ABSTRACT
Most methods for testing the potential skin effects of consumer products rely on an objective evaluation of how the product affects the appearance of the skin, i.e., erythema, as scored on a predefined numerical scale. In contrast, the endpoints that consumers typically describe are subjective in nature and are an evaluation of the sensations the product causes them to experience, i.e., itchy, dry, rough, tight, etc. Even though these subjective sensory effects are the endpoints reported by the consumer and, therefore, arguably the most important, few test methods incorporate a means to leverage these endpoints.
