Daily Cosmetic Research Analysis
Three studies advance sustainable and safety-conscious cosmetic science: an open-source, solar-powered chromatography–bioassay platform for non-target safety analysis of cosmetics; a microfluidic-ultrasonic route to generate surfactant-free emulsions; and a human study quantifying water use when rinsing shampoos/conditioners by hair characteristics. Collectively, they point to greener product development and more objective, field-deployable testing.
Summary
Three studies advance sustainable and safety-conscious cosmetic science: an open-source, solar-powered chromatography–bioassay platform for non-target safety analysis of cosmetics; a microfluidic-ultrasonic route to generate surfactant-free emulsions; and a human study quantifying water use when rinsing shampoos/conditioners by hair characteristics. Collectively, they point to greener product development and more objective, field-deployable testing.
Research Themes
- Sustainable, open-source analytical platforms for cosmetic safety
- Surfactant-free emulsion engineering via microfluidics and ultrasound
- Water footprint and rinsability metrics for hair care products
Selected Articles
1. Consolidating two laboratories into the most sustainable lab of the future: 2LabsToGo-Eco.
An upgraded, open‑source chromatography–bioassay system (2LabsToGo‑Eco) integrates 12 new elements, including solar power and automated sampling, to enable quantitative non‑target safety analysis. It drastically reduces cost, space, weight, and power demands and was demonstrated on cosmetics, personal care products, and foods.
Impact: This platform democratizes high‑throughput, non‑target safety screening of cosmetics with orders‑of‑magnitude lower resource needs, supporting greener regulatory and industrial workflows.
Clinical Implications: While not a clinical tool, faster non‑target safety screening can reduce consumer exposure to hazardous compounds in cosmetics/personal care products and support public health decisions.
Key Findings
- Introduces 12 new features (solar panels, autosampler, Mini‑Shaker, Nebulizer, Mini‑Incubator, enhanced imaging, electronic mainboard) in an open‑source system
- Reduces instrument investment cost ×35, starting capital ×18, weight ×12, infrastructure/bench space ×9, and power ×4 (×711 with solar)
- Demonstrated quantitative non‑target safety analysis for cosmetics, personal care products, and foods
- Enables mobile, on‑site testing and customization to prioritize hazardous unknowns
Methodological Strengths
- System-level engineering with quantified reductions in cost, footprint, and power
- Open-source design enabling reproducibility and broad adoption; demonstrated use on real product classes
Limitations
- Performance metrics (limits of detection, accuracy across diverse matrices) are not comprehensively detailed
- Field validation scope and sample numbers for cosmetic testing are not specified
Future Directions: Standardize analytical validation for regulatory acceptance, expand bioassay panels, and conduct multi-site field studies benchmarking against conventional labs.
2. Oil-in-water segmented flow in the optimized microfluidic system for surfactant-free ultrasonic emulsification.
A microfluidic pre‑processing device that uses a needle‑inserted glass capillary generates stable oil droplets without surfactants and, when coupled with ultrasonic emulsification, improves processing efficiency. This provides a precise and sustainable route to formulate emulsions for cosmetics and related fields.
Impact: Surfactant‑free emulsification directly addresses irritation/toxicity and environmental concerns in topical formulations, enabling greener cosmetic product development.
Clinical Implications: Although preclinical, surfactant‑free droplet generation may reduce skin irritation potential of topical products and support cleaner excipient profiles in dermatologic and cosmetic formulations.
Key Findings
- Needle‑inserted glass capillary channels produced stable oil droplets by increasing water affinity and minimizing oil–wall contact
- High‑speed imaging and image analysis quantified oil–water segmentation across three channel designs
- Pre‑fragmented droplets enhanced ultrasonic emulsification efficiency, offering a surfactant‑free alternative
Methodological Strengths
- Comparative evaluation of three microchannel architectures with quantitative imaging
- Integration with ultrasound demonstrates end‑to‑end feasibility for practical emulsification
Limitations
- Shelf‑life and droplet size distribution of final emulsions were not comprehensively reported
- No head‑to‑head comparison against standard surfactant‑based cosmetic formulations
Future Directions: Scale-up, integration into continuous manufacturing, and validation with real cosmetic actives/excipients, including safety and stability testing.
3. Understanding the water consumption associated with the use of hair care products: The impact of six hair characteristics on rinsing shampoos and conditioners.
In a 4‑month salon‑based study of 148 women, rinsing required on average 7.1 L for shampoos and 6.3 L for conditioners. Hair length and abundance increased water use, while thickness, curliness, dryness, and damage showed no significant effect, supporting rinsability as a key metric for product water footprints.
Impact: Provides a scalable methodology and benchmark data to quantify water use in the use phase of hair care products, informing eco‑design and consumer guidance.
Clinical Implications: May inform dermatologists’ counseling on sustainable hair care practices and guide development of low‑rinse formulations that reduce water use without compromising cleansing.
Key Findings
- Average water use: 7.1 L to rinse shampoos and 6.3 L for conditioners
- Hair length and abundance significantly increase rinsing water requirements
- Hair thickness, curliness, dryness, and damage do not significantly affect water use under the test conditions
- Trained hairdressers used dual endpoints (visual disappearance and clean touch) to standardize rinsing end‑point
Methodological Strengths
- Prospective, salon‑based testing with standardized pre‑wash and trained assessors
- Evaluation across six hair characteristics and 20 sessions over 4 months
Limitations
- Female participants only and a limited set of 10 shampoos/10 conditioners
- Potential assessor bias; results may vary with water pressure/temperature and geography
Future Directions: Validate across broader demographics and product types, include objective flow metering, and test low‑rinse formulations under varied water conditions.