on the future of cosmetic textures.

Sensory Profiling of Cosmetic Products: Could it be easier? Use of Rheology and Textural Analysis – Certain sensory attributes, used for the description of the product in pick up and rub in phase, could be predicted to some extent by instrumental, i.e. rheological and textural measurements. Therefore, sensory profiling could be simplified and consequently more cost-effective with the employment of instrumental tools.

Predicting sensory texture properties of cosmetic emulsions by physical measurements – In order to be more cost and time efficient, alternative methods have been employed in the characterization of the behavior of skin care products. Rheology and texture analysis are two of the common physical measures in the characterization of physical properties of food products, and they have been applied in cosmetic science to help predict the sensory properties of cosmetic creams and lotions.