Safety assessment: a key step in all cosmetic product development, during which manufacturers and brands must demonstrate the safety of their formulas before putting them on the market. The first test performed during this stage is the patch test: acute in vivo skin tolerance testing (volunteers). Alone, or in combination with an in-use test, the patch test – which is generally applied on the participant’s back – is not suitable for all cosmetics.

PRODUCTS FOR USE ON MUCOUS MEMBRANES

The wide range of cosmetic products available to consumers includes formulations developed specifically for the most sensitive areas, the mucous membranes. Lip products, toothpastes, intimate care products, etc. are all applied on tissue zones with greater permeability; and therefore, a greater epidermal sensitivity. Therefore, in-vitro models have been developed to evaluate the tolerance of these products on specific mucous membranes.

TO DATE, BIO-HC HAS DEVELOPED 5 IN-VITRO TESTING MODELS FOR EVALUATING TOLERANCE:

– Gingival gels (gingival mucous membranes)

– Toothpastes (oral mucous membranes)

– Lip products (oral mucous membranes)

– Intimate care products (vaginal mucous membranes)

– Products applied nasally (nasal mucous membranes)

In this category, BIO-HC also offers skin and eye tolerance testing on reconstructed skin models and reconstructed human cornea respectively.