Skin comes into contact with exogenous materials both intentionally and unintentionally.  These materials will interact with skin depending on the composition and properties of the skin surface film liquids. These surface liquids are mainly made up of eccrine sweat and sebum.  Sebum is an oily secretion produced by sebaceous glands, which are tiny ducts adjacent to hair follicles.  Sebum is secreted into the follicle, from which it spreads over the hair and skin.  The main role of sebum is to waterproof the skin and hair.  

Partitioning and diffusion of molecules in a topical use product within human sebum would influence the success or failure of this product. By doing quality testing during the development and production of cosmetics and other topical use products under artificial conditions, manufacturers can be assured of product performance in advance of consumer use.  Another use would be in evaluating the efficacy of home laundry products and conditions to remove stains from fabric.  Testing is not limited to fabric or topic use products and can be extended to anything that will come in contact with human skin.

Pickering Laboratories Inc. is now offering artificial sebum according to D4265-14 in 25 g quantities for product testing.  We also sell artificial eccrine perspiration and a variety of industry-specific perspiration formulations.  All formulations are available with an optional stabilizing preservative or at a custom pH to fit your specific needs.  Pickering Labs also produces proprietary custom formulations to meet individual customers’ in-house specifications. 

• 1700-0700         Artificial Sebum (25 g)
• 1700-0020         Artificial Eccrine Perspiration (Stabilized, 200 mL)
• 1700-0022         Artificial Eccrine Perspiration (Non-Stabilized, 200 mL)

 Please visit our webpage at www.pickeringtestsolutions.com to see a full list of available products and part numbers.