Method of measuring attributes of personal care articles and compositions

Abstract

Novel methods for measuring the soothing attributes of personal care compositions are disclosed. The methods disclosed are particularly suitable for measuring and comparing the soothing attributes of facial tissue to determine which facial tissue is most soothing to damaged skin. The methods include damaging the skin of a test subject to a predetermined amount, contacting a test facial tissue with the damaged skin, and rating the soothing attributes of the facial tissue. In a preferred embodiment, the amount of skin damage on the skin is determined by the test subject.

1 . A method of measuring a sensory attribute of a personal care composition, the method comprising: 
 providing a product including a personal care composition;    inducing an amount of damage onto an area of skin of a healthy test subject with a damage inducing agent;    determining the level of damage induced onto the area of skin;    contacting the damaged area of skin on the subject with the product to determine the amount of soothing of the personal care composition, the contacting including contacting the product with the damaged area of skin; and    rating the amount of soothing of the product after the contacting.    
     
     
         2 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the sensory attribute being measured is the soothing ability of the personal care composition.  
     
     
         3 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the personal care composition is selected from the group consisting of facial tissue, bath tissue, absorbent articles, skin lotions, vapors, paper towels, wipes, solids, skin care powders, emulsions, absorbent articles, creams, and solutions.  
     
     
         4 . The method as set forth in  claim 3  wherein the personal care composition is a facial tissue.  
     
     
         5 . The method as set forth in  claim 4  wherein the damage is induced onto the area of skin of the test subject by one of the group consisting of the test subject, a technician, an instrument, or any combination thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The method as set forth in  claim 5  wherein the level of damage induced onto the area of skin is determined by one of the group consisting of test subject, technician, instrument, or any combination thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The method as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the damage is induced by a damage inducing agent selected from the group consisting of an economy facial tissue, chemical or biochemical agent, emory cloth, tape stripping, paper towel, cloth handkerchief, bath tissue, and light grade sandpaper.  
     
     
         8 . The method as set forth in  claim 7  wherein the damage is induced onto the area of skin to a predetermined level utilizing from about 1 to about 1000 damage inducing cycles.  
     
     
         9 . The method as set forth in  claim 8  herein the damage is induced onto the area of skin to a predetermined level utilizing from about 1 to about 250 damage inducing cycles.  
     
     
         10 . The method as set forth in  claim 8  herein the damage is induced onto the area of skin to a predetermined level utilizing from about 1 to about 100 damage inducing cycles.  
     
     
         11 . The method as set forth in  claim 8  wherein each damage inducing cycle comprises from about 1 to about 1000 wipes.  
     
     
         12 . The method as set forth in  claim 11  wherein each damage inducing cycle comprises from about 1 to about 500 wipes.  
     
     
         13 . The method as set forth in  claim 11  wherein each damage inducing cycle comprises from about 1 to about 250 wipes.  
     
     
         14 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the test subject is trained.  
     
     
         15 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the test subject is untrained.  
     
     
         16 . A method of measuring a sensory attribute of a personal care composition, the method comprising: 
 providing a product including a personal care composition;    inducing an amount of damage onto an area of skin of a test subject with a damage inducing agent, wherein the damage is induced onto the area of skin of the test subject by one of the group consisting of the test subject, a technician, an instrument, or any combination thereof;    determining the level of damage induced onto the area of skin;    contacting the damaged area of skin on the subject with the product to determine the amount of soothing of the personal care composition, the contacting including contacting the product with the damaged area of skin; and    rating the amount of soothing of the product after the contacting.    
     
     
         17 . The method as set forth in  claim 16  wherein the test subject is selected from the group consisting of a healthy test subject, a sick test subject, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The method as set forth in  claim 16  wherein the test subject is selected from the group consisting of trained test subject, an and untrained test subject, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         19 . The method as set forth in  claim 16  wherein the sensory attribute being measured is the soothing ability of the personal care composition.  
     
     
         20 . The method as set forth in  claim 16  wherein the personal care composition is selected from the group consisting of facial tissue, bath tissue, absorbent articles, skin lotions, vapors, paper towels, wipes, solids, skin care powders, emulsions, absorbent articles, creams, and solutions.