The procedure recommended in this practice can be used to assess the sensory appearance and tactile properties of lotions and creams or ointment.

This practice is applicable to product categories that include skin lotions and creams; facial moisturizers; hand lotions and creams; and skin care products for which the appearance and tactile properties need to be assessed.

Procedures of the type described herein may be used to communicate perceived sensory properties (appearance and feel) between manufacturers and to the consumer through the media. These guidelines are suggested to meet the need for ascertaining the performance of experimental or commercial samples.

These procedures are to be used by persons who have familiarized themselves with the procedures and have had previous experience with sensory evaluation.

This practice provides suggested procedures and is not meant to exclude alternate procedures that may be effective in providing sensory evaluation descriptions.

1.1 The objective of this practice is to provide procedures that may be used in the design and analysis of studies of skin care products that compare qualitatively and quantitatively various sensory attributes and their intensity (or strength) over time. These properties can then be used to define the performance of skin care products to provide direction in product formulation, research guidance, and claim substantiation.

1.2 Guidelines are provided for the definition of each product attribute or term, range of the rating scales, procedures for the manipulation of product alone and on the skin, selection and training of panelists, handling of products, and skin conditioning prior to tests.

1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.