Products & thematic areas
Personal Care
Personal care refers to products used for body care and personal hygiene. These products improve health and boost wellness. The personal care product group includes, for example, skin care products, cosmetics and sanitary paper, and in particular plug-in or battery-powered products for bathroom use.
WHICH PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS ARE we TESTing?
WE SPECIALISE IN MULTIPLE PRODUCT GROUPS
Testing personal care products is one of our core competencies. We test products belonging predominantly, but not exclusively, to three product groups:
TECHNICAL MEASUREMENTS & COMPREHENSIVE CONSUMER TESTS
TESTING OF HAIR CARE & HAIR REMOVAL DEVICES
Is the plate on the hair straightener too hot? Does your skin feel irritated after shaving? Is the professional hair dryer effective and easy for hairdressers to use in their everyday work? How long does it take to charge?
These are all important questions, both for the companies that make personal care products as well as for consumer organisations. Prominent representatives from both industries place their trust in the ipi Institute to have personal care devices tested.
How are razors tested?
Testing razors is one of the ipi institutes’ core competencies. We test electric shavers and wet shave razors for men and women. To do this, we have meticulously developed an extensive testing programme.
| Consumer testing |
| The “split face test”, as we call it, was developed specifically for a comparative razor test. In this test, the subject applies the test items to only one side of the face so that a direct comparison can be made. They will then subjectively evaluate the razor performance. |
| Objective measurements on test subjects |
| With the aid of a microderm camera and software, it is possible to determine the number of hairs and/or length of hair on women’s legs and men’s faces, and that way measure the efficiency of the test device or the thoroughness of the shave. In addition, we use special probes to evaluate different indicators to assess “skin protection” objectively. |
| Endurance testing |
| We perform fully automated and standardised testing of the durability of mechanical parts and shaving heads. The endurance test stand is tailor-made and built in the ipi workshop. The holder and controller are flexibly mounted to enable a wide variety of test items to run in parallel. |
How are hair dryers tested?
In our hair dryer tests, we determine parameters such as the drying rate and measure the temperature of both the hot air outflow and the handle. We check claims for their veracity as well as whether they deliver the promised effect. We look at how an expensive brand model measures up against a hair dryer from a discount retailer in a comparative product test.
what other personal care products for hair care & hair removal do we test?
- Hair clippers and trimmers
- Curling irons and straighteners
- Epilators and wax strips
- Hairbrushes and combs
- And many more
ACCREDITED STANDARD TESTS & CONSUMER TESTS
TESTING OF SANITARY PAPER
Sanitary paper accounts for the second-largest segment of personal care products that we test at the ipi institutes. These products include, for example, toilet paper, pocket tissues, kitchen rolls and sanitary towels. Nevertheless, the highest volume of testing involves baby nappies and incontinence products.
Given that security (from leaks) and comfort play an equally important role, it is precisely for this product group that we recommend both laboratory testing and consumer testing in our dual testing approach. This is because some aspects can only be realistically evaluated in daily use – involving home use tests.
We conduct the consumer test throughout Germany with a minimum of 100 test subjects, consistent with EDANA recommendations. In coordination with the client, a questionnaire is provided asking about test product satisfaction in terms of leakage, fit and taking off and putting on the items. Other topics covered also include the appearance of the materials, design and disposal.
how are baby nappies tested?
At the ipi institutes, we test everything from the classic disposable nappies to cloth nappies, swim nappies and eco-friendly nappies. Our technical tests include testing the rate and capacity of absorption, rewetting, leakage behaviour and the breathability of the outer material consistent with EDANA requirements.
Although we can’t directly ask young users about how comfortable they feel wearing the nappies, we carry out regular consumer tests and ask parents about their experience with the product.
how are incontinence products tested?
We test incontinence products using both consumer tests as well as technical measurements in the laboratory. The consumer tests are conducted among people who actually use the products, whether incontinence sufferers or caregivers. When carrying out technical testing on incontinence products, we focus in particular on the absorption rate, absorption capacity, rewetting and leakage behaviour. These aspects are examined in standardised tests for which we are accredited. To test nappies, pants or pads, we apply testing method No. 12/2015 MDS-Hi in accordance with ISO 11948-1:1996 and the ABL measuring method based on DIN 13222:2022 [German Institute for Standardisation] using a test torso.
what other kind of sanitary paper does the ipi Institute test?
- We test sanitary towels – just as we do nappies – using our in-house methods based on Testing Method No. 12/2015 MDS-Hi.
- When testing toilet paper, pocket tissues, kitchen rolls and similar products, we focus primarily on tear and puncture resistance.
DECADES OF EXPERIENCE & DEVELOPMENT
TESTING OF DENTAL CARE & DENTAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS
At the ipi institutes, we test electric toothbrushes, ultrasonic toothbrushes, manual toothbrushes, refills, interdental brushes, dental floss and many other dental care and dental hygiene products. We use our expertise from decades of experience and continued development of our toothbrush test for consumer organisations. Here too, you benefit from the dual testing approach, which combines technical measurements with consumer tests.
how are toothbrushes tested?
In the laboratory, we measure electric toothbrushes for their battery life and the roundness of the individual bristle ends. However, the most important property of a toothbrush is cleaning efficiency. To check this, we use a contrast agent in our test subjects to stain any plaque deposits they may have. We examine the teeth before and after brushing to ascertain cleaning efficiency.
We are currently working on developing a toothbrush test stand for fully automated brushing of teeth based on a standardised procedure. This means that in future we will be able to determine the efficiency of electric toothbrushes under 100% controlled laboratory conditions.
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Personal care product testing
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Guido Lorch
Managing Director
Request a customised proposal now and have your personal care products professionally tested using the dual testing approach – decide right!