Claims are a crucial aspect of how household and personal care products move from store shelf to shopping cart and testing services providers are critical in bridging this gap. After all, why buy that fancy anti-aging cream, natural deodorant or pore-cleansing wash if it doesn’t work?

In fact, 73% of women and 62% of men have purchased an item as a result of reading a consumer claim on a package, in an advertisement or in an in-store display, according to a recent Beauty by the Numbers study from The Benchmarking Company. And, for a claim to be believable, consumers think claims percentages must be in the 80s or higher!

Happi contacted several leading laboratories to weigh in on the latest developments in consumer product testing.

Has your company invested in new equipment/space/services for household or personal care testing? Please tell us about those enhancements.

Craig R. Weiss, president, Consumer Product Testing Company, Fairfield, NJ: We have made two major investments. One in our clinical division Aeva3D and the other in our in-vitro toxicology department, with the equipment to conduct sensitization testing, in compliance with the EU regulations.

Aeva3D is a three-dimensional imaging system that has many advantages over other systems; for example, it can analyze multiple areas of interest at the same time. Additionally, Aeva3D can analyze larger areas of interest to allow CPT to accurately measure parameters like the volume of sagging skin, cellulite and body part circumferences.

By investing in the equipment necessary to augment our in-vitro toxicology department we have the ability to conduct KeratinoSens (OECD TG 442D) – hCLAT (OECD TG 442E) and Direct Peptide Reactivity Assay (OECD TG 442C) used in the EU for testing raw materials and finished products for sensitization.

Sabina Giovannini, managing director, Zurko Research, Madrid, Spain: Zurko Research has been providing testing services for more than 15 years and in the beginning of 2016, we moved to new premises (5,500 square feet) in the center of Madrid, Spain. The large and dedicated space helped us in the last three years to improve the quality and also to grow in terms of volume and variety of our services. Moreover, to make life easier for our panelists we are working now with two shifts (8am-10pm) from Monday to Saturday.

In terms of equipment, we are constantly looking for the latest instrumental support that could better fit the substantiation of innovative and reliable claims. 

Nevertheless, our investments are not only related to facilities or equipment. For example, we are constantly working on expanding the database of our panelists; currently we have over 7000 registered panelists and we are able to put together panels for studies within five business days. We are also able to work with specific panels for unhealthy skin conditions including psoriasis, skin with acneic tendency, atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, rosacea and dandruff.

The enhancement of our services enabled us to expand to the European and the US market. We have several certifications that ensure the best possible services for our customers, including testing of medical devices and biocides. In the US we have registered our company as an analysis lab with the FDA and we test the efficacy and safety of the products not only for the European markets but also for the USA or any other part of the world, according to each country’s specific regulation.

Atul Jhalani, president, InVitro International, Placentia, CA: Our relatively new testing facilities are fully equipped and have no perceived current need for investment in equipment.

Neil A. Zimbaldi A.C.E., multimedia design coordinator, AMA Laboratories, Inc, New City, NY: Yes! The market is booming for various sun protection studies. So far, in 2019, we have tripled our SPF staff and added another two Multi-Port Solar Simulators to accommodate the increased volume. Our Blue Light testing lab has moved adjacent to the SPF department to streamline data generation for those who are interested in multiple wavebands tests. Specialized post stress (sweatproof/sweat resistant, sand, wind, salt, chlorine, towel abrasion) alongside extended duration tests (4-, 6- and 8-hour) are some revivalist interests we have seen increase dramatically. Our temperature and humidity controlled chamber is without question the finest currently available in the US and used also for novel antiperspirant, deodorant and waterproof/resistant mascara studies and more.

Tracey L. Baubie, president/CEO, Comprehensive Research Group, Inc., Minneapolis, MN: In recent years, Comprehensive Research Group, Inc. (CRG) has focused heavily on expanding its clinical expertise and broadening its client base.

This year, our clinical personnel has grown exponentially. We have added qualified talent in nearly every area of required expertise: We have added clinical associates, clinical coordinators, technical imagers and a wide variety of medical personnel. Our newly-added medical professionals include a third dermatologist, a second pediatrician, a second ophthalmologist and a second neonatal nurse. More and more, we are asked to supply expert medical personnel for critical clinical assessments and “claims” studies. Indeed, sometimes we are asked to provide multiple medical assessments for a single study; i.e., ophthalmologist/dermatologist or dermatologist/pediatrician. Our expanded medical personnel will allow us to have greater scheduling flexibility to ensure that we meet our clients’ growing needs.

Likewise, we have seen a growing demand for technical imagers—professional photographers or videographers, who are as comfortable in a clinical setting as they are behind the camera. Boosting our imaging capabilities, CRG now has four clinical imagers who are capable of expertly operating a wide variety of imaging machines; i.e., Visia, Vectra, Ole and Global Imaging and who are fully capable of being trained on any clinical imaging instrument.

Finally, in addition to our ever-growing team of experts, we are now building-out another 2000 square feet of clinical space, contiguous to our existing facilities. Once complete, this new space will provide a fourth CRG clinical facility large enough to accommodate a multitude of clinical studies, including safety-in-use tests, claims or efficacy studies for skin, hair or infant care. Because this fourth facility will run contiguous with our existing facilities, it will also help ensure that we can satisfy those studies and clients who demand large, complex clinical trials with 100 or more participating subjects. 

Brice Chasey, senior product manager, rapid microbial detection, Charles River Microbial Solutions, Charleston SC: Charles River Microbial Solutions continues to provide customers with the ability to rapidly screen personal care products for contamination with our Celsis rapid microbial detection instruments and reagents, as well as provide the ability to perform follow up microbial identification tests on results through our Accugenix laboratories.

We are expanding our ability to provide customers with more technical support for implementation. The Celsis platform continues to be one of the most versatile instruments available when it comes to sample compatibility, and as new formulations and product types continue to enter the market, our support has become more focused on helping prospective customers confirm that this assay is compatible.

In order to provide microbial identification and strain typing services to customers globally, our Accugenix laboratories have continued to invest in our day-to-day lab efficiencies to meet turnaround times and expanded service offerings, while growing our global reach with a total of eight facilities, including new laboratories in Melbourne, Australia and Shanghai, China.

What have been the main service requests/jobs your company has completed in the past year in terms of personal care care/cosmetics testing? Is this different from previous years? If so, how so and what do you think is behind it? 

Weiss of Consumer Product Testing Company: Requests for services have not changed much over the last year, there continues to be many requests for basic safety testing, in-vitro safety testing, human repeated insult patch testing, microbiological testing, plate counts and challenge testing.  What we have seen change is request for more elaborate efficacy studies. I believe that this due to the more competitive nature of the marketplace and an increase in the diversity of companies in it. Since claims identify and sell the product each company is attempting to make the most aggressive claims possible.

Giovannini of Zurko Research: In general, what we notice is a continuous increase in the demands and exigencies of our customers toward their products, and consequently their claims, with a rising search for quality and adaptability to modern lifestyle. But the biggest interest we have detected among cosmetic manufacturers is their growing care and responsiveness toward the healthiness of their products. Modern personal care products must respect consumers’ wellbeing and respect the environment as well. From the evaluation point of view, this fact brings about the necessity on our part to constantly look for adapted and innovative testing protocols which need to fulfill, in the best possible way, our clients’ needs.

We are constantly working on designing more tailor-made studies, to measure the efficacy versus the most trendy and innovative claims of their products, from different angles and with different equipment. One example of this new healthy approach in personal care products is the high demand of testing related to the skin microbiome (both in-vitro and in-vivo).

There is also a significant shift in the number of studies for cosmetic ingredients as opposed to finished products. Whereas three years ago 80% of our testing was done with finished products and 20% with (active) ingredients, this year we moved to a 60%/40% split. This change is mainly due to the fact that nowadays, companies manufacturing active ingredients (and also raw materials) want to have the efficacy of the products measured to obtain claims that will help them sell their products.

Jhalani of InVitro International: Emphasis on 24-48-hour eye/skin irritancy test result services have been extremely well-received, both with US and non-US accounts, especially in Europe and China. Upon conversing with our cosmetic and personal care product customers in 2019, it appears that there is an increased importance to cutting testing time and costs. Getting to market a month earlier enables them to either beat anticipated competition, such as CBD-related products, or to realize sales ahead of budgeted financials. (It’s) A bigger deal today than ever before.

In terms of non-animal testing volume of requests, there is no question that non-US requests are growing faster than ever before. We understand that this is a result of increased support from regulatory, consumer and government areas for in vitro tests to replace/reduce animal testing by 2020. Large consumer markets such as China, Brazil, India and Colombia, as well as Taiwan and other smaller markets, now have legislation requiring in vitro testing. Even US states such as CA, IL, NV and others have passed laws prohibiting the marketing of new cosmetics if tested on animals by early 2020.

Zimbaldi of AMA Laboratories: AMA offers a wide array of testing services, which are constant through the year, but Blue Light (HEV, High Energy Visible Light) Testing has remained the industry leader in new testing procedures beyond UV claims alone in 2019. AMA has pioneered this and IR fields of testing since inception. Now we are introducing Anti-Pollution methodology utilizing our novel Matched Scientific Photography and PhotoGrammetrix Image Analysis systems to accomplish some of these tasks. There have also been increases in requests to compare SPF formulae in-vitro prior to in-vivo testing. This is where AMA’s in-house in-vitro SPF method finds its primary function. Although, in-vitro SPF cannot be used for label claims, some of our clients find such markers to be extremely helpful in their R&D projects. We attribute a large portion of these phenomenon to not only a strong and growing economy of the US, but worldwide economic growth as well.

Baubie of Comprehensive Research Group, Inc.: We continue to see strong interest in the testing of “natural” or “clean” ingredients. We expect the drive for cleaner and greener products will continue as long as Generations Y and Z are major market influencers with a heightened concern for the environment and a desire to move to cleaner more natural products, all with a similar beauty regime. Remember these generations believe that emails are too long and cereal takes too much time to prepare, so they opt for texting and an on-the-go protein bar.

Additionally, we see more sponsoring companies focused on microbiome collection and analysis of skin, hair and scalp in particular. For years, it was assumed that all skin bacteria were “bad” but we now understand that there is “good” and “bad” bacteria and that balance is required to keep skin healthy. An imbalance can increase the presence of acne, eczema or simply leave skin feeling and looking unhealthy. So many of our clients are pursing research paths meant to improve skin health, by promoting good bacteria, while attempting to remove or limit bad bacteria through a wide variety of skin, hair and scalp product research. While a healthy skin, hair and scalp is highly desired by consumers, I am not sure the average consumer is ready to embrace the idea of feeding their living “good” microbes through the use of personal care products.

We have also seen an up-tick in the desire to use technology to reach well beyond traditional in-clinic data collection. Our clients are now using “apps” and other online or mobile tools to collect data 24/7. While there are numerous regulatory and privacy concerns surrounding the use of these advanced technologies, so far, we have successfully negotiated workable solutions among the sponsoring companies, the software developers, and required IRBs to ensure that subject rights are not diminished.

Chasey of Charles River Microbial Solutions: Our company has seen an increase in requests for genotypic microbial identification by personal care and cosmetic companies. This is in response to the increasingly recognized shortcomings of morphological and phenotypic identification methods, as well as increased regulatory scrutiny. Our Accugenix laboratory continues to expand its services and reference libraries.

Of particular interest to the personal care industry is our ability to differentiate closely-related, but distinct, strains and subspecies of organisms through our Accugenix services. This is exemplified by the infamous Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC), which gained mainstream awareness due to contamination of baby wipes and other product recalls. The organism poses a clear challenge for identification with traditional phenotypic or proteotypic ID methods, as well as 16S DNA sequencing. Accugenix, however, developed an alternative gene target that can be sequenced to give a confident, species-level ID through our ProSeq service. By utilizing our expertise and long-standing track record as a trusted service provider, the consumer care industry can also gain confidence in their microbial identifications and operational decisions.

How do testing services and labs help the marketer? How about the consumer?

Weiss of Consumer Product Testing Company: A reputable testing service will assure the marketer that they are selling a safe product and, probably more importantly, should be able to tell a marketer when they have a problem. Additionally, a testing service should be able to design a study to allow a marketer to have the data to make impactful claims. The consumer would then be able to be sure the product they are buying is safe and effective.

Giovannini of Zurko Research: Our services are necessary for the manufacturers to commercialize their products; nevertheless, we think that the best results will be achieved if we see the relation as a collaboration between partners, rather than only a contractual supplier-client relation. According to this approach, we are constantly working not only to ensure the safety and efficacy of our clients’ products, but also, and most importantly, to help our clients’ products stand out in the market by pioneering reliable claims. We believe that the evaluator should not only be an analysis provider, but also an adviser and a partner of the manufacturer. In Zurko we feel part of our clients’ companies, brands and success.

In my opinion, and based on our partners’ feedback, the best way we can help the marketers is by delivering the top line results within 48 hours and the final report 10 business days after the study is finished. Knowing this, the marketer can plan and schedule a product launch accordingly, always meeting his deadlines, which could be a differentiating advantage in the market.

The consumer, on the other hand, must know that the product he purchases has been tested according to the specific regulation/protocols and that first of all it is safe to use. The second step is to know that the claims on the product are the result of a clinical study, that there is a scientific measurement behind it. Both mentioned aspects grant to the customers that, if the product is being used according to the recommendations, it will satisfy their needs and expectations.

Jhalani of InVitro International: Marketers of cosmetic and personal care products have data showing “brand loyalty” to in vitro tested products is significantly higher than to products that do not say “not animal tested” on them. They know they get to market quicker and at lower costs also if they do their homework. Globally, consumers of in vitro tested products have the psychic income of knowing they support caring companies that have chosen to avoid making animals suffer. 

Zimbaldi of AMA Laboratories:  We find that often marketing and advertising teams are becoming deeply involved with the testing aspects of their companies’ products. Marketers will lay out a list of desired claims and it is up to us, as the testing lab, to provide potential study designs to back those claims. Consumers are no longer easily impressed with the marketing/sales tactics of the past. An educated consumer is now the “norm” and the marketers are taking advantage of this by placing science/testing results directly into their publications. It is not uncommon for the lab report to be embedded with label claims via QR code or a download on their online point of purchase. Scientific photographs and data attract attention and lead to sales.

Baubie of Comprehensive Research Group, Inc.: Independent clinical testing services are essential to “claim” contentions. We essentially legitimize the claim by performing blinded evaluations of the product at issue. With clean independent data, the marketer can rest assured that its claim will withstand scrutiny. It is always a surprise to learn that some companies perform their claim work in-house. It is hard to imagine that this work remains unbiased, even with the most rigorous standards.  

Similarly, independent clinical testing (both claims or efficacy testing) can legitimize the product in the mind of the discerning consumer. The average consumer has more investigative tools at her fingertips to compare and contrast her beauty care products before she makes her final decision. With the average American woman spending more than a quarter of a million dollars on her appearance during her lifetime, according to the New York Post, it is hard to imagine that she doesn’t carefully choose how she spends her money. It is also hard to imagine that given a choice between a product that merely touts its performance versus one that can prove its performance with substantiated research won’t tip the consumer scale.

Chasey of Charles River Microbial Solutions: Quality control is something every manufacturer should strive for; however, Charles River realizes that this takes an investment in internal expertise, resources, time and capital. Microbial limits testing can be simplified and performed at the manufacturing facility by implementing Celsis, allowing the organization to test their products immediately to keep up with fast-paced production. This Celsis assay typically takes 18-24 hours to complete, and when the results come back within specification, it allows release of safe product and manufacturing can continue with confidence while mitigating risk.

However, when testing results in an out-of-specification or contamination, organizations typically perform microbial identification to confirm whether this is an organism of concern with respect to their product’s intended use. While there are in-house phenotypic microbial identification systems available, we strongly recommend that genotypic identification due to the inaccuracy of phenotypic identification methods. Understandably, genotypic methods require a great deal of internal expertise, capital investment and technique, so outsourcing can often provide a more cost effective and accurate identification. Accugenix laboratories can provide identification and strain typing results as quickly as the same day upon receipt of samples and free up your staff to focus on other important tasks.

What do claims do to make or break a product’s performance in the marketplace?

Giovannini of Zurko Research: Today’s market is extremely competitive. You must stand out and if you are able to have a different claim than your competitors, the consumers are more likely to try your product. The claim has become the centerpiece of marketing communication. Nevertheless, claims need to be attractive and reliable at the same time. A claim cannot promise miraculous results which have not been substantiated by scientific testing.

The only way to achieve this fundamental equilibrium between the market-oriented struggle and the scientific consistency is close cooperation between manufacturers’ product development and marketing departments and the clinical testing laboratory. If all these parts work on a product idea from the beginning, new ideas will be generated in this process, new protocols can be developed, and really ground-breaking claims can come out as a result.

Our recommendation to any company would be—don’t be afraid to ask for advice! We are here not only to conduct the study, we can also serve as consultants, we have the necessary experience to help you in the process, to either avoid mistakes or to suggest different approaches.

Jhalani of InVitro International: In many personal care marketplaces, meaningful claims that differentiate products often are difficult to establish. Globally, animal suffering has become a key part of consumers’ psyche giving non-animal testing companies and products an important advantage over those who do not lay claim to in vitro testing.

Zimbaldi of AMA Laboratories: Unique claims are the golden ticket for 2019. The personal care industry has isolated very defined demands from the consumer and in such a competitive market it’s very easy to fall by the wayside into a sea of new products. It is critical to add a sharply honed edge to the claims that the consumer is familiar with. In the past, a simple label claim “Reduces Wrinkles in 1 Week” may have been all you needed to sell out. Now there may be thousands of new products on the shelves all with that same claim ergo we see terms emerging such as “Immediate Wrinkle Reduction” grow to “Irritation Free, Immediate Wrinkle Reduction” and then to “Irritation Free, Immediate Wrinkle Reduction with Pore Size Reduction.”

Chasey of Charles River Microbial Solutions: When it comes to claims on a product’s performance, the claims always vary on the product being marketed in the industry. As new formulations are created to meet current and emerging consumer preferences, manufacturers must be sure they live up to the consumer’s expectations. Ultimately, though, no matter the formulation or claim, the product should always be safe. A product’s claims mean very little if there is a risk to the consumer.

While our quality control testing solutions cannot improve a product’s efficacy, it will ensure that the product is free of contamination from potentially pathogenic or adverse-reaction causing microorganisms. This helps protect the consumer and the company’s brand and reputation. It is far costlier to restore brand reputation and regain the consumer’s trust than it is to preserve it by investing in appropriate release tests.

What’s on the regulatory front here in the US or globally that is on your radar screen—and why—and what impact might it have on your customers in 2019-2020?

Weiss: Here in the US, for several years we have followed many bills for cosmetic regulatory reform, many of the bills would have far reaching implications for companies, especially smaller companies that may not be able to afford compliance. Additionally, with changes slated for the end of 2019 in the sunscreen industry there will be many changes to what can be produced and even how it must be tested.

Having been fortunate enough to travel to many established and emerging markets, there are many changes coming. In the EU, Brexit looms very close on the horizon. Without agreement from the two parties there is no real way of telling how this will affect the cosmetic, personal care industry.  In China, India, South America and much of the rest of the world the regulatory framework is changing at a rapid rate.

Giovannini of Zurko Research: Regulation is one of the biggest drivers, especially in the personal care and cosmetic market. Among the several subjects which are nowadays in the spotlight, sunscreen regulation is one of the biggest topics, no doubt. The FDA proposal addresses sunscreen active ingredient safety, dosage forms, and sun protection factor (SPF) and broad-spectrum requirements. We think that the active ingredient safety, depending on the final regulation, could revolutionize the entire industry. The entire world is watching what the FDA will do, and we think that the US regulation may strongly impact on the EU regulation as well. We are constantly, closely monitoring all regulation progress on this topic. Of course, on the other hand the EU is leading the regulation regarding harmful ingredients, which is much more restrictive than the US regulation and may possibly impact the US regulation in the future.

Jhalani of InVitro International: The regulatory progress of in vitro testing around the world in the last few years has accelerated greatly. It is just underway in the US following Europe’s lead eight years ago (new cosmetics ban). Personal care and cosmetic products manufacturers have complied and OECD has now over 40 countries (including the US) that accept their regulatory review findings emerging regularly.  InVitro International has pursued this pathway industriously with one in vitro technology adopted at the GHS level in recent years and Ocular Irritection (OI) currently following in a similar manner. OI is unique as an accepted in vitro ocular irritancy test in that by not using even human cells it is completely (100%) animal free. InVitro International believes this difference can be important when a customer can choose a truly, 100% non-animal test technology.

Zimbaldi of AMA Laboratories: A new FDA sunscreen regulation proposal that will go into effect this November 2019 is sure to rock the industry. It is said to be causing “A lot of anxiety amongst scientists, health advocates, manufacturers, regulators and more importantly consumers as to the future of sun care protection”, according to Dr. Nadim Saath (Happi, May, 1, 2019) who further wrote “The FDA’s goal to finalizing the Sunscreen Monograph by November 26, 2019 is totally unrealistic despite my repeated calls in the past to issue a Final Monograph. I cannot perceive of a condition or of a company stepping forward to supply the necessary safety data required by the FDA to reclassify a Category III UV Filter as GRASE.

Perhaps Avobenzone from this list of 12 “may be” the only such ingredient. It goes without saying that the pending TEA ingredients, or filters resulting from the easing of the approval pathway for new, more effective UVB and UVA filters that are less permeable to the skin and offer more stable and safer broad-spectrum protection, may today be the only hope for formulating effective sunscreens in the United States.” This would potentially mandate all SPF products on the US market be retested to conform to new regulations.

There are also an increased number of alternative SPF methods currently being evaluated. Some utilize in-vitro transmission measurements through a product treated substrate(s), others combine in-vivo and in-vitro (Hybrid Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy) and the last one utilizes computer modeling (in-silico). By the end of this year we are expecting a revised ISO 24444 (SPF) guideline to be available, followed by an in-vivo water immersion procedure (ISO 16217) early next year as well as a revised in-vitro UVA ISO 24443 publication in the end of 2020. As you can see, the industry is very dynamic at this time.

Baubie of Comprehensive Research Group, Inc.: As they have in previous sessions of Congress, Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) re-introduced the “Personal Care Products Safety Act” (S. 726) in March, a bill that would strengthen the FDA’s efforts to regulate ingredients in personal care products.

The Personal Care Products Safety Act bill would amend the Federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act (FDCA) by including additional federal regulation, such as requiring cosmetic makers to register with the FDA and provide cosmetic ingredient statements. Additionally, it would require the FDA to establish good manufacturing practices for cosmetics, review ingredients for safety at the rate of five per year, create a product recall protocol and more.

House Energy & Commerce (E&C) Committee Chairman Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ) and Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.) in March released a bipartisan discussion draft of legislation that is very similar to the Personal Care Products Safety Act, which is expected to be introduced in the House soon.

Enhanced regulatory oversight of personal care products has been a long time in the making. Federal law regulating personal care products has essentially remained unchanged since 1938. Still, it is unlikely that 2019 will be the year that Congress decides to enact legislation regulating the near $70 billion beauty industry, even though many of the major industry players are in favor of such regulation.

Chasey of Charles River Microbial Solutions: Regulatory scrutiny continues to grow in the personal care and cosmetics industry, as they continue to adopt more and more pharmaceutical guidelines. For example, the personal care and cosmetics industry is expected to follow current good manufacturing practices (cGMP’s) and there is an increased focus on data integrity. Charles River has an extensive history in the pharmaceutical industry with a trusted reputation when it comes to helping its customers meet the challenges of regulatory compliance. The new regulatory emphasis is not a surprise to us and we can support our customers’ compliance as we follow these regulations ourselves.

Testing Service Providers

Below is a list of testing providers serving the household and personal products industry.
For more information, contact the testing service provider using the information provided for each firm. 
Should your company be listed here? Contact Happi to be included in our next testing services directory.
Send your request to [email protected].

• Alliance Technologies, LLC
Monmouth Junction, NJ
Tel: (877) 962-5993
Fax:  (732) 438-8265
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.alliancetechgroup.com
Testing Specialties: Alliance Technologies is a full service, DEA-licensed, and FDA-registered and audited contract laboratory offering a wide range of chemical analysis and material testing services to a diverse, international client base. Our expertise and years of experience enable us to select the correct analytical approaches and generate the accurate data needed to solve your toughest problem.

• AMA Laboratories, Inc.
New City, NY
Tel: (845) 634-4330
Fax: (845) 634-5565
Email: [email protected]
Website:  www.amalabs.com
Testing Specialties: AMA Laboratories conducts state-of-the-art testing in RIPT/Safety, Infrared Testing (IRPF), SPF Determinations, Claim Substantiation with Biophysical Measurements, In-Vitro Studies and unique Matched Scientific Photography (MSP) using AMA’s PhotoGrammetrix (PhGx) System. Advanced studies can enhance documented final report data with our PolyChrommetrix (PcMx) 3D modeling plus corporate and advertising video capabilities. The AMA system offers a proprietary concept of scientifically acquired, non-invasive “before and after” images which can be electronically measured. This unique system allows for matched high resolution photographs to be directly incorporated into our clients’ advertising and marketing materials for a truly sensational presentation format.

• Ametek Brookfield
Middleboro, MA
Tel: (508) 946-6200
Email: [email protected]
Website:  www.brookfieldengineering.com

• Beta Analytic Inc.
Miami, FL
Tel: (305) 667-5167
Email: [email protected]
Website:  www.radiocarbon.com
Testing Specialties: Bio-based content and natural products testing services; high-quality results in only 5-7 business days (faster service available) under standards that include ASTM D6866, CEN 16137, EN 16640, ISO 16620, ISO 19984. Results can be accessed online 24/7 including QA reports and sample photos.

• BioScreen Testing Services, Inc.
Torrance, CA
Tel: (310) 214-0043
Fax: (310) 370-3642
Email: [email protected]
Website:  www.bioscreen.com
Testing Specialties: BioScreen Testing Services is a full service, GMP, human clinical, microbiology and analytical chemistry testing laboratory. BioScreen’s clinical services division conducts product safety and efficacy claim studies using a complete array of scientific instrumentation. The company also has sophisticated image capture and analysis software to provide the highest level of scientific image claim support. BioScreen’s clinical services include safety tests for irritation and sensitivity (HRIPT) on the skin and complete ophthalmologic safety tests. BioScreen specializes in customized studies to support product claims from moisturization, anti-aging, SPF and acne, to specialized scar, cellulite, esthetic and eyelash studies. Also offered are Asian subject panels and consumer use studies. BioScreen offers a complete array of analytical chemistry to serve OTC/cosmetic clients from raw material ingredients, sunscreen assay and heavy metals to photo stability, stability, and toxicological assessments. Our microbiological department conducts a compliment of specialized micro studies and ID methods plus more routine preservative testing, microbial plate count, log reduction and bacteriostasis studies.

• Bria Research Labs and Testing Services
Libertyville, IL
Tel: (866) 343-BRIA
Email: [email protected]
Website:  www.brialabs.net

• Canfield Scientific, Inc.
Parsippany, NJ
Tel:  (973) 434-1200 or (800) 815-4330
Email: [email protected]
Website:  www.canfieldsci.com

• Ceutical Laboratories, Inc.
Farmers Branch, TX
Tel: (972) 241-8374
Fax: (972) 241-0619
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ceuticallabs.com

• Charles River
Charleston, SC
Tel:  877.CRIVER.1 (877-274-8371)
Website:  www.criver.com

• Clinical Research Laboratories, LLC
Piscataway, NJ
Tel:  (732) 981-1616
Fax:  (732) 981-0520
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.CRLResearchLabs.com
Testing Specialties: Clinical Research Laboratories, LLC (CRL) operates as an independent contract laboratory providing a wide range of clinical safety and efficacy testing to the cosmetic, beauty products, personal care and pharmaceutical industries. Located both in central New Jersey and Winston-Salem, North Carolina, CRL is dedicated to conducting human clinical test procedures to determine the safety and efficacy of cosmetic, personal care and OTC drug products. The company focuses its clinical expertise in the areas of dermatology, photobiology, ophthalmology, bioinstrumentation, microbiology, cosmetology, clinical trials and associated services.

• Comprehensive Research Group, Inc.
Minneapolis, MN
Tel: (612) 781-3400
Email: [email protected]
Website: crginc.org
Testing Specialties:  For over 20 years, CRG has provided quality data to personal and beauty care manufacturers. We provide superior subject recruitment, study execution and data collection for product development, efficacy, and claims. We have extensive expertise in hair care, skin care, anti-aging treatments, antiperspirants/deodorants, baby care, grooming and safety-in-use testing.

• Consumer Product Testing Company, Inc.
Fairfield, NJ
Tel: (973) 793-8069
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.cptclabs.com
Testing Specialties: CPTC has provided a full service GMP/GLP/GCP testing laboratory for the cosmetic, personal care, medical device, pharmaceutical and specialty chemical markets. Our capabilities include services in the clinical safety and efficacy, chemistry/microbiology/stability, photobiology, in-vitro toxicological fields and consultation. Our focus is on providing “Conception to Completion” service. We are proud to announce the addition of “Gluten Free” testing, FDA Import Detention testing and new “Bundle” pricing on Predictive Patch, Preservative and Ocular Irritation studies.


• Cutech Srl
Padova, Italy
Tel: +39 049 870 2225
Fax:  +39 049 762 8533
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.symselect.com/cutech
Testing Specialties: Cutech specializes in pre-clinical screening services for hair and skin. To provide best suitable and reasonable results, we work with different  screening models:
Full thickness ex vivo human skin, Microdissected human hair follicles and sebaceous glands, Skin and hair follicle cell cultures. This approach allows streamlining into clinical/performance trials, reducing investment-risk into false-negative leads, and increasing success rate. We provide testing services to investigate into exposome induced skin aging, like photoaging UV and VL, pollution and oxidation, processes like changes in skin pigmentation, inflammation and skin regeneration. In addition we provide screening services dedicated to hair growth, hair pigmentation, stress to hair as well as sebum and fat modulation.

• Dermscan Group
Lyon, France
Tel:  +33(0) 472 823 656
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.dermscan.com
Testing Specialties: Dermscan is the reference in clinical trials of cosmetics and pharmaceutical products since 1990 and also realize pre-clinical in vitro tests in GLP certified laboratory. ISO 9001:2015 certified, its facilities in France, Poland, Tunisia, Thailand, Mauritius and international partnerships, provide them multi ethnic panels for standard or complex multiparametric studies.

• EAG Laboratories
San Diego, CA
Tel: (877) 709-9526
Website: www.eag.com

• Evalulab Inc.
Montreal, QC, Canada
Tel: (514) 343-0001
Website: www.evalulab.com
Sales: [email protected]
Testing Specialties: Evalulab is a contract research organization offering standard and customized testing services to evaluate safety, performance and consumer preference of skin care, cosmetics, personal care products, medical devices and raw materials. The laboratory is certified ISO 9001:2015 and provides clinical studies that comply to international GCP, FDA and Health Canada.

• Genemarkers, LLC
Kalamazoo, MI
Tel: (844) 220-6231
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.genemarkersllc.com
Testing Specialties: Genemarkers is a contract testing lab that specializes in genomics. Core services include genotyping, gene expression and microRNA profiling. The technology is used to identify the biological mechanisms of action of raw materials and finished products. Testing is used to optimize product development and to validate efficacy.

• Harrison Research Laboratories, Inc.
Union, NJ
Tel: (908) 688-7600
Fax: (908) 688-7601
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.hrlabs.us.com

• Hill Top Research Incorporated
St. Petersburg, FL
Tel: (727) 344-7602
Email: [email protected]
Website:  www.hill-top.com

• Idea Tests Group
Martillac, France
Tel:  +33 556 64 82 33
Contact: Frederic Nunzi
Email: [email protected]
Website:  www.groupeideatests.com
Testing Specialties: Idea Tests Group specializes in the evaluation of cosmetic and personal care products for both ingredients and final formulations. Idea Tests Group provides a holistic approach and a wide range of services: in vitro OECD toxicology, efficacy, and microbiology tests, clinical studies to assess tolerance and efficacy, regulatory expertise to support your specific situation, in vitro and in vivo sun care product testing. With seven evaluation centers Idea Tests Group provides its services to customers all over the world.

• Impact Analytical
Midland, MI
Tel: (855) 206-0338
Fax: (989) 486-9429
Email: [email protected]
Website:  www.ImpactAnalytical.com

• International Research Services, Inc.
Port Chester, NY
Tel: (914) 937-9483, (800) 548-0158
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Website:  www.irsi.org

• InVitro International
Placentia, CA 92870
Tel: (800) 246-8487, (949) 851-8356
Fax: (949) 851-4985
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.invitrointl.com
Testing Specialties: Least cost, fastest, validated as accurate—Ocular Irritection and Dermal Irritection. Final reports in as few as 36 hours; accuracy proven as high as 90%+ vs animal results. More than a quarter century of satisfied customers with a published peer reviewed OECD study result available. GHS accepted Corrositex: least cost, fastest, and most accurate global leader in non-animal corrosion testing; results possible in 24 hours or less.

• MB Research Laboratories
Spinnerstown, PA
Tel: (215) 536-4110
Fax: (215) 536-1816
Email: [email protected]
Website:  www.mbresearch.com
Testing Specialties:  MB Research Labs has been dedicated to conducting cosmetic and personal care safety assessments for over 40 years. Specialized services include, but are not limited to, in vitro dermal and eye irritation, dermal sensitization, and phototoxicity. An award-winning recognized leader in the development and use of in vitro/alternative toxicology.

•  McCrone Group
Westmont, IL
Tel: (630) 887-7100
Website:  www.mccroneassociates.com

• Micro Quality Labs Inc. (MQL Inc.)
Burbank, CA
Tel: (818) 845-0070
Fax: (818) 845-0030
Website:  www.microqualitylabs.com
Testing Specialties: Micro Quality Labs is an ISO 17025 certified lab, established in 2003 and offers a comprehensive range of contract testing services to the cosmetic, nutritional, pharmaceutical, OTC and household products industries. Services include analytical, stability testing (ICH guidelines), heavy metals, microbiology, method development and validation, environmental testing, water testing, pesticides/USP, 1,4 dioxane, amino acid testing and phthalates.

• Princeton Consumer Research
Princeton, NJ
Tel: (609) 455-1112
Fax:  (609) 580-1393
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.princetonconsumer.com
Testing Specialties: Princeton Consumer Research is a global consumer product testing company specializing in safety, efficacy and acceptability studies. PCR focuses on the cosmetic, skin, beauty, personal care and baby care industries. Their global headquarters in Princeton, NJ and their site in St. Petersburg, FL have the largest environmentally controlled rooms and hot rooms in the US. PCR also has two additional sites in the UK, and a site in Winnipeg, Canada. Plans include expansion to Asia and Brazil in the future.

• Product Integrity Laboratory LLC
Landing, NJ
Tel: (973) 770-7707
Fax:  (973) 770-7711
Email: [email protected]   
Website:  www.prodinteglab.com
Technical services: Product development and formulation, quality control and quality assurance, regulatory compliance, production troubleshooting.

• Q Laboratories, Inc.
Cincinnati, OH
Tel: (513) 471-1300
Fax: (513) 471-5600
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Website: www.qlaboratories.com
Testing Specialties: An FDA registered, cGMP/GLP compliant, ISO/IEC 17025 accredited analytical chemistry and microbiology laboratory. Services include: Method development and validation, microbial detection and enumeration, microbial identification, active ingredient analysis, raw material qualification, antimicrobial efficacy analysis and stability studies.

• SGS
Fairfield, NJ
Tel:  (973) 575-5252
Fax: (973) 575-7175
Email: [email protected]
Website:  www.sgs.com/cosmetics
Testing Specialties: It’s crucial for cosmetics and personal care products to be effective, stable and safe. SGS’ global quality assurance and performance services can help you ensure the quality, safety, efficacy and regulatory compliance of your products. Laboratory and field operations offer tailor-made solutions to meet your chemical, physical, microbiological and claim support needs.

• Skinobs
France
Tel: +33(0)630089098
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Website: www.skinobs.com
Testing Specialties: Analytical tests, toxicology regulatory, tolerance, use tests, ex vivo, in vitro and in vivo efficacy, sensory analysis for skin care, body care, solar, capillary and makeup.

• Solar Light Company, Inc.
Glenside, PA
Tel: (215) 517-8700
Fax: (215) 517-8747
Email: [email protected]
Website:  www.SolarLight.com 


• Validated Claim Support
Teaneck, NJ
Tel: (201) 331-9300
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.validatedcs.com
Testing Specialties: SPF/UVA, safety and patch, claims and efficacy, photography