Personal Care Product Testing


In-Home Use Testing for Personal Care Products Claims Substantiation

Whether your products are OTC or classified as cosmetics, men and women want to know that their personal care products work. A consumer product test, also known as an IHUT, or In-Home Use Test is a cost effective way to test your personal care products with your target consumers and substantiate your product claims. TBC's proprietary IHUT methodology follows ASTM standards for consumer perception studies. Following a clearly defined protocol, a relevant population of consumers from across the country are given a set of your products to use at home, and then at regular intervals, are asked to assess your products based on their perception of performance, efficacy and overall liking of the product. Tests can explore a number of elements from use up rates, to sensorial attributes, to competitive product preferences, and perhaps most importantly—the results they see and that you want to claim. IHUT tests are a powerful way to substantiate claims needed to mitigate regulatory and legal risk and a critical tool in providing your consumer with proof your products work.

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    Why Claims Are Important

    Our Proven Methodology For Substantiating Product Claims

    In-home use testing (IHUT) involves sending either a prototype or a product that is conditionally approved for in-market commercialization and has undergone appropriate safety and stability testing to a defined panel of target consumers. This panel uses the product(s) – according to specific usage instructions – for a given time period, and then assesses their experiences with the product at various intervals throughout the trial. This type of testing reveals hero claims as well as emotional connections to products and brands which is a valuable tool for any marketing team. IHUTs also provides the brand with verified user testimonials and claims that may be used in the brand's marketing efforts - in social, on packaging, online advertising, on-air, at point-of-sale and in other marketing initiatives.
    • Consumers use and test the products from the comfort of their own homes
    • Cost-effective alternative to expensive clinical testing
    • Mitigates legal and regulatory risk of false advertising claims
    • Meets claims substantiation requirements for major retailers including CVS, Target/Walmart, QVC/HSN and many others
    • QVC / HSN approved vendor for consumer perception studies and claims validation
    • Large or small scale customizable studies with consumer-relevant panels
    • Follows industry best practices and standards for market research
    • Recruit from TBC's proprietary database of 275K+ vetted male and female personal care buyers
    • Sample a geographically dispersed nationwide population
    • Work with a research team that lives, breathes and sleeps beauty, personal care and wellness
    • Optional add-ons: Before & After Photography and Video Testimonials

    Consumers Look for Proof of Efficacy

    99%

    agree brands should be proactively testing their products with consumers before making claims that a product can solve a specific issue

    96%

    say consumer claims derived from a panel of people with similar personal care concerns would be highly influential in their purchase decision

    Types Of Personal Care Product Tests

    IHUT testing is a powerful research tool that brands leverage to conduct efficacy testing, prototype testing, performance and preference testing, sensorial testing, competitive product preference testing, and use-up studies to name a few. TBC conducts IHUT testing on a plethora of personal care, wellness products, and devices.
    • Acne products
    • Deodorants
    • Soaps and body washes
    • Intimate care products
    • Homeopathic remedies
    • Teeth whitening products, toothpaste
    • Sunscreens, SPF lotions
    • Feminine hygiene products
    • Scalp care
    • Products for specific skin issues such as KP, eczema, psoriasis
    • CBD-based personal care products
    • Supplements
    • Devices of all kinds, and more

    Consumer Claims Help Brands Sell In and Sell Through

    What Makes TBC's Approach Different?

    TBC has conducted testing for the largest brands in the business, as well as scores of Indie startups. Our unsurpassed knowledge of personal care consumers and the claims that resonate with them, and our understanding of current advertising regulations coupled with our proprietary methodologies and our renowned panel of 275K+ personal care and men's grooming buyers, are reasons why brands come back to us time and again.

    DEVELOP STRATEGY

    We work with you to develop the right product testing strategy, matching your product with the right potential buyer.

    SEND TO PANELISTS

    We send your products to our panelists all over the country.

    COLLECT FEEDBACK

    Our panelists test and provide valuable feedback by completing customized online self-assessment claims surveys. The brand gets validated reviews and testimonials.

    Substantiated Consumer Claims And Their Many Uses

    TO LEARN MORE DOWNLOAD OUR 2024 PRODUCT TESTING BROCHURE