Shower Gel Research Articles

Standing out while fitting in: An objective measure of visual branding cohesion across a product portfolio

This research develops a new metric (PBCM) that can identify products within a portfolio that are eroding visual branding cohesion. We show how this new measure gives results equivalent to consumer evaluations of cohesion, without costly and time intensive data collection. The sampling frame for this research is 10 portfolios from five categories (dry dog food, instant coffee, toothpaste, shower gel and chewing gum) in the United Kingdom. In addition, 626 consumers were surveyed to investigate how PBCM affects a consumer’s ability to match an individual product back to its portfolio and recall the brand name. We find that products from high cohesion portfolios have significantly higher (17%) correct brand recall than those from low cohesion portfolios and are matched back to their portfolio by more than twice as many respondents (79% v 35%), significantly faster (2.3 vs. 3.8 minutes).

Analysis of Product Claims on Natural Cosmetics Packages

Cosmetics package is not only a promotional element, but also part of a company’s marketing strategy. It is not only intended to protect the product, but its aim is also the communication of information to the consumer, because clear and understandable labelling of cosmetics is very important for their correct and safe use. This applies not only to obligatory information, but also to product claims, which manufacturers are keen to include on packages and in which there is growing interest among consumers. Unfortunately, a lot of abuse of product claims can be observed in the natural cosmetics industry. The aim of this article was to present the legal requirements for product claims and to assess these labels in terms of their content and the irregularities that occur. The research material consisted of 51 packages of natural shower gels. The methodology developed by Fowler, Reisenwitz and Carlson (2015), was used to assess the types of claims. The analysis identified 393 product claims, most of which, 155, were scientific claims. Unfortunately, there were irregularities in 186 of the identified claims, which mainly related to the lack of presentation of evidence to support the claims made.

No significant difference in skin contamination during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with and without preoperative skin cleaning.

This prospective study aimed to assess whether preoperative antiseptic skin cleansing reduces bacterial contamination and surgical site infections (SSI) following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). We hypothesized that antiseptic cleaning would lower bacterial load, reducing contamination and early infections. One hundred and nineteen patients scheduled for ACLR were included in this prospective, nonrandomized study. Individuals were divided into two groups. Patients in the intervention group applied octenisan® wash lotion daily for three days before surgery and used the wash solution instead of their usual shower gel. Additionally, they swiped their leg with octenisan® soaked gloves on the morning of the operation. The control group followed their usual wash routine with no specific instructions. Fluid samples were taken before surgery from the irrigation bag and at 15-min intervals from the reservoir of the sterile surgical drape during the procedure. Suture material used for the ACL graft and meniscus repair were also collected for testing. The samples were subjected to a 14-day incubation period. Follow-up included outpatient visits at 6 weeks, 12 weeks and 6 months with a final evaluation at 12 months. Contamination rates showed no significant difference between the control and intervention groups. The mean contamination rate in the control group was 6.4% (n = 22) and 6.6% (n = 24) in the intervention group (p = 0.28). At 12-month follow-up, 110 out of 119 participants were included (52 control, 58 intervention). T tests for age (p = 0.19), BMI (p = 0.66), and surgery duration (p = 0.38) showed no significant differences. No early SSI were observed in either group postoperatively. Our results indicate that the use of antiseptic wash lotion and gloves does not influence the risk of bacterial contamination during surgery. Level III.

Preparation of self-preserving personal care cosmetic products using multifunctional ingredients and other cosmetic ingredients

The development of self-preserving personal care cosmetics represents a significant advancement in the cosmetics industry, offering safer and more natural alternatives to consumers. This study focused on the preparation of such formulations using multifunctional ingredients along with other cosmetic components. Five unique multifunctional ingredients (MFIs) were identified based on their antimicrobial properties: sodium coco PG-dimonium chloride phosphate, ricinoleic acid, palmitoleic acid, raspberry ketone, and sorbitan caprylate. Through meticulous experimentation, 150 combinations of MFIs were prepared and tested to understand their synergistic actions. From these trials, three synergistic antimicrobial compositions were determined: sodium coco PG-dimonium chloride phosphate: ricinoleic acid: raspberry ketone in the ratios 1:6.3:6.3 and 1:6.3:15.7. Sodium coco PG-dimonium chloride phosphate: palmitoleic acid: sorbitan caprylate at a ratio of 1:12.5:37.5. These synergistic compositions exhibited enhanced antimicrobial efficacy compared with their individual components, as evidenced by their lower Minimum Inhibitory Concentration values. Incorporating these formulations into three distinct personal care cosmetic products, including a color protection shampoo, body wash shower gel, and skin-lightening cream, the study further validated their effectiveness. A Preservation Challenge Test study revealed that all three antimicrobial compositions successfully preserved the cosmetic formulations for up to 28 days. This method of product preservation not only ensures consumer safety and stability but also reduces the need for potentially conventional preservatives. In conclusion, the appropriate use of multifunctional ingredients in combination with meticulous formulation techniques has led to the successful development of self-preserving personal care cosmetics. These formulations offer a promising avenue for the cosmetic industry, catering to the rising demand for natural, effective, and consumer-friendly cosmetic products.

The Context Matters: Women's Experiences of Their Partner's Odor in Intimate and Sexual Encounters.

Research shows that male body odor plays an important role in women's mate choice and that olfactory abilities are associated with women's sexual functioning. What remains unclear is what types of partner's odor actually shape women's experience during intimate activities. This study therefore explored women's experience associated with the partner's various odors and investigated how they affect women's intimate and sexual encounters. We performed semi-structured individual interviews with 20 single women and 20 women in a long-term relationship. Thematic analysis revealed four key natural odor types of the partner: body odor, sweat, genital odor, and semen odor. Further, we have identified three main types of fragrance odor (cologne, shower gel, and laundry agents) and investigated their perception in both intimate (hugging, kissing, cuddling, lying side by side) and sexual (intercourse, oral sex, ejaculation) contexts. Both partner's natural odor and fragrance affected women's emotional state (ranging from pleasant to unpleasant) and behavioral response (ranging from approach to avoidance of partner). Women's odor perception was frequently context-dependent, so that even mostly negatively perceived odors (e.g., semen, genital odor) were often accepted as part of sexual encounter. Finally, women's perception was negatively modified by partner's specific sweat (after workday, workout, or when the partner is ill) during intimate encounters. Our results highlight the complexity and interindividual variability of partner's odor perception.

The presence of microplastics in personal care and cosmetic products (PCCPs) commonly used in Ho Chi Minh City

Microplastics pollution poses a global environmental challenge due to its well-documented effects on marine ecosystems and the food chain for humans. Personal care and cosmetic products (PCCPs), have the potential to be a source of microplastics, which directly contribute to aquatic microplastics pollution. This study investigated the presence of microplastics in widely used PCCPs in Ho Chi Minh City. The microplastics concentration in 21 samples of toothpaste, exfoliating products, facial cleansers, shower gels, and hand sanitizers were examined. The PCCPs samples were dissolved in boiling water and then filtered to separate microplastics. The chemical composition of polymers of extracted microplastics was determined using a Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) with ATR. We found that 14 PCCPs samples contained microplastics as an ingredient. Granular form microplastics were predominant in PCCPs. The largest size of microplastics was found in an exfoliating product (40-2,085μm), while the smallest size was observed in toothpaste (10-380μm). Acrylates copolymers were a common ingredient in the 14 PCCPs samples. Carbomer, polyethylene, and polyethylene glycol were only found in toothpaste samples. The research aims to regulate the components in different types of PCCPs in Vietnam to minimize microplastics discharge into the environment.

Synergetic Effects of Aloe Vera Extract with Trimethylglycine for Targeted Aquaporin 3 Regulation and Long-Term Skin Hydration.

Aquaporin 3 (AQP3) channels are tetrameric membrane-bound channels that facilitate the transport of water and other small solutes across cell membranes in the skin. Decreased AQP3 expression is associated with skin dryness, skin aging, psoriasis, and delayed wound healing. Thus, our study focused on a novel combination based on Aloe barbadensis leaf extract and trimethylglycine for targeted AQP3 regulation in skin keratinocytes and deep skin moisturization. Firstly, a dose-finding cytotoxicity assay of the selected substances was performed with a 2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) indicator on HaCaT cells. The substances' ability to increase the amount of AQP3 in keratinocytes was evaluated in a keratinocyte cell culture by means of ELISA. Additionally, the deep skin hydration effect was confirmed in clinical research with healthy volunteers. According to the results, the maximum tolerated doses providing viability at 70% (MTDs) values for Aloe barbadensis leaf extract and trimethylglycine were 24.50% and 39.00%, respectively. Following the research and development, a complex based on Aloe barbadensis leaf extract and trimethylglycine in a 1:1 mass ratio exhibited a good cytotoxicity profile, with an MTDs value of 37.90%. Furthermore, it was shown that the combination had a clear synergetic effect and significantly increased AQP3 by up to 380% compared to the negative control and glyceryl glucoside (p < 0.001). It was clinically confirmed that the developed shower gel containing Aloe barbadensis leaf extract and trimethylglycine safely improved skin hydration after one use and over 28 days. Thus, this novel plant-based combination has promising potential for AQP3 regulation in the skin epidermis and a role in the development of dermatological drugs for the treatment of skin xerosis and atopic-related conditions.

The Application of Pipette-Tip and Magnetic Dummy-Template Molecularly Imprinted Solid-Phase Extraction Coupled with High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Diode Array and Spectrofluorimetric Detection for the Determination of Coumarins in Cosmetic Samples

In this study, adsorbents based on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) in two solid-phase extraction application forms, pipette tip and magnetic extraction, were used for the selective extraction of coumarins. The pipette-tip solid-phase extraction reduced solvent volumes; the magnetic MIP extraction was simple and effective for phase separation. Parameters affecting extraction, such as the amount of adsorbent, type of washing solvent, volume of the elution solvent, and extraction times for magnetic extraction, were optimized. The MIP-based adsorbents displayed high selectivity and extraction efficiency, resulting in recoveries ranging from 70.3 to 102.0% (RSD % less than 5.5%) for five coumarins under study, 6,7-dihydroxycoumarin-6-β-D-glucoside, coumarin, 7-methoxycoumarin, 6-methylcoumarin, and dicoumarol. The extracts were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array (DAD) and fluorescence (FLD) detectors, reaching limits of quantification of 0.5 and 0.9 µg·mL−1 for coumarin and dicoumarol detected by DAD and 0.001–0.012 µg·mL−1 for the other prohibited simple coumarins when used as a fragrance (detected by FLD). The proposed method was validated and its applicability was shown for the analysis of cosmetic samples like shower gel and perfume.

Microbiological Quality Assessment of Skin and Body care Cosmetics by using Challenge test

Cosmetic products may be exposed to microbial contamination during storage or transport, and to avoid the risk of microbial growth, manufacturers add preservative compounds as a protection for the product from spoilage. The Microbial Challenge test is a procedure to evaluate the preservative efficacy by challenging the product with testing microorganisms to determine the quality of preservation. In this study, thirty-two cosmetics products used for body and skin care were collected from markets and pharmacies in Mecca region, these products are subjected to microbiological analysis, results show that most samples are contaminated except six samples. Non contaminated samples were subjected to European Pharmacopeia 7.0 standards. Results show that two samples, foaming gel and body and face cream are failed to demonstrate the required microbiocidal effect against the S.aureus test species, results recorded 1.21 x 105 and 6.80 x 105 (CFU/ml) respectively at the second day of incubation, other products: shower gel, hand wash, body lotion and shampoo demonstrate that required microbiocidal effect against the test species during day 2, 7, 14 until day 28th. The microbial count number is less than 10 during all incubation periods. To prevent contamination in cosmetics, manufacturers are required to add a good preservative system to the products and examine them before sale. Due to the high percentage of microbial contamination in cosmetics in Mecca region and for consumers safety, this study is prepared.

Clean, but not green: Emission assessment, forecast modelling and policy solutions for plastic microbeads from personal care products in India

Intentionally added plastic microbeads in personal care products (PCP) are an underestimated source of microplastics. These microbeads are added as fillers, to increase product volume or aesthetics and allegedly have the purpose of cleansing and exfoliation. To assess and forecast microbead emissions in India, this study analysed 45 items from four different categories of personal care products: face wash, face scrub, shower gel and body scrub available in the Indian market and determined microbead abundance, size, colour, shape and polymer composition. Also, an emission estimation and time-series-based forecast for 2030 was done using ARIMA (0,2,0) for individual categories and overall. The results indicate that 45.00 % of the products contained irregular or smooth microplastics, with Polyethylene being the dominant polymer, followed by Polypropylene, Polystyrene, Polyurethane and Polycaprolactone. A significant number of products (23.33%) contained cellulose microbeads, with ambiguity regarding their biodegradability. The identified microbeads were mainly irregular in shape and granular in texture, especially scrubs. White/transparent colour dominated the identified microbeads, followed by blue, pink, yellow, red and green. Approximately 1.34% of the total product contained plastic microbeads, with 5.04% and 0.04% being the highest and lowest percentages quantified. The average size of microbeads was found to be 640.74 μm, 452.45 μm, 556.66 μm and 606.30 μm in different categories. The overall annual emission estimation was 3.51 × 1019(highest), 2.14 × 1018(lowest) and 1.37 × 1019(average) in 2021 and forecasted to be 4.12 × 1019(highest), 2.52 × 1018(lowest) and 1.61 × 1019(average)in 2030. This exorbitantly high value is due to India's significant population, globalisation, inefficient wastewater efficiency, growing economy and disposable income. A lack of policies and adequate regulations further add to this. This study emphasises and recommends the development of stringent policies and other well-tailored mitigation measures for intentionally added microbeads in PCP in India. The study recommends some policy measures to curb this threat.

UV filters in everyday cosmetic products, a comparative study.

Today, UV filters are found as contaminants in a variety of biological fluids and environment, e.g. in vegetable crops and surface water. This is because UV filters are widely used in everyday products. In this context, we focused this study on cosmetic products, in order to assess the importance of this source of contamination. The study of 742 cosmetic products, excluding actual sunscreen products, but including hygiene, personal care and make-up products and perfumes revealed that the most common UV filters present are butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane (90 products or 12.1% of products tested), octyl methoxycinnamate (75 products or 10.1% of products tested), octocrylene (62 products or 8.3% of products tested), octyl salicylate (43 products or 5.8% of products tested) and titanium dioxide (33 products or 4.4% of products tested). Very few UV filters are found in the hygiene products (only in 12 shampoos/conditioners and in 2 shower gels) and deodorants and toothpastes are completely free of them. Conversely, make-up and perfumes are frequently formulated with at least one UV filter. Seventy-five of the two hundred and forty-four (or 30.7%) skincare products studied contained at least one UV filter. 49.1 of the makeup products studied and 74.3% of perfumes contained it.

Exploring the Optimal Extraction Conditions and Antibacterial Effects of Tea Polyphenols

Tea polyphenols are a general term for polyphenols in tea, which are a white amorphous powder that is easily soluble in water. It is well known that it has many functions, such as antioxidant activity, antibacterial activity, inhibitory enzyme activity and other physiological activities. And as a natural compound, tea polyphenols have good environmental friendliness, and as additives, they can help improve the current environmental pollution situation. Tea polyphenols have extensive application value in various industries, but there is currently a lack of research on their antibacterial properties when combined with daily chemical products. Due to the current lack of research in this area, this experiment used shower gel as an example to study the antibacterial effect of daily chemical products which are added tea extract. This article includes two experiments. One is study on the optimal extraction conditions for tea polyphenol, including two variables on temperature and extraction agent concentration. The other one is study on antibacterial effect of tea polyphenol, by combining variables on store temperature and concentration of tea extract solution, a total of 14 experimental conditions are set up, including the extract acting alone, and acting together with diluted shower gel, and the control group (water, diluted shower gel). The experimental study shows that the inherent content of tea polyphenols varies among different tea varieties and tea extracts is with good antibacterial properties. Generally speaking, the extraction effect at 80 degrees Celsius is significantly better than those at 50 degrees Celsius, and the content also changes with the extraction time. And tea extracts extracted with suitable extraction conditions shows the best antibacterial effect when diluted 100 to 200 times. This article aims to find better extraction methods and antibacterial effect, providing a new approach for the industrial application of tea polyphenols as natural bacteriostat.

Empowerment of Ranah Singkuang Village Cadres in Making Shower Gel from Organic Patin Bone Gelatin

This community engagement is an implementation of previous research in which organic gelatin was made from Patin bones extracted using pineapple water. Gelatin is a derivative of collagen, which is a type of protein found in skin, bones and muscles. The source of gelatin can be obtained from Patin bones, where Riau Province is a province that produces quite a lot of Patin in Indonesia, as a source of gelatin. Kampar Regency also has potential for developing pineapple commodities. It has an average production of 875 tons/hectare to 1.6 tons/hectare. This is the basis for using pineapple skin as a gelatin extractor from Patin bones, so that the gelatin obtained later is healthy organic extract gelatin. As a downstream product, it is used to make shower gel as one of the downstream gelatin products developed in community engagement in Ranah Singkuang.

Application of Citrus maxima Burm. Essential Oil in Shower Gel Products

Nowadays, the trend of cosmetics containing natural ingredients is becoming one of the most popular trends in the beauty industries. More and more people are interested and looking for cosmetic products made from natural ingredients such as herbs, essential oils, fruits, vegetables, etc. Essential oils are widely incorporated in cosmetic, perfumery and related household products due to their diverse properties but mainly due to their pleasant aroma and biological activity. Citrus maxima essential oil contains D-limonene as the main compound (85-95%) and other compounds such as α-pinene, sabinene, β-mycrene, α-phellandrene, σ-cymene, β-ocimene, γ- terpinene, β-caryophyllen, β-copaene. These compounds further diversify the applications of the added product. In this study, the factors affecting the production process of Citrus maxima essential oil shower gel including main detergents, moisturizers, emulsifiers, preservatives were investigated to propose production formulas. The results showed that the main detergent accounted for 12%, co- detergent 2.0%, emulsifier 1.5%, foaming agent 7.0%, surfactant, emulsifier 3.0%, moisturizer 2.0%, preservative management 2.0% and Citrus maxima essential oil account 1.0% in the formula. The evaluations of the basic physico-chemical properties are in the permissible range. Thus, it shows that the shower gel products from Citrus maxima essential oil can be produced and marketed.

Application of atmospheric pressure field desorption for the analysis of anionic surfactants in commercial detergents

Recent work has shown that field desorption (FD) and field ionization (FI) using activated field emitters may be performed at atmospheric pressure, too. While some limitations apply to atmospheric pressure field desorption (APFD) mass spectrometry (MS), the method can deliver both positive and negative even electron ions of highly polar or ionic compounds. Furthermore, APFD even permits the generation of positive molecular ions of polycyclic aromatic compounds. Here, an application of negative-ion APFD for the analysis of anionic surfactants contained in commercial detergent products for body care, household, and technical uses is presented. The samples include liquid soaps and shower gels, dishwashing liquids, and cooling lubricants. Surfactant solutions in methanol/water or pure methanol at 2–10 µl ml−1 were deposited on commercial 13-µm activated tungsten emitters. The emitters were positioned in front of the atmospheric pressure interface of a Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometer by means of a slightly modified nano-electrospray ionization (nanoESI) source. The entrance electrode of the interface was set to positive high voltage with respect to the emitter at ground potential. Under these conditions, negative-ion desorption was achieved. The surfactant anions, organic sulfates and organic sulfonates, were characterized by accurate mass-based formula assignments, and in part, by tandem mass spectrometry. The negative-ion APFD spectra were compared to results by negative-ion electrospray ionization (ESI) either obtained using the FT-ICR mass spectrometer or by using a trapped ion mobility-quadrupole-time-of-flight (TIMS-Q-TOF) instrument when product ions of low m/z needed to be detected in tandem MS.Graphical

Dissolvable shower gel tablets with enhanced skin benefits.

The excessive use of plastic packaging, even though it is possible to recycle it, is one of the main causes of global warming. In this study, dissolvable shower gel tablets for multiple uses have been developed in order to reduce the use of fresh plastic packaging. The appropriate ratio of two surfactants, cocoyl glutamic acid (CGA) and sodium coco sulphate (SCS), was optimized using design of experiments. Additionally, skin hydration of the emollient either omega oil or glycerine was taken into account when determining its concentration. After that, powdered shower gel formulations were made and tested for their properties, including cleaning power, and foamability. On 30 humanvolunteers, the effects of reconstituted shower gel on skin redness, cleaning effectiveness and overall satisfaction were evaluated. The study found that, when cleaning power and foam height were taken into account, the proper surfactant ratio was 7.5:0 (SCS:CGA). The 5% glycerine shower gel formula demonstrated significantly greater skin hydration than other formulas. The in vivo study's findings demonstrated that there was no statistically significant difference between selected formulas (5% glycerine and 2.5% omega oil) in terms of cleaning ability. Comparing both formulas to the control, neither showed any skin redness. Additionally, it was discovered that the developed products were much more effective at cleaning and easier to use when washing for the volunteers than regular liquid soap. Overall satisfaction and the moisturizing feel were not significantly different among all products. The formula with 7.5% SCS and 5% glycerine is said to be the best one for both cleaning ability and moisturizing effect. These findings suggest that dissolvable shower gel tablets with enhanced skin benefits could offer a promising innovation in the personal care industry.

Skin sensitisation prediction using read-across, an illustrative next generation risk assessment (NGRA) case study for vanillin

Skin sensitisation is a key adverse human health effect to be addressed in the safety assessment of cosmetic ingredients. Regulatory demands and scientific progress have led to the development of a Next Generation Risk Assessment (NGRA) framework, relying on the use of New Approach Methodologies (NAM) Defined Approaches (DA) and read-across instead of generating animal data. This case study illustrates the application of read-across for the prediction of the skin sensitisation potential of vanillin at the hypothetical use concentration of 0.5% in a shower gel and face cream. A three-step process was applied to select the most suitable analogues based on their protein reactivity, structural characteristics, physicochemical properties, skin metabolism profile and availability of skin sensitisation data. The applied read-across approach predicted a weak skin sensitiser potential for vanillin corresponding with a Local Lymph Node Assay EC3 value of 10%. Based on this EC3 value a point of departure of 2500 μg/cm2 was derived, resulting in an acceptable exposure level (AEL) of 25 μg/cm2. Because the consumer exposure levels (CEL) for the face cream (13.5 μg/cm2) and shower gel (0.05 μg/cm2) scenarios were lower than the AEL, the NGRA concluded both uses as safe.

"Gloppiness" Phenomena and a Computer Vision Method to Quantify It.

In this study, we present a rapid, cost-effective Python-driven computer vision approach to quantify the prevalent "gloppiness" phenomenon observed in complex fluids and gels. We discovered that rheology measurements obtained from commercial shear rheometers do show some hints, but do not exhibit a strong correlation with the extent of "gloppiness". To measure the "gloppiness" level of laboratory-produced shower gel samples, we employed the rupture time of jetting flow and found a significant correlation with data gathered from the technical insight panelist team. While fully comprehending the "gloppiness" phenomenon remains a complex challenge, the Python-based computer vision technique utilizing jetting flow offers a promising, efficient, and affordable solution for assessing the degree of "gloppiness" for commercial liquid and gel products in the industry.

Implementation of sustainable development goals in the cosmetics industry based on the example of cleansing cosmetics containing a surfactin-rich digestate extract

The implementation of sustainable development goals in the cosmetics industry is focused primarily on the phase of product design and the formulation of fully functional cosmetics based on raw materials of natural origin. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of using a surfactin-rich digestate extract—a raw material of biotechnological origin—as an ingredient in cleansing cosmetics. A composition was designed, and shower gels based on the digestate extract were formulated. In the next stage of the study, the prototypical products were subjected to a quality assessment with an emphasis on the properties determining their functionality and safety of use by consumers. The shower gels formulated with raw materials of natural origin with the addition of the surfactin-rich extract show acceptable functional properties including viscosity, foaming ability and fat emulsification properties. Importantly, the use of the digestate extract was found to significantly improve the safety in use of the evaluated cosmetic prototypes. This finding is corroborated by a significant decrease in the zein value, which is a measure of the irritant effect of cosmetic formulations. A slight decrease in the ability to emulsify fats found for the tested prototypes confirmed their appropriate functionality and mild effect on the skin. Through the use of the surfactin-rich digestate extract, the cosmetics acquired a natural color derived from the extract. Colorimetric analysis shows that the color changes in the samples should be noticeable even by inexperienced observers.Graphical

Water consumption by rinse-off cosmetic products: The case of the shower.

This article measures and discusses the effects of different shower gels on the consumption of water used during a shower. A sensory panel was created for quantifying water consumption associated with the use of shower gels. Fifteen French panellists were recruited (age: 59 ± 7, height: 163 cm ± 9 and weight: 68 kg ± 20) and trained to assess rinsed skin in a standardized way. Effective panellists were then asked to assess 25 shower gels covering the variety of existing products on the market. Results showed that the average volume was 4.77 L for heating the water and wetting the body and 4.15 L for rinsing the shower gel off the full body. We observed a significant shower gel effect (p < 0.0001) with the water volume needed to rinse the 25 shower gels ranging 3.21 L to 5.65 L. This paper demonstrates the impact of shower gel formulation on water consumption during a shower. It thus demonstrates the importance of formulating shower gels to reduce the total amount of water needed to shower. It also introduces the distinction between 'useful water' which refers strictly to the volume of water objectively needed to rinse off a product and the 'used water' which refers to the total shower volume of water. This distinction helps to better strategize actions in order to reduce water consumption from rinse-off cosmetic products used during showers.