If you are in the personal care business, you know consumers are smart—they compare prices, read reviews on product performance and seek out information on ingredient safety. The current pandemic has changed and amplified many of these habits. Some are taking a hard look at their expenditures as job loss and insecurity looms, and others are taking an even greater interest in a product’s efficacy and safety.

Pandemic or not, it’s up to you to convince consumers to buy your CBD facial mask, long-wear lipstick or soothing hand sanitizer —and testing service providers hold the keys to your success by delivering independent confirmation of claims that hold sway over shoppers.

At the Ready

Leading testing providers have been investing in their business during the past year, and with the onset of COVID-19, they have also implemented additional measures and protocols designed to keep both employees and panelists safe.

BioScreen Testing Services, an ALS Global Company, has invested in numerous upgrades including six multiport solar simulators.

“This required hiring and training for numerous staff to expand our photobiology throughput, and we are continuing to expand in that area,” Adam Rope told Happi. In addition, BioScreen acquired the Colorface from NewTone, a state-of-the-art imaging system that provides full face acquisition with no chin rest or forehead prongs. According to Rope, superior resolution and images can be accessed by clients in real time. Replication of the images from one interval to the other is also improved due to the fact that subjects do not move to re-adjust for different angles as the camera moves around the subjects.

Further, Rope said BioScreen is investing in a new clinical site to increase and expand its overall capacity and recruitment needs.

According to Rope, demand is growing in ophthalmologic safety claims (think “safe for use around the eyes” and “no tears”) as well consumer perception studies, fueled by anti-aging.
“We’ve seen a lot of testing for hand sanitizers, we’re performing time kill studies, Alcohol assays and testing for methanol contamination on a weekly basis,” he added.

Tracey L. Baubie, president/CEO at Comprehensive Research Group, Inc. (CRG), said her company made significant hires in 2019, adding clinical associates, clinical coordinators, technical imagers and a wide variety of medical personnel.

“We also expanded our facility space adding an additional 2000 square feet, providing a fourth CRG clinical facility large enough to accommodate a multitude of clinical studies, including safety-in-use tests, claims or efficacy studies for skin, hair or infant care. Because this fourth facility runs contiguous with our existing facilities, it will also help ensure that we can satisfy those studies and clients who demand large, complex clinical trials,” she said.

Baubie said last year’s new hires and facility expansion made CRG “nimble enough to offer a wide range of clinical and professional services with facility space sufficient to manage clinical studies in the midst of COVID-19.”

Baubie told Happi that CRG has seen an uptick in fragrance and malodor assessments for a variety of personal care products, including deodorants and body washes.

“In the midst of COVID-19, we have had to get very creative in terms of how to conduct ‘live’ fragrance and malodor assessments, while ensuring that everyone—the subjects and expert assessors alike—remains safe. With a fair amount of creativity, ingenuity and consultation with our medical advisors, we have been able to implement critical safeguards, while ensuring the study and data integrity.”

Further, she said there is growing industry interest in creating new over-the-counter products for chronic skin and scalp conditions such as dry scalp/dandruff and eczema.

“While these areas of interest are certainly not ‘new,’ there does seem to be some renewed interest in new technologies and developing better products aimed at improving skin/scalp health for both of these specialized populations,” she said, noting that CRG has a leading expert ASFS (adherent scalp flaking score) grader and a panel of nearly 1000 people with dry scalp/dandruff.

“Our Minnesota climate, of course, gives us a helping hand when it comes to finding individuals with dry scalp or skin studies. The same is true for persons who suffer from eczema. We have been building a panel of eczema sufferers for several years now, and we are pleased that this appears to be a renewed interest by some of the industry players,” she said.

New Investments

Consumer Product Testing Company, Inc., Fairfield, NJ, has created a new laboratory space for its expanded in-vitro safety department.

“With the advent of the new in-vitro method and their acceptance in most of the world, this was a necessity,” said Craig R. Weiss, co-CEO and president.

According to Weiss, through 2020, the main requests for efficacy and safety testing have remained fairly constant, with change coming more so in the types of products to be tested.

“In the beginning of the year, there was a tremendous amount of CBD/hemp oil testing for our chemistry and clinical departments. As the year moved on, we have seen more hand sanitizer requested than ever before,” Weiss said, noting that there has also been a greater need for hard surface Disinfectant testing, too.

AMA Laboratories reports that it has invested in imagery and photo analysis services, including what it calls a unique “retro” study time point.

“We have extensive experience in documenting thousands of faces utilizing our matched scientific photography. Now, for the first time ever we are able to offer a unique photographic technique spanning over a decade of trials for age comparison studies,” explained Neil A. Zimbaldi A.C.E., multimedia design coordinator. According to Zimbaldi, adding RetroGrammetrix to a study not only tracks how a panelist has aged, but also documents exactly how much younger than the original baseline results their skin appears after using a product.

“You will have the ability to accurately to claim ‘... appears XX years younger.’ A real anti-aging tool employing non-invasive, non-contact technology, which is digitally certified unretouched,” he said.

In the area of claim substantiation, there has been a significant increase in long-wear cosmetic claims, “as well as test requests for products containing CBD for almost every claim possible,” said Zimbaldi.

And, SPF and RIPT testing are “always trending,” he added.

“There continues to be a push from the European Industry for alternative SPF testing methods (in-vitro, hybrid diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and in-silico methods). Also, inquiries regarding blue light (HEV) and visible light (VIS) testing continue to increase in popularity. Some industry experts have started discussing the potential impact of visible light on laboratory generated SPF numbers,” said Zimbaldi.

RCTS, Inc., Irving, TX, has installed the EvaFace 3-D Imaging System, which provides high-resolution images of both small facial skin areas as well as the full face to analyze changes of features such as wrinkles, roughness and volume (e.g., lips, under eye puffiness, sagginess) with micrometer accuracy.

“The new system allows RCTS to offer a broader and more detailed range of testing services for the benefit of its sponsors as it relates to the efficacy of their skin care products, said Michael Rozen. “Eotech 3D skin imaging systems are well-established in Europe and the new EvaFACE system at RCTS marks an addition to the availability of these systems in the US to answer to the needs of organizations sourcing clinical dermatological safety and efficacy testing services.”

According to Rozen, RCTS has strong clinical safety and efficacy testing programs, and “bookings in both of these have remained steady over the past year.”

There is c-suite news at InVitro International, which hired a new president, Atul Jhalani. The company also added laboratory personnel and invested new resources to help fuel the growth that executives expect from the adoption of its Ocular Irritection (OI) test by OECD (TG 496), making it the only 100% non-animal ocular test adopted by OECD.

“This increased level of scientific credibility and legal protection, along with emphasis on 24-48-hour eye/skin irritancy test results and lowest cost, has been well received by customers and laboratory partners globally,” said InVitro International CEO Rich Ulmer. “Conversing with our cosmetic and personal care product customers in 2020, it was clear that there is an increased importance to cutting testing time and costs. Getting to market a month earlier enables them to either beat anticipated competition (e.g. cleaning, sanitizing products), or to realize sales ahead of budgeted financials. A bigger deal today than ever before.”

In terms of non-animal testing volume of requests, Jhalani said InVitro International is receiving a significantly higher number of requests from the adhesives industry, along with many applications in cosmetics, personal care and home care industries.

“The in vitro testing future looks very bright—even in the face of COVID-19,” he said. “The pandemic has made it hard for companies to conduct RIPT testing due to the need for human volunteers. We have been available for testing throughout this pandemic and provide results in less than a week compared to several weeks from other technologies. Savvy customers shifted to in vitro testing in lieu of RIPT.”

According to Ulmer, the pandemic has resulted in numerous sanitizing products being introduced in the home care sector and there were increased irritancy complaints from these new products. InVitro International, he said, “provided faster results compared to any other testing technology for skin care products, leading to a month or two faster introductions. This is a big advantage in today’s environment.”

Validated Claim Support, Teaneck, NJ, has “effectively tripled” the size of its skin care claims department to accommodate social distancing requirements, and invested in secondary engineering and temperature/humidity controls throughout its retrofitted clinical lab space, according to executives who spoke with Happi.

“We’ve seen a dramatic trend toward using less chemically-derived sunscreens, thanks in no short supply to the ongoing publications about sunscreen ingredients entering the bloodstream through the skin courtesy of FDA,” Jane Tervooren, vice president, business development, Validated Claim Support, told Happi. “This coincides with the larger industry trend of going ‘back to basics’ with less preservatives and more naturally-sourced raw materials and actives, from a formulation perspective, this presents lots of new headaches, as there has been a boatload of money spent on film formers and emulsifiers that make products softer, smoother and silkier on the skin. Couple that with the vast indoctrination of micronized and nano active particle sizes and you have a slew of new and exciting variables and challenges that come across our lab bench on the clinical side.”

According to Elisabeth Fiquet, president, Evalulab hired a programmer who has improved and developed specific algorithms able to extract quantitative information from standardized images taken with Visia-CR Imaging System, such as pores detection and quantification. The company also developed a setup along with standard operating procedures for hands and feet photographing.

The main service requests at Evalulab during the past year include safety tests such as HRIPT, SPF testing as well as non-comedogenic tests, according to Fiquet.

Clean Sweeps

“Clean” beauty is trending across personal care sectors, and as more marketers lean in, testing providers are addressing their needs.

“We have seen some marked increased requests for testing to support free-from claim requests, while this would appear to be a formulation-based claim, it must be verified chemically, because without good verification, you are open to class action litigation. When you verify a free-from claim it is of the upmost importance to do so with the most sensitive method possible, like mass spectroscopy,” said Weiss of Consumer Product Testing Company.

“Customers are increasingly looking for ‘clean’ formulations that are tested with non-animal technologies. Cosmetic and personal care product marketers know they get to market quicker and at lower costs. Globally, consumers of in vitro tested products know they support ‘caring companies’ that have chosen to avoid making ‘animals’ suffer,” noted Ulmer. He pointed to the changing legal landscape, such as a recently passed law in Colombia that prohibits on the sale of new cosmetics tested on animals starting in 2024.

“Colombia took the lead in Latin America and joined a growing list of 40 countries and several US states, including California, Illinois and Nevada, that have already implemented similar bans starting in 2020. Our unwavering commitment to minimize animal suffering is finally getting the attention it deserves worldwide,” he concluded.

“Clean or organic products are really supported as a formulation claim based on the ingredient components and supply chain. Accordingly, this is not something that can be outright clinically tested. That said, with regard to sunscreens in particular, recently there has been a major push for ‘natural’ ingredients which include zinc and titanium dioxide. Interestingly enough, based on their mineral/metallic composition these are actually classified as ‘inorganic’ sunscreen filters which can sound somewhat contradictory to consumers and laypeople. The more ‘naturally derived’ the sunscreen is, the ‘less organic’ it technically is, at least from a classification of ingredients perspective,” noted Tervooren of VCS.

According to BioScreen’s Rope, clean is driving growth in two areas at his company.

“In analytical we’ve seen more testing for Prop 65 type contaminates like heavy metals, 1,4 dioxane, and formaldehyde. In clinical this is more of a consumer perception issue that we can offer focus groups for or general survey studies,” he said.

For Baubie of CRG, demographics will keep demand steady for clean products.

“We expect the drive for cleaner and greener products will continue as long as Generations Y and Z are major market influencers with their heightened concern for the environment and their desire to move to cleaner, more natural products, all with a similar beauty regime,” she said.

Baubie said CRG’s approach to testing “clean” products is no different from its approach to testing more traditional cosmetic and personal care products.

“As a CRO, we want to remain blinded, so we do not bias the outcome— even inadvertently. Our job is to make sure we recruit the desired population, in the required quantity, and then follow the protocol requirements with precision so we can deliver reliable, verifiable data on time,” she said.

“New trends always mean new testing, as well as retesting of products,” said Weiss about the clean beauty trend. “In this case particularly, clients often focus their attention and efforts toward reformulating existing products and conducting comparisons thereafter versus their own previous formulas.”

Whether it is for a new launch or tweaking an existing formulation, brands must back their claims and insure performance and safety with adequate testing.

Looking for a testing provider? You can find a list of companies starting on p. 62. 

Assisting Indies • Indie brands continue to push the personal care space by way of innovative products and unique concepts. While a firm may have been tied to a tight budget, cutting corners when it comes to testing is ill-advised. Testing experts want to help. “Small, indie brands often have game-changing ideas on a shoestring budget. We realize this and try to accommodate them by suggesting they develop a sharp focus on the claims most important to their marketing goals. By doing so, we can help develop a cost-effective study design,” said Tracey Baubie of CRG. “Often, more than one design approach exists to achieve the claim support they need. In those cases, we counsel them on the costs associated with each approach and help guide them to a design that better fits their budget.” Her advice: think through the claim objective and prepare a clear, concise written statement of that objective (e.g., what specific question do you want to answer?) “A well-stated objective drives the design. While it is tempting to try to answer every question in a single study, a narrower focus is less expensive and often more beneficial to claim substantiation,” she said. “The more we are able to clarify the objectives and processes to be performed, the more we are better able to meet the sponsoring company’s research goals and budgets. This is true of indie brands and global companies, alike.”  “We love start-ups, indie brands and mom-and-pop shops. These are people who pour their heart and soul into products which have extra meaning to them,” noted Neil Zimbaldi of AMA, which offers free feasibility screening to all new clients. “It’s a small gesture that may ultimately give reassurance and direction to the client before a formal trial is conducted,” said Zimbaldi. BioScreen’s Adam Rope also acknowledged the financial constraints that indies are under. “Tight budgets are always an issue, especially when it comes to clinical testing. The best advice I have is to be really sure what your #1 and #2 most important claims are and we’ll work with you to focus on those. There are also ways to consolidate testing for more than one product into a single study to make it more cost effective,” he said. “I would recommend indie brands focus on key tests that will give them credit and allow them to make a difference. Some clinical studies can provide a lot of useful and recognized information in terms of safety of efficacy, without being expensive,” noted Evalulab’s Elisabeth Fiquet. “New companies usually screen multiple formulations and want to keep their costs down. Our dermal and ocular irritation tests are the lowest cost and fastest testing methods available for such brands. Now, indie brands can get to market faster and address the “cruelty free” demands of their socially-conscious customers,” said Jhalani of InVitro International. According to Jane Tervooren of Validated Claim Support, preliminary safety testing goes a long way.  “A lot of major marketplaces are cracking down on distribution channels, and we’ve been receiving many requests about Amazon’s new safety policies for consumer products. HRIPT is an excellent and industry recommended means for demonstrating your product’s safety on a budget. When in doubt, a set of high resolution before and after images can also significantly help differentiate a product in an ever-competitive online marketplace.  As more people shop from home, compelling images can capture their attention and their allotted skin care budgets, much more effectively than a clever slogan or fancy packaging,” she said. Craig Weiss of Consumer Product Testing was blunt about the need for safety testing. “There is a necessity for the assurance of safety for your product and that needs to be of primary importance,” he insisted.

Testing Services Directory

Below is a list of testing service providers that serve the beauty, personal care and home care categories.
For more information, contact each company directly.

• Allergisa
Av. Dr Romeu Tortima, 452 – Campinas, SP, Brazil
+55 19 3789 8616
Email:  internacional@grupoinvestiga.com
Website:  www.allergisa.com

• Alliance Technologies, LLC
Monmouth Junction, NJ
Tel: (877) 962-5993
Fax: (732) 438-8265
Email: info@alliancetechgroup.com
Website: www.alliancetechgroup.com
Testing Specialties: Alliance Technologies is a full service, DEA-licensed, and FDA-registered and audited contract laboratory offering a wide range of chemical analysis and material testing services to a diverse, international client base. Our expertise and years of experience enable us to select the correct analytical approaches and generate the accurate data needed to solve your toughest problem.

• AMA Laboratories, Inc.
New City, NY
Tel: (845) 634-4330
Fax: (845) 634-5565
Email: info@amalabs.com
Website: www.amalabs.com
Testing Specialties: AMA Laboratories conducts state-of-the-art testing in RIPT/Safety, Infrared Testing (IRPF), SPF Determinations, Claim Substantiation with Biophysical Measurements, In-Vitro Studies and unique Matched Scientific Photography (MSP) using AMA’s PhotoGrammetrix (PhGx) System. Advanced studies can enhance documented final report data with our PolyChrommetrix (PcMx) 3D modeling plus corporate and advertising video capabilities. The AMA system offers a proprietary concept of scientifically acquired, non-invasive “before and after” images which can be electronically measured. This unique system allows for matched high resolution photographs to be directly incorporated into our clients’ advertising and marketing materials for a truly sensational presentation format.

• Ametek Brookfield
Middleboro, MA
Tel: (508) 946-6200
Email: MA-MID.info@ametek.com
Website: www.brookfieldengineering.com

• Beta Analytic Inc.
Miami, FL
Tel: (305) 667-5167
Email: lab@radiocarbon.com
Website: www.radiocarbon.com
Testing Specialties: Bio-based content and natural products testing services; high-quality results in only 5-7 business days (faster service available) under standards that include ASTM D6866, CEN 16137, EN 16640, ISO 16620, ISO 19984. Results can be accessed online 24/7 including QA reports and sample photos.

• BioScreen Testing Services, Inc.
Torrance, CA
Tel: (310) 214-0043
Fax: (310) 370-3642
Email: info@bioscreen.com
Website: www.bioscreen.com
Testing Specialties: BioScreen Testing Services is a full service, GMP, human clinical, microbiology and analytical chemistry testing laboratory. BioScreen’s clinical services division conducts product safety and efficacy claim studies using a complete array of scientific instrumentation. The company also has sophisticated image capture and analysis software to provide the highest level of scientific image claim support. BioScreen’s clinical services include safety tests for irritation and sensitivity (HRIPT) on the skin and complete ophthalmologic safety tests. BioScreen specializes in customized studies to support product claims from moisturization, anti-aging, SPF and acne, to specialized scar, cellulite, esthetic and eyelash studies. Also offered are Asian subject panels and consumer use studies. BioScreen offers a complete array of analytical chemistry to serve OTC/cosmetic clients from raw material ingredients, sunscreen assay and heavy metals to photo stability, stability, and toxicological assessments. Our microbiological department conducts a compliment of specialized micro studies and ID methods plus more routine Preservative testing, microbial plate count, log reduction and bacteriostasis studies.

• Canfield Scientific, Inc.
Parsippany, NJ
Tel: (973) 434-1200 or (800) 815-4330
Email: info@canfieldsci.com
Website: www.canfieldsci.com

• Ceutical Laboratories, Inc.
Farmers Branch, TX
Tel: (972) 241-8374
Fax: (972) 241-0619
Email: info@ceuticallabs.com
Website: www.ceuticallabs.com

• Charles River
Charleston, SC
Tel: 877.CRIVER.1 (877-274-8371)
Website: www.criver.com

• Comprehensive Research Group, Inc.
Minneapolis, MN
Tel: (612) 781-3400
Email: tbaubie@crginc.org
Website: crginc.org
Testing Specialties: For over 20 years, CRG has provided quality data to personal and beauty care manufacturers. We provide superior subject recruitment, study execution and data collection for product development, efficacy and claims. We have extensive expertise in hair care, skin care, anti-aging treatments, antiperspirants/deodorants, baby care, grooming and safety-in-use testing.

• Consumer Product Testing Company, Inc.
Fairfield, NJ
Tel: (973) 793-8069
Email: sales@cptcplabs.com
Website: www.cptclabs.com
Testing Specialties: CPTC has provided a full service GMP/GLP/GCP testing laboratory for the cosmetic, personal care, medical device, pharmaceutical and specialty chemical markets. Our capabilities include services in the clinical safety and efficacy, chemistry/microbiology/stability, photobiology, in-vitro toxicological fields and consultation. Our focus is on providing “Conception to Completion” service. We are proud to announce the addition of “Gluten Free” testing, FDA Import Detention testing and new “Bundle” pricing on Predictive Patch, Preservative and Ocular Irritation studies.

• Cutech Srl
Padova, Italy
Tel: +39 049 870 2225
Fax: +39 049 762 8533
Email: marco.massironi@cutech.it
Website: www.symselect.com/cutech
Testing Specialties: Cutech specializes in pre-clinical screening services for hair and skin. To provide best suitable and reasonable results, we work with different screening models: Full thickness ex vivo human skin, Microdissected human hair follicles and sebaceous glands, skin and hair follicle cell cultures.

This approach allows streamlining into clinical/performance trials, reducing investment-risk into false-negative leads, and increasing success rate. We provide testing services to investigate into exposome induced skin aging, like photoaging UV and VL, pollution and oxidation, processes like changes in skin pigmentation, inflammation and skin regeneration. In addition we provide screening services dedicated to hair growth, hair pigmentation, stress to hair as well as sebum and fat modulation.

• Dermscan Group
Lyon, France
Tel: +33(0) 472 823 656
Email: commercial@dermscan.com
Website: www.dermscan.com
Testing Specialties: Dermscan is the reference in clinical trials of cosmetics and pharmaceutical products since 1990 and also realize pre-clinical in vitro tests in GLP certified laboratory. ISO 9001:2015 certified, its facilities in France, Poland, Tunisia, Thailand, Mauritius and international partnerships, provide them multi ethnic panels for standard or complex multiparametric studies.

• EAG Laboratories
San Diego, CA
Tel: (877) 709-9526
Website: www.eag.com

• Eurofins|CRL, Inc.
371 Hoes Lane Suite 100
Piscataway, NJ 08854 USA
Tel: (732) 981-1616
Fax: (732) 981-0520
Email: info@crlresearchlabs.com
Website: www.CRLResearchLabs.com
Testing Specialties: Eurofins|CRL, Inc. is dedicated to providing a wide range of in-vitro and in-vivo clinical safety and efficacy testing to the cosmetic, beauty, personal care, and pharmaceutical industries. We focus our clinical expertise in the areas of Safety/Clinical Trials, Claims/Bioinstrumentation, Photobiology, Microbiology, Ophthalmology, Pediatrics, Consumer Research, Product Procurement, Binding, and Distribution, Cosmetology, Dental, Gynecology, and associated services. Eurofins|CRL, Inc. combines a highly skilled technical staff with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities located in New Jersey, North Carolina and Texas. We are committed to providing cost-effective testing of the highest quality, combined with timely scheduling, comprehensive final reports, and a commitment to customer service. Our management and staff will work individually with each client to develop a customized safety and efficacy testing program that meets the client’s individual study goals within their specific budgetary requirements. Our uncompromising standard of excellence in clinical study execution is the foundation of our commitment to our valued clients.

• Evalulab Inc.
Montreal, QC, Canada
Tel: 514-343-0001
Sales: ywada@evalulab.com
Website: www.evalulab.com
Testing Specialties: Established for 20 years, Evalulab is a Contract Research Organization that offers standard and customized testing services to evaluate the safety, the performance and the consumer preference of skin care, cosmetics, personal care products as well as medical devices and raw materials. The laboratory is certified ISO 9001:2015 and provides clinical studies that comply with ICH- GCP guidelines, FDA and Health Canada regulations. Our expert reports are a reliable source for substantiation of product claims.

• Genemarkers, LLC
Kalamazoo, MI
Tel: (844) 220-6231
Email: info@genemarkersllc.com
Website: www.genemarkersllc.com
Testing Specialties: Genemarkers specializes in genomic testing to optimize product development and validate efficacy. Core services include genotyping, gene expression and microRNA profiling. Genemarkers uses the gold standard in genomics testing technology to identify the biological mechanisms of action of raw materials and finished products. Tests can usually be completed from start to finish in as little as 4-6 weeks. Findings from the study are provided via a comprehensive, easy-to-understand report.

• Harrison Research Laboratories, Inc.
Union, NJ
Tel: (908) 688-7600
Fax: (908) 688-7601
Website: www.hrlabs.us.com

• Hill Top Research Incorporated
St. Petersburg, FL
Tel: (727) 344-7602
Email: info@hill-top.com
Website: www.hill-top.com

• Idea Tests Group
Martillac, France
Tel: +33 556 64 82 33
Contact: Frederic Nunzi
Email: f.nunzi@groupeideatests.com
Website: www.groupeideatests.com
Testing Specialties: Idea Tests Group specializes in the evaluation of cosmetic and personal care products for both ingredients and final formulations. Idea Tests Group provides a holistic approach and a wide range of services: in vitro OECD toxicology, efficacy, and microbiology tests, clinical studies to assess tolerance and efficacy, regulatory expertise to support your specific situation, in vitro and in vivo sun care product testing. With seven evaluation centers Idea Tests Group provides its services to customers all over the world.

• Impact Analytical
Midland, MI
Tel: (855) 206-0338
Fax: (989) 486-9429
Email: info@impactanalytical.com
Website: www.ImpactAnalytical.com

• IRSI - International Research Services, Inc.
Port Chester, New York
(914) 937-9483, 1-800-548-0158
Email: info@irsi.org, sschwartz@irsi.org
Website: www.irsi.org

• InVitro International
Placentia, CA 92870
Tel: (800) 246-8487, (949) 851-8356
Fax: (949) 851-4985
Email: invitro@invitrointl.com
Website: www.invitrointl.com
Testing Specialties: Irritection Assay System (IAS) for ocular and dermal irritation. Ocular Irritection (TG 496) is the only 100% animal free OECD adopted ocular test. Corrositex (TG 435) classifies dermal corrosivity into U.N. Packing Groups and their GHS equivalents with 96+% accuracy, according to OECD. Least cost and fastest testing with results in 24 to 48 hours.

• MB Research Laboratories
Spinnerstown, PA
Tel: (215) 536-4110
Fax: (215) 536-1816
Email: customerservice@mbresearch.com
Website: www.mbresearch.com
Testing Specialties: MB Research Labs has been dedicated to conducting cosmetic and personal care safety assessments for over 40 years. Specialized services include, but are not limited to, in vitro dermal and eye irritation, dermal sensitization, and phototoxicity. An award-winning recognized leader in the development and use of in vitro/alternative toxicology.

• McCrone Group
Westmont, IL
Tel: (630) 887-7100
Website: www.mccroneassociates.com

• Micro Quality Labs Inc.
(MQL Inc.)
Burbank, CA
Tel: (818) 845-0070
Fax: (818) 845-0030
Website: www.microqualitylabs.com
Testing Specialties: Micro Quality Labs is an ISO 17025 certified lab, established in 2003 and offers a comprehensive range of contract testing services to the cosmetic, nutritional, pharmaceutical, OTC and household products industries. Services include analytical, stability testing (ICH guidelines), heavy metals, microbiology, method development and validation, environmental testing, Water testing, pesticides/USP, 1,4 dioxane, amino acid testing and phthalates.

• Princeton Consumer Research
Princeton, NJ
Tel: (609) 455-1112
Fax: (609) 580-1393
Email: Kirstiemaguire@princetonconsumer.com
Website: www.princetonconsumer.com
Testing Specialties: Princeton Consumer Research is a global consumer product testing company specializing in safety, efficacy and acceptability studies. PCR focuses on the cosmetic, skin, beauty, personal care and baby care industries. Their global headquarters in Princeton, NJ and their site in St. Petersburg, FL have the largest environmentally controlled rooms and hot rooms in the US. PCR also has two additional sites in the UK, and a site in Winnipeg, Canada. Plans include expansion to Asia and Brazil in the future.

• Product Integrity Laboratory LLC
Landing, NJ
Tel: (973) 770-7707
Fax: (973) 770-7711
Email: info@prodinteglab.com
Website: www.prodinteglab.com
Technical services: Product development and formulation, quality control and quality assurance, regulatory compliance, production troubleshooting.

• Q Laboratories, Inc.
Cincinnati, OH
Tel: (513) 471-1300
Fax: (513) 471-5600
Email: mgoins@qlaboratories.com, office@qlaboratories.com
Website: www.qlaboratories.com
Testing Specialties: An FDA registered, cGMP/GLP compliant, ISO/IEC 17025 accredited analytical chemistry and microbiology laboratory. Services include: Method development and validation, microbial detection and enumeration, microbial identification, active ingredient analysis, raw material qualification, Antimicrobial efficacy analysis and stability studies.

• Qualimax LLC
Ridgefield NJ
Tel: 201-313-3353
Email (for customer inquiries): ferial@qualimaxllc.com
Website: www.qualimaxllc.com
Testing Specialties: Qualimax, LLC is independent, FDA registered, inspected, and GMP laboratory. Qualimax, LLC, is an ultimate outsourcing laboratory providing accurate, reliable, on time, and cost-effective results for analytical needs, including microbial clearance, and challenge test. Qualimax LLC is equipped with automated GC, HPLC, FTIR, UV, TOC Analyzer, Karl Fischer and others.

• RCTS, Inc.
Irving, TX
Tel: 469-200-5140
Email: mrozen@rctslabs.com
Website: rctslabs.com
Testing Specialties: Safety: Dermatologist Tested, Pediatrician Tested, Gynecologist Tested, Ophthalmologist Tested, Acnegenicity. Patch Tests: HRIPT, Comedogenicity, Cumulative Irritation, Acute Irritation. Eye Safety: Ocular Irritation. Efficacy: Clinical Photography: UV, White Light, Polarized light (VISIA-CR), 3D Image Analysis (EvaFace), : Fine Lines/Wrinkles, Skin Integrity, Moisturization, Dryness, Oiliness. Self Assessment Questionnaires. Data Management, Statistical Analysis

• SGS
Fairfield, NJ
Tel: (973) 575-5252
Fax: (973) 575-7175
Email: uscts.inquiries@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/cosmetics
Testing Specialties: SGS is an independent partner with global testing facilities, that offers turnkey and innovative solutions to help you improve the safety, efficacy and quality of your products throughout the entire product lifecycle. Our experts specialize in the cosmetics, personal care and household industry. Services include clinical studies for safety and efficacy claim support and chemical, physical, microbiological, stability, toxicology, and packaging testing.

• Skinobs Platforms
France
Tel: +33(0)630089098
Email: contact@skinobs.com, acharpentier@skinobs.com
Website: www.skinobs.com
Testing Specialties: Analytical tests, toxicology regulatory, tolerance, use tests, ex vivo, in vitro and in vivo efficacy, sensory analysis for skin care, body care, solar, capillary and makeup.

• Solar Light Company, Inc.
Glenside, PA
Tel: (215) 517-8700
Fax: (215) 517-8747
Email: info@solarlight.com
Website: www.SolarLight.com

• Validated Claim Support
Teaneck, NJ
Tel: (201) 331-9300
Email: info@validatedcs.com
Website: www.validatedcs.com
Testing Specialties: VCS specializes in claims and efficacy support, novel protocols and Validated Clinical Photography adhering to COVID-19 safety guidelines. Our clinical photographer has over 20 years’ experience highlighting unique product attributes through imaging and analysis. We are open and fully operational, and have implemented numerous custom processes to ensure the safety of our staff and subjects. VCS is FDA Registered and last inspected 24 Aug 2020, and follows a custom developed GMP, GCP, & GLP hybrid Quality Management System.