Successful Skin Care Products Featuring Natural Ingredients: A Technical Perspective

Howard Epstein, Ph.D., EMD Electronics, Surface Solutions, Philadelphia, PA.

Abstract:

Successful marketing and sales of cosmetic products featuring natural ingredients requires more than a compelling story for the natural ingredient(s). Beyond certifications of recognized agencies that include Bio Cosmetique, Cosmos Natural/Organic, Ecovadis, and documentation ensuring the natural ingredient is authenticated, the ingredient must meet the consumer’s expectations. In the past it might have been sufficient to simply explain that the beneficial properties of natural ingredient(s) was associated with their antioxidant and nutritive properties.  Currently the “Super Food” trend is quite popular. While many of the natural ingredients used in skin care are consumed by people and provide nutritive benefits to the body, there may be less nutritive support for skin. To ensure the most skin-appropriate super food ingredient is used in a product various biological assay(s) can be used with relevant skin biomarkers that confirm beneficial activity for skin.  Finally, the efficacy of the ingredient should be confirmed with human clinical-type testing.  This presentation will discuss examples of natural ingredients including super foods that provide benefits for skin. The beneficial component(s) in the super food will be identified, a brief overview of relevant biological assays with relevant biomarkers used to identify the mechanism of activity and the human use testing protocol to confirm the benefits for skin will also be discussed.

Bio:

Howard Epstein is Director of Technical Services for EMD Electronics, Surface Solutions, Philadelphia, PA., an affiliate of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. He was a scholar in residence at the University of Cincinnati department of Dermatology and received his Ph.D. in Pharmacognosy from the Union Institute & University in Cincinnati, Ohio during that time. He has been in the cosmetics industry for many years since he began his career formulating cosmetics for Estee Lauder, Maybelline, Max Factor, Bausch & Lomb and Kao Brands. In addition to his interest in botanicals Howard previously served as editor of the Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Science and is a member of the International Academy of Dermatology. He is on the editorial board of the dermatological journals Clinics in Dermatology and SKINmed representing the cosmetics industry to dermatologists. Howard has authored chapters in various cosmetic technology textbooks including various chapters in Harry’s Cosmeticology and holds eight patents. He received the Maison G. deNavarre Medial Award in 2020, the society’s highest honor supporting the best interests of the cosmetics and personal care industry.

Location Details:

Encore! by Little Gem

187 N Marion St, Oak Park, IL 60301

Menu:

TBD

Schedule:

4:00 pm – Board Meeting (board members only)
5:30 pm – Cocktails & Networking
6:30 pm – Speaker Presentation
7:30 pm – Dinner