Skin Care Industry Research Articles

Effects of Professionalism of Skin Care Industry Workers on the Relational Commitment and Customer Satisfaction

This study researched the effects of professionalism of skin care industry workers on the relational commitment and customer satisfaction. For this, this study conducted a survey targeting the women in their 20s-50s who had used small-size skincare shops in Seoul and capital area for three months or more, from August 15th to August 31st 2020. Total 385 questionnaires were used for the final analysis, and the results of this study are as follows. First, in the effects of professionalism of skin care industry workers on the relational commitment, the subfactors of professionalism such as conscious aspect and superficial aspect were the important factors on the affective commitment while the conscious aspect and superficial aspect of professionalism were the important factors on the calculative commitment. Second, in the effects of professionalism of skin care industry workers on the customer satisfaction, the subfactors of professionalism such as conscious aspect and superficial aspect were the important factors on the price, cleanliness & hygiene, and the time required and skills of customer satisfaction. Such results of this study could be utilized as the basic data for establishing the management/marketing strategies of skin beauty service industry, by providing the personalized and customized skincare service, developing programs that could meet customers’ needs, and also syntagmatically composing and analyzing the relations of education, training, and the improvement of service quality. Keywords: Customer Satisfaction; Professionalism; Relational Commitment; Skin Care Industry Worker

134 Correlation of 12r-lox activity and hsp70 with barrier function

The evaluation of the skin health is an essential step in the skincare industry in order to assess the safety and the efficacy of active ingredients. 12R-LOX (gene ALOX12B) is a lipoxygenase expressed in keratinocytes and is implicated in the oxygenation of the esterified omega-hydroxyacyl-sphingosine (EOS) ceramides, a required process to their covalent linkage to proteins of the cornified envelope. It is an important step in establishing the water barrier by preventing unnecessary evaporation through epithelial cells. HSP70 family members are among the most abundant HSPs in the skin expressed constitutively within keratinocytes. HSP70 expression is elevated in both epidermis and dermis for cytoprotection after skin samples are heat shocked or after stressors like UVB. Traditionally transepidermal water loss (TEWL) has been widely used as a way to evaluate skin barrier function and tape stripping as a way to evaluate biological markers (biomarkers). Our aim was to understand how TEWL, 12R-LOX and HSP70 could be correlated clinically. Subjects were treated with a hydrating cream for 3 weeks on their lower inner forearm. After treatment, TEWL was measured and tape strips were collected from the treatment area and untreated site. 12R-LOX enzyme activity was measured with a fluorescence-based assay and HSP70 by ELISA using the protein samples isolated from the tape stripes. The 12R-LOX enzyme activity had a negative correlation with TEWL as previously described and had a positive correlation with HSP70. Moreover, HSP70 also had a negative correlation with TEWL confirming the correlation between the two biomarkers 12R-LOX and HSP70 with barrier function. The study of these two biomarkers is a new interesting and non-invasive approach for studying skin under different conditions.

‘Men don't do Botox, they do Brotox’ – Emerging Configurations of Masculinity in the Marketing of Cosmetic Treatments Online

Non-invasive cosmetic treatments are increasingly popular, and the cosmetic skincare industry is currently experiencing growth at a global scale. Men are reported to constitute a growing consumer segment of this emerging market and accordingly, men are being targeted in the marketing of cosmetic skincare clinics (International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery 2018). On clinic websites, content is emerging as “especially for men”. This feeds into the contemporary phenomena that men's bodies are increasingly visible through a range of lifestyle industries such as fashion, fitness, tattooing, and grooming ( Bordo 1999 , Gill et al. 2005 , Hakim 2019 ). Men have, in Western culture, traditionally been expected to take on a ‘functional, aloof and distanced’ relationship to their bodies ( Coffey 2016 ). In this article, I explore how masculinity and embodiment are negotiated in the online marketing of men's cosmetic treatments, as the male body is increasingly imagined as susceptible to cosmetic enhancement. Inspired by the somatechnical framework, I analyse the website marketing of three leading Danish cosmetic skincare clinics: Aglaia-klinikken, N'age, and DermoCosmetic. I argue that masculinity here is negotiated and produced as ambiguous, configuring between emergent and hegemonic forms ( Inhorn and Wentzell 2011 ). I draw on relevant theories of masculinity, to show how masculinity is produced as both effeminophobic and hegemonic, as well as inclusive and neoliberal ( Sedgwick 1991 , Connell 1995 , Anderson 2009 , Hakim 2019 ). I continue to argue that masculinity emerges around three prevalent connection points in the marketing: anger, career and the masculine face. I discuss the generative and disciplining trajectories of these configurations and the possibilities of (un)becoming they entail for men, as they continue to engage with these emerging medical technologies of appearance enhancement.

Trends in the use of marine ingredients in anti-aging cosmetics

The evolution in the skin care industry has been driven by the recent interest shown by consumers in novel bioactive compounds from natural sources, instead of synthetic ingredients, and fostered the efforts to develop biologically active ingredients from natural organisms, resulting in the emergence of new and improved skin care products. Although plant-derived extracts are usually among the main constituents of the cosmetic formulations containing natural ingredients, with the advance of the biotechnological field observed in the marine industry, an increase in the use of marine ingredients for this purpose has been noticed over the last years. In this study, the trends in the use of marine ingredients in a panel of anti-aging formulations commercialized in the Portuguese market was analysed, by comparing the composition of the products marketed in 2011 with products launched or reformulated in 2018. While in 2011, only 6% of the 190 anti-aging cosmetics was from marine origin, a noticeable growth was observed in 2018, where these ingredients were used in 33% of the new 103 studied anti-aging products. Algae were undoubtedly the most used marine ingredient in these anti-aging formulations, probably due to their biodiversity, easy cultivation, and growth modulation, with red algae being the most used in both of the analysed periods. On the other hand, the use of marine bacteria has suffered a decrease from 2011 to 2018. This study analyses the emerging use of marine ingredients in anti-aging products to provide researchers and the cosmetic industry a perspective of the trends in marine ingredients to develop new and improved formulations to fight the inevitable skin aging.

Unravelling the Dermatological Potential of the Brown Seaweed Carpomitra costata.

The ever-increasing interest in keeping a young appearance and healthy skin has leveraged the skincare industry. This, coupled together with the increased concern regarding the safety of synthetic products, has boosted the demand for new and safer natural ingredients. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to evaluate the dermatological potential of the brown seaweed Carpomitra costata. The antioxidant, anti-enzymatic, antimicrobial, photoprotective and anti-inflammatory properties of five C. costata fractions (F1–F5) were evaluated. The ethyl acetate fraction (F3) demonstrated the most promising results, with the best ability to scavenge 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals (EC50 of 140.1 µg/mL) and the capacity to reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) production promoted by UVA and UVB radiation in 3T3 cells, revealing its antioxidant and photoprotective potential. This fraction also exhibited the highest anti-enzymatic capacity, inhibiting the activities of collagenase, elastase and tyrosinase (IC50 of 7.2, 4.8 and 85.9 µg/mL, respectively). Moreover, F3 showed anti-inflammatory potential, reducing TNF-α and IL-6 release induced by LPS treatment in RAW 264.7 cells. These bioactivities may be related to the presence of phenolic compounds, such as phlorotannins, as demonstrated by NMR analysis. The results highlight the potential of C. costata as a source of bioactive ingredients for further dermatological applications.

Aging Faces and Gowland’s Lotion in Austen’s Persuasion (1817)

Sir Walter Elliot, a conceited aristocrat in Jane Austen’s Persuasion (1817), takes it as a personal affront when he sees an aging face. For him, an aging face is a physical manifestation of one’s lowly breed. In his obsession with youthful and “superior” looks, the concept of aging is explicitly entangled with class. Quite unlike Sir Walter’s essentialist belief, the era’s advancing scientific and medical knowledge of the human body began to understand aging as a material phenomenon rather than a cosmic fate. The era witnessed a thriving anti-aging skincare industry that promised ways to treat the physical signs of aging, to guard against decay, and even to restore “bloom” to all who may subscribe to its application. This article focuses on one historical anti-aging skincare product and a personal favorite of Sir Walter, Gowland’s Lotion. Reading popular medical texts and beauty regimens alongside Persuasion, this article shows how Austen captures the significance of daily practices of anti-aging skincare routines, exposing the faltering class system in Britain in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.

Staphylococcus epidermidis and Cutibacterium acnes: Two Major Sentinels of Skin Microbiota and the Influence of Cosmetics.

Dermatological and cosmetics fields have recently started to focus on the human skin microbiome and microbiota, since the skin microbiota is involved in the health and dysbiosis of the skin ecosystem. Amongst the skin microorganisms, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Cutibacterium acnes, both commensal bacteria, appear as skin microbiota sentinels. These sentinels have a key role in the skin ecosystem since they protect and prevent microbiota disequilibrium by fighting pathogens and participate in skin homeostasis through the production of beneficial bacterial metabolites. These bacteria adapt to changing skin microenvironments and can shift to being opportunistic pathogens, forming biofilms, and thus are involved in common skin dysbiosis, such as acne or atopic dermatitis. The current evaluation methods for cosmetic active ingredient development are discussed targeting these two sentinels with their assets and limits. After identification of these objectives, research of the active cosmetic ingredients and products that maintain and promote these commensal metabolisms, or reduce their pathogenic forms, are now the new challenges of the skincare industry in correlation with the constant development of adapted evaluation methods.

Gene flow from transgenic soybean, developed to obtain recombinant proteins for use in the skin care industry, to non-transgenic soybean

Soybean has been recognized as a useful platform for heterologous protein production. This study compared the pollen characteristics of transgenic and non-transgenic soybean and investigated the rate of gene flow from transgenic soybean events, developed to obtain recombinant proteins (such as human epidermal growth factor, insulin-like growth factor 1, or thioredoxin) for use in the skin care industry, to non-transgenic soybean under field conditions, and determined the distance at which gene flow could occur. The lack of significant differences in pollen grain size, viability and pollen germination rates between transgenic and non-transgenic cultivars indicates that the overexpression of transgenes did not alter pollen characteristics in soybean. The highest rates of gene flow from the three transgenic soybean events to non-transgenic soybean ranged from 0.22 to 0.46% at the closest distance (0.5 m). Gene flow was observed up to 13.1 m from the transgenic plots. Our data fell within the ranges reported in the literature and indicate that an isolation distance greater than at least 13 m from transgenic soybean is required to prevent within-crop gene flow in soybean. As the potential markets for transgenic crops as a recombinant protein factory increase, gene flow from transgenic to non-transgenic conventional crops will become a key decision factor for policy makers during the approval process of transgenic crops. Our study may provide useful baseline data for the prevention of transgenic soybean seed contamination caused by transgene flow.

Q-Methodological Approach to the Perception of Meridian Massage for HEALTH MANAGEMENT

Purpose: Modern society, according to the change of social demand due to the improvement of living stand-ards, the rapid increase of aging population and healthy life extension comes to have a high interest in health promotion from the perspective of prevention as well as disease treatment. This study conducted a subjectivity study on the subjects of workers in the skin care industry who performed meridian massage on the field. Method: To analyze the perception, attitude, use, and satisfaction of the skin care industry workers about me-ridian massage, after the survey of 30 people sampled with P-sample was completed, the collected data were coded according to the location on the Q-sample distribution map. The input data was analyzed using the QUNAL-PC program, and for factor analysis, principle component factor analysis was used. And among the re-sults calculated by inputting the number of factors variously based on the Eigen value of 1.0 or higher, three types judged to be the best were selected and examined with Z-score. Results: Three types were extracted from the results of analysis. Type I was categorized as subjectivity of high experienced people with more than 20 years of experience and a strong positive perception on the natural heal-ing effect and health intervention function of meridian massage. Type II was categorized as subjectivity of low experienced people with less than 10 years of experience, and a subjective perception that was sensitive to the trends in the skin care industry. Type III was categorized as subjectivity of middle experienced workers with experi-ence between more than 10 years and less than 20 years and a strong positive subjectivity for the pain relief ef-fect of meridian massage. Conclusion: Therefore, this study is meaningful in that it explored the subjective meaning of the workers in the skin care industry for meridian massage, grasped the intrinsic reasons, and derived a general view of meridian massage.

Stabilization of ferulic acid in topical gel formulation via nanoencapsulation and pH optimization

Ferulic acid is a potent anti-oxidant with scientifically proven skin care efficacies. However, instability of this active in the skin care products restricted its wide application in beauty and skin care industries. This study aimed to stabilize ferulic acid in topical hydrogel formulation via nanoencapsulation technique. Ferulic acid loaded nanocapsules were prepared via high pressure homogenization method and physicochemically characterized. Mean particle size of ferulic acid loaded nanocapsules was < 300 nm. TEM and SEM images exhibited spherical particles with smooth surface. DSC and XRD results indicated that ferulic acid was completely dissolved in the lipid matrix of the nanocapsules and remained in amorphous form. Two types of hydrogel formulations containing ferulic acid loaded nanocapsules were prepared: Gel A with pH higher and Gel B with pH lower than pKa of ferulic acid. Cross-polarized microscopic image of the gel formulations did not show presence of any un-encapsulated and un-dissolved crystal. Gel B showed slower and controlled release of ferulic acid than Gel A. Ferulic acid permeation through skin mimic from the gel formulation demonstrated controlled permeation. Color stability of the gel and chemical stability of ferulic acid were very good in Gel B, while poor in Gel A (although significantly better than the gel with un-encapsulated ferulic acid). The result clearly indicates that together with nanoencapsulation, low pH (less than pKa of ferulic acid) of the hydrogel was crucial for both product appearance and chemical stability of ferulic acid. In fact, it has been proved that skin care product with low pH is good for skin as it can maintain skin homeostasis and microbiome. Furthermore, the permeation result suggests that ferulic acid may penetrate into deep skin layers and at the same time avoid systemic circulation. Overall, this low pH hydrogel formulation containing nanoencapsulated ferulic acid demonstrates great promise for commercialization.

Protocols for accelerated production and purification of collagen scaffold and atelocollagen from animal tissues.

Traditional purification of atelocollagen involves a harsh extraction process with environment-polluting chemicals and costly and/or time-consuming procedures which include salting-out, alkali, acid and enzymatic treatmentand ion-exchange chromatography. The atelocollagen market is growing exponentially, with demand in the skincare industry and for various medical applications.As a result, there is an urgent need for an eco-friendly production process with minimal manipulation. We developed a novel technique involving supercritical carbon dioxide extraction technology to remove the cells and noncollagenous substances from the porcine hide. Subsequent processes allow the production of several products, including decellularized dermal membrane, high-purity collagen particles and atelocollagen. The advantages of our process are its faster speed and lower environmental impactand its generation of multiple products, including high purity atelocollagen with complete removal of telopeptides.

Bio-based Algae Oil: an oxidation and structural analysis.

In search of natural components, vegetal oils are increasingly becoming more popular in cosmetics. However, high oxidation instability, presence of potential allergens and synthetic anti-oxidants have limited their applications so far. Therefore, a need exists for a natural emollient with high oxidation stability. In this work, we report on a novel sustainably produced triglyceride containing primarily three monounsaturated oleic acid chains, dubbed 'Bio-Based Algae Oil' hereafter, as a natural emollient for cosmetic formulations. To produce Bio-Based Algae Oil, simple sugars are converted into triglyceride oils using microalgae fermentation with minimal environmental impact. Bio-Based Algae Oil was compared to other commonly used triglyceride-based emollients in the skincare industry in terms of thermal/oxidation stability, composition and moisturizing properties. Oxidation stability of emollients was compared using Rancimat and pressurized differential scanning calorimetry (PDSC) techniques. Fatty acid composition of each oil was analysed using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1 H-NMR) and gas chromatography (GC) techniques to correlate unsaturation level of each oil to its oxidation stability. We also conducted an in vivo moisturizing study in which skin hydration level of human subjects was compared before and after application of emollient up to 24h. Results showed that Bio-Based Algae Oil was the most stable emollient in thermal and oxidation stability studies given its low unsaturation and high anti-oxidant content determined by 1 H-NMR and GC techniques. It also provided the highest skin hydration level when applied on skin demonstrating its efficacy as a moisturizing emollient in cosmetic formulations. Compositional analysis of Bio-Based Algae revealed that it is a triglyceride containing primarily three monounsaturated oleic acid chains with very low polyunsaturated fatty acid content resulting in high oxidation stability and consequently prolonged shelf-life. Given its sustainability, high oxidation stability and skin health benefits such as moisturization demonstrated during an in vivo study, we envision to utilize Bio-Based Algae Oil in many cosmetic formulations across skincare, suncare and bath and shower markets.

서비스종업원의 성격특성이 직무관련요인, 서비스지향성, 이직의도에 미치는 영향

When a customer evaluates an organization, the smaller and worse the organization is, the more dependent on the service level of the employee delivering the service. In spite of the importance of frontline employees, which is the core resource of an organization, in a small organization, ironically, it has been neglected in the workplace. The purpose of this study is to identify the personality factors influencing job performance by analyzing personality traits of employees and influencing factors in the skin care industry. Based on these results, this study proposes efficient tactics for organizational performance management. The results showed that only the sincerity trait had a positive effect on job satisfaction and job commitment, and that extroversion, progressiveness, sociability, and instability traits had no effect on either. Negative relationships were found between job satisfaction, job commitment, and turnover intentions. On the other hand, there was no significant relationship between job satisfaction and service orientation. The results of this study can be helpful in establishing the job management strategy of employees in small business.

Acne Status and Cognition of Adult Women Aged 18–45 in Fujian Province

Purpose: This study aims to propose a fundamental method in preventing the occurrence of acne in adult women and suggest an efficient way of protecting individuals who are highly vulnerable to acne. Acne, one of the most common skin problems, is characterized by a high prevalence and recurrence rate as well as difficulty to achieve a complete cure. Therefore, daily care for acne is important. Methods: Data were collected from May 1, 2019 to May 17, 2019. Frequency and percentage values were assessed using the SPSS program along with the chi squaretest. Results: Regarding the worsening factors, the first factor that aggravates the symptoms of acne is poor facial hygiene. The second non-dietary factor is chronic stress, and there are genetic causes for the symptoms. In addition, dietary factors include excessive intake of milk tea. The third factor is excessive sleeping or lack of sleep. According to the findings of the study, 1) most respondents answered that they had acne breakouts on their face or body; 2) most acne cases first occurred at the ages of 14–16 years; 3) there were irregular ongoing cases of acne over 3–5 years; and 4) most acne conditions were characterized by black-heads/white-heads. When acne worsens, the methods to treat it are frequently washing the face and drinking plenty of water. Moreover, squeezing the acne by hand, non-professional treatment, incorrect medical knowledge regarding acne, and lack of an appropriate medical diagnosis and prescription may worsen it. Conclusion: The study provided satisfactory and effective acne management scheme applicable to current daily living in addition to appropriate acne management and maintenance methods that will be useful for the skin-care industry.

The Fatty Acid Composition and Quality of Oils from Post‐Industrial Waste of Quince Chaenomeles japonica

In the food industry, quince seeds are discarded as waste in the production process. Their use therefore creates added value and opens up the possibility of using no-waste processing technologies. Three types of waste were investigated: after juicing, after the manufacture of puree and syrup. The results showed that the yield of quince seeds (Chaenomeles japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. ex Spach from waste left after different production methods varies from 29.8 to 38.3 %. The cold pressed oil yield ranges from 4.9±0.03 to 7.1±0.06 %. The oil yield obtained by Soxhlet extraction varies from 14.6±0.64 to 17.3±0.9 %. Unsaturated fatty acid, especially polyunsaturated fatty acid is predominant in quince seed oil. The linoleic acid content of the quince seed oils was between 47.12 % and 58.49 % of the total fatty acids. The fatty acid composition of oils from post-industrial waste is more appropriate in the skin care industry than in the food industry because of the high ratio of omega-6/omega-3 and high linoleic acid content.

Skin care industry drives demand for sodium cocoyl isethionate

Skin care industry drives demand for sodium cocoyl isethionate

Research on Influencing Factors of Purchase Promotion Intention Based on Skincare Industry

The experience economy is known as the latest economic development model in the 21st century, accompanied by a high degree of attention and research on experiential marketing. This paper aims to study the influencing factors of consumers’ purchase intention in experiential promotion by taking the offline promotion as the foothold and taking the skin care market as the starting point. This study refers to the previous research on the scale of experience and the intention of purchasing, to design questionnaires and conduct targeted consumer research. Factor analysis is used to extract the factors with high correlation of each dimension. At the same time, regression analysis is used to test whether the four dimensions of experiential promotion have an impact on customer purchase intention. This concludes the main factors affecting consumers’ purchase intentions in experiential promotion activities, and provides reference for the long-term development of experiential promotion activities and skin care products industry.

Value-addition of sunburned pomegranate fruit to reduce postharvest losses: a cosmeceutical perspective

Sunburn renders 15% of pomegranate fruit production unmarketable in fresh fruit and juice industries. Uses for these fruit are scarce and their disposal represents an environmental problem. This work presents a comparative study on the composition and bioactivities of oils extracted from pomegranate seeds of sunburned fruit (SBF) and healthy fruit (HF) for value-adding potential of fruit representing postharvest losses. Oil samples were extracted with petroleum ether by ultrasonification after drying using different drying techniques (freeze-, sun- and oven-drying). Compositional analysis included p-anisidine value, total phenolic content (TPC) as well as essential oils and sterols while the investigated bioactivities included DPPH radical scavenging ability (RSA) and tyrosinase enzyme inhibition ability. Results showed that oven-dried seeds, regardless of seed source (SBF or HF), yielded higher oil ranging from 20.20 to 24.35% of dry matter. However, regardless of drying method, oil obtained from SBF contained higher TPC (1.4-2.8 mg g-1 of oil GAE) than those obtained from HF. A total of 17 compounds were identified by GC-MS analysis with the predominant being 9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid, a conjugated linolenic acid, constituting 70-72% of total essential oils. Gamma-tocopherol constituted 95% of total tocopherol while β-sitosterol constituted between 85-87% of total sterols. Overall, good RSA was exhibited by all the investigated oil samples with IC50 ranging from 34.77 to 59.29 µg mL-1 AAE. RSA was influenced by seed source (p=0.006) and drying method (p=0.025). All the oil samples showed good ability to inhibit tyrosinase enzyme regardless of seeds source and drying method, with monophenolase and diphenolase IC50 ranging between 0.31 and 0.49 mg mL-1 and 0.64 and 2.43 mg mL-1, respectively. This study indicates that seeds of sunburned pomegranate fruit can be exploited for high quality oil due to similar yield and bioactive composition compared to oil extracted from healthy fruit. In general, regardless of drying method, oils from seeds of SBF and HF both had good antioxidant activity and tyrosinase enzyme inhibition ability, which is applicable in skin care and nutraceutical industry.

Ribes nigrum L. Prevents UVB-mediated Photoaging in Human Dermal Fibroblasts: Potential Antioxidant and Antiinflammatory Activity.

Black currants (Ribes nigrum L, RN) are known as a "super fruit" to possess for their many potential health benefits such as the alleviation of oxidative stress-related disorders. However, little skin photoaging-related research has been done on the use of this agent. In the present study, we investigated the protective effects of RN in UVB-irradiated human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs). RN treatment in UVB-irradiated skin models alleviated UVB-mediated photoaging through several mechanisms: Treatment with RN downregulated MAPK-related signaling models, such as those of activation protein 1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). In addition, phase II gene heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) was modulated by the increase in nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in the nuclear, and finally, transforming growth factor TGF-β was upregulated in vitro. Further study indicated that UVB-induced production of MMP-1 and IL-6 could be inhibited by PD 98059 (an inhibitor of ERK) and SP600125 (an inhibitor of JNK). Thus, RN improved the expression of type I procollagen and inhibited UVB-induced MMP-1 and IL-6 secretion through inactivating MAPK cascades. Therefore, RN is a suitable target for further investigation as an antiphotoaging agent and may have applications in the skincare industry.

A novel method to measure skin mechanical properties with three-dimensional digital image correlation.

Measuring skin mechanical properties has been of great interest in the skincare industry. It is a high accuracy and non-invasive optical technique which quantitatively tracks skin movement and deformation under mechanical perturbations. A study was conducted with female subjects (25-65years old). A refined speckle pattern applied onto the skin surface was used for DIC measurements. A unidirectional force pulled the skin at a constant velocity, while the deformation process was quantified by the DIC. Prior to the DIC measurement, Cutometer® readings were taken on the same area. The DIC protocol's reproducibility across multiple pattern applications, the measurement's repeatability, and the sensitivity in differentiating skin mechanical properties were investigated. Subjects were clustered with statistical significance according to their skin mechanical properties described by six DIC metrics (μ [major strain], σ [major strain], μ [minor strain], σ [minor strain], μ [displacement], and σ [displacement]). Most measurement random errors are below 6%. This is several folds smaller in magnitude than the difference in the mean response between the clusters. Several Cutometer® parameters also showed good agreement with μ (displacement). DIC was able to differentiate skins of different mechanical qualities. We also proposed the physical significance of the DIC metrics. Some of the DIC metrics potentially offer new insights into skin mechanical properties that complement those revealed by conventional instruments. Accurate measurements, large measurement areas along with ease of direct visualization are substantial advantages of DIC.