Biomarker-Based Methods For Formulating Compositions That Improve Skin Quality And Reduce The Visible Signs Of Aging In Skin

A method for formulating a personal care composition useful for improving the barrier properties of epithelial tissue in a human subject, comprising:

• (a) (i) contacting one or more control surfaces of the epithelial tissue of a human subject with a control composition;
• (ii) collecting a control tissue sample from the one or more control surfaces to collect a control portion of biomarker analytes;
• and (iii) measuring in the control portion of biomarker analytes at least one biomarker analyte selected from inflammatory cytokines, natural moisturizing factors, keratin 1, keratin 10, keratin 11, lipids and total protein to generate a control biomarker profile;
• (b) (i) contacting one or more test surfaces of the epithelial tissue of the human subject with a test composition comprising at least a hydrophobic benefit phase and a surfactant;
• (ii) collecting a test tissue sample from the one or more test surfaces to collect a test portion of biomarker analytes;
• and (iii) detecting in the control portion of biomarker analytes at least one biomarker analyte selected from inflammatory cytokines, natural moisturizing factors, keratin 1, keratin 10, keratin 11, lipids and total protein to generate a test biomarker profile;
• and
• (c) selecting the test composition as effective for improving barrier function if the test biomarker profile as compared with the control biomarker profile shows a relative change in the detected amount of the at least one biomarker, the relative change selected from (i) a decrease in one or more inflammatory cytokines, (ii) an increase in one or more natural moisturizing factors;
• (iii) an increase in one or more of keratin 1, keratin 10 and keratin 11;
• (iv) an increase in one or more lipids;
• and (v) a decrease in total protein.