ABSTRACT
Not all skin is the same. This is one of the key challenges in the treatment of dermatologic
disease and successful global cosmetic formulation. The same skin disease can look very
different in Caucasian versus African American skin. The pigmentation problems common
in Asian skin are not seen in northern Europeans. The effects of aging are much different in
men versus women. Adolescents are more likely to develop acne in response to product
use than mature individuals. Persons with easy flushing experience stinging and burning in
response to product application more frequently. Thus, issues of ethnicity, skin color, age,
gender, and skin sensitivity must be considered when formulating skin care products for a
global market. This chapter discusses these important formulation issues.
