Investigation of psychophysiological claims

Investigation of psychophysiological effects — © iStock.com / PeopleImages

The link between skin and well-being

The dermatological effects of skin care products, such as improving the skin barrier or increasing skin firmness, are decisive arguments as to whether consumers use them or not.

Psychophysiological claims, such as increasing well-being or reducing stress, supplement the promise of efficacy of cosmetic products and thus increase consumers' willingness to buy. In order to be allowed to advertise such effects, proof of efficacy is required, which must be stored in the product information file (Regulation (EC) 1223/2009, Art. 11).

For this purpose, the Fraunhofer IVV and Fraunhofer ISC institutes offer holistic claim verification, in which both the skin efficacy in in-vitro tests and the product effect in in-vivo tests can be examined.

Our services in the field of dermatological and psychophysiological claim investigations

Here you can get an overview of our services in the field of testing claims of cosmetic products in the context of scientific studies on consumers.

Study design

We support you in the conceptualization of study designs to support your marketing claims:

Development of individual study designs
Implementation of customized emotional stimulation based on product application and planned claims
Planning and implementation by an interdisciplinary scientific team
Review by an independent ethics committee

Psychophysiological measuring methods

We examine your products in a randomized and placebo-controlled manner:

Recording conscious and subconscious reactions to the application of the test product
Individual selection and adaptation of psychological and physiological test methods, e.g. questionnaires, measurement of brain waves and saliva hormones

Consumer acceptance

We support you in increasing the holistic impact of your products on consumers:

Evaluation of the holistic product effect on the consumer
Examination of consumer perception of e.g. claims, packaging design, product color, use of labels
Determination of statistically verified results as proof of effectiveness and as a basis for scientific publications

Together we develop claim-specific study concepts for practical proof of efficacy

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Effect of personal care products and ingredients on well-being

Product effect - skin feeling - body cream — © iStock.com / Boyloso

Emulsion-based encapsulation: cosmetic products Personal Care — © istock.com/ anneleven

The Fraunhofer IVV specializes in the multisensory investigation of the psychophysiological effects of raw materials and products from the personal care and home care sector. The change in emotions can be scientifically proven after targeted deflection through the application of a product in a randomized, blinded and placebo-controlled study design. Both psychological and physiological measurement methods are used, which are statistically evaluated. With a significant result, the emotional effectiveness of a cosmetic product can be proven (proof of efficacy), which enables psychophysiological claims to be made.

We support you in evaluating the product effect of the following cosmetic products:

Facial cleansing and care products such as washing gels, creams and serums
Body cleansing and care products such as bath salts, shower gels, body lotions
Hair care products such as shampoo, conditioner and treatment

We also offer to test the effect of your ingredients in cosmetic base formulations. Examples of this would be:

Fragrances as individual raw materials or in combination as a fragrance chord
Plant extracts and oils
Emulsifiers and emollients
Preservatives and multifunctionals
Investigation of both direct and long-term effects

Other products, such as detergents and cleaning agents as well as interior fragrances, can also be tested for psychophysiological product effects and consumer acceptance.

Current research projects in the field of product effects

Cooperation project

In cooperation with the Fraunhofer ISC, we are investigating the dermatological and psychophysiological effects of claims. More about the services of the Fraunhofer Translational Center for Regenerative Therapies TLZ-RT.

Current professional articles

Further services in the field of Product Perfomance

Sustainable product development along the entire process chain: our interdisciplinary team of experts has comprehensive expertise in various fields. Learn more about our cross-institutional services here:

Investigation of psychophysiological and dermatological claims