Daily Cosmetic Research Analysis
Methodological advances dominate today’s cosmetic research: a validated SkinCARE Questionnaire quantifies how skin health affects emotional wellbeing in healthy populations; a scale-robust 2D-DFT imaging method objectively measures hair fibre orientation from standard photos; and a mechanistic emulsion study delineates how phospholipid saturation and temperature co-govern interfacial organization and heat stability. Together, these works strengthen measurement, analysis, and formulation science
Summary
Methodological advances dominate today’s cosmetic research: a validated SkinCARE Questionnaire quantifies how skin health affects emotional wellbeing in healthy populations; a scale-robust 2D-DFT imaging method objectively measures hair fibre orientation from standard photos; and a mechanistic emulsion study delineates how phospholipid saturation and temperature co-govern interfacial organization and heat stability. Together, these works strengthen measurement, analysis, and formulation science in cosmetics.
Research Themes
- Psychodermatology and wellbeing measurement in healthy populations
- Objective imaging analytics for hair appearance
- Interfacial physics guiding cosmetic emulsion stability
Selected Articles
1. Development of the SkinCARE Questionnaire: Measuring the impact of skin issues on psychological wellbeing in healthy populations.
Using a split-sample EFA/CFA design in 1,184 adults, the SkinCARE Questionnaire yielded a validated 24-item, three-factor structure (Skin Social Impact, Skin Reactivity, General Confidence). Convergent validity was supported by associations between better skin-related wellbeing, better sleep, and lower perceived stress.
Impact: This is the first validated instrument tailored to healthy populations for assessing the emotional impact of skin health, enabling standardized outcomes in cosmetic and psychodermatology research.
Clinical Implications: Provides a standardized patient-reported outcome to evaluate cosmetic skincare effects on wellbeing and to guide counseling in aesthetic/dermatologic practice.
Key Findings
- Exploratory factor analysis identified a 24-item, three-factor structure: Skin Social Impact (16 items), Skin Reactivity (6), General Confidence (2).
- Confirmatory factor analysis supported the three-factor model in an independent split sample.
- Better skin wellbeing correlated with better sleep quality and lower perceived stress (assessed by SHI and PSS).
Methodological Strengths
- Large and ethnically diverse sample with split-sample EFA/CFA validation.
- Use of external constructs (Sleep Health Index, Perceived Stress Scale) to establish convergent validity.
Limitations
- Cross-sectional design limits causal inference and sensitivity-to-change assessment.
- One factor contains only two items, which may constrain reliability and content breadth.
Future Directions: Test longitudinal responsiveness, cross-cultural measurement invariance, and use the instrument to quantify wellbeing impact of cosmetic interventions and products.
2. Scale-robust fibre orientation analysis of hair using two-dimensional Fourier transform.
A 2D-DFT workflow quantifies principal orientation angle and anisotropy index from standard hair images and remains robust across image scales if individual fibres are distinguishable. This accessible method lays groundwork for objective hair appearance diagnostics and evaluation of cosmetic interventions.
Impact: Introduces a simple, reproducible imaging metric for hair orientation that can standardize outcomes in cosmetic diagnostics and research.
Clinical Implications: Enables objective pre/post assessments of hair treatments (e.g., anti-frizz, smoothing) and supports quantitative product claims in cosmetic practice.
Key Findings
- 2D-DFT with ellipse fitting provides principal orientation angle and anisotropy index from standard hair photographs.
- Performance is consistent across image resolutions when individual hair fibres are visually distinguishable.
- Method requires only basic computational processing, facilitating practical deployment.
Methodological Strengths
- Objective, quantitative framework with demonstrated scale-robustness.
- Human image dataset (n=120) and clear computational pipeline.
Limitations
- Validation limited to Japanese women; generalizability to other hair types/ethnicities untested.
- Local orientation analyses and correlation to subjective ratings or clinical endpoints were not evaluated.
Future Directions: Expand validation across diverse hair types, implement local orientation mapping, and correlate with sensory/clinical scales for utility in diagnostics.
3. Regulating the heat stability of protein-phospholipid stabilised oil-water emulsions by changing the phospholipid headgroup or fatty acyl chain.
Saturated phospholipids maintain β-LG at the interface below ~75 °C, promoting mixed protein–lipid networks with higher viscoelasticity and stability, whereas unsaturated PLs displace β-LG and favor bulk aggregation. At ≥75 °C, hydrophobic interactions dominate irrespective of PL type, and multilayer interfaces form at 90 °C.
Impact: Provides a mechanistic framework linking lipid saturation and processing temperature to interfacial organization and heat stability, directly informing robust cosmetic emulsion design.
Clinical Implications: Guides formulators to prefer saturated phospholipids and tailored heat processing to improve stability, texture, and shelf-life of cosmetic creams/lotions.
Key Findings
- Below β-LG denaturation (~≤75 °C), saturated PLs promote mixed protein–PL interfacial networks with enhanced viscoelasticity and stability.
- Unsaturated PLs displace β-LG from the interface, reducing elasticity and promoting protein aggregation in the bulk.
- At ≥75 °C, hydrophobic interactions dominate regardless of PL type; interfacial multilayers form at 90 °C; saturated PLs shift β-LG denaturation upward.
Methodological Strengths
- Multi-technique approach (ζ-potential, SAXS, μDSC, XRD, CLSM) linking interfacial composition to function.
- Clear mechanistic modeling of lipid saturation and temperature effects on stability.
Limitations
- Model systems using β-LG; translation to other proteins and full commercial formulations requires validation.
- No in vivo or consumer-level shelf-life/texture acceptance testing.
Future Directions: Extend to diverse proteins and commercial formulations, map phase behavior under industrial processes, and validate against long-term shelf-life/performance.