Noninvasive Bioengineering Methods for the Evaluation of Cosmeceutical Efficacy

Abstract

For manufacturers as well as for consumers, cosmeceutical evaluation is very important in the skincare industry. However, traditional methods can prove to be uncomfortable and involve long, invasive evaluations of skin changes that may alter the natural state of the skin. This chapter highlights noninvasive bioengineering approaches to quantify cosmeceutical benefits. Real-time noninvasive skin imaging techniques have been developed to visualize the characteristics of skin morphology at the cellular scale. The quantitative assessment of skin barrier function, such as transepidermal water loss, moisture, elasticity, and pH, is performed via biophysical instruments. The color and topography of the skin are objectively determined through colorimetry, spectrophotometry, and 3D surface topography. Assessments of skin microcirculation through laser Doppler flowmetry and laser speckle contrast imaging are also discussed, as are the principles of the measuring tools applied and the uses of each technique, along with their problems and perspectives.