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Leading companies such as Unilever, The L'OCCITANE Group, COSMAX, Perrigo, and Shiseido work with KIND TO BIOME.
Leading companies such as Unilever, The L'OCCITANE Group, COSMAX, Perrigo, and Shiseido choose KIND TO BIOME because of the scientific robustness of their unique testing protocols. In the light of the global regulatory landscape, their comprehensive In Vitro + Ex Vivo protocols offer certainty with regards to claim substantiation while being a budget-friendly alternative.
The KIND TO BIOME Quality Seal is registered in more than 30 countries including the largest cosmetic markets worldwide and is used to certify the microbiome-gentleness of final formulas and raw materials.
Importantly, the KIND TO BIOME Mark of Approval provides consumers with dependable third-party assurance for the skin microbiome-gentleness of products. It also provides a framework for Personal Care Products (e.g. Oral Care, Facial Care, Feminine Products, Deodorants, Hand Soaps, Body Soaps, Sexual Wellness products, etc.) to make sense of microbiome claims and claim substantiation.
KIND TO BIOME offers a unique and meticulously designed In Vitro + Ex Vivo approach to microbiome claim substantiation.
KIND TO BIOME focuses on what matters the most; namely, the scientific robustness of testing and claim substantiation. KIND TO BIOME's protocols are unique and comprehensive in many ways, but perhaps most importantly due to their complementing Ex Vivo phase. Their protocols consist of 4 phases, investigating products' influence on our natural and pathogenic flora, as well as on the biodiversity of the microbiome. More specifically:
Phase 1: Microbiological Purity
The product is tested for its microbiologically sterility according to ISO 17516:2014. This includes analyses for Total Aerobic Microbial Count, Yeasts Molds Count, and specific pathogens like E. coli and S. aureus. Products must pass this phase to move forward.
Phase 2: Preserving Natural Flora
This phase simulates the product's interaction with natural flora, crucial for maintaining a healthy microbiome. It verifies that the product sustains the population of natural microorganisms, a key parameter in determining microbiome friendliness of products. This phase is carried out through single strain inoculation of laboratory grade strains against a control.
Phase 3: Effect on Pathogenic Flora
This phase assesses the product’s impact against opportunistic pathogens present in its application area. This phase helps us understand the product’s effect against potentially harmful microorganisms. This phase is also carried out through single strain inoculation of laboratory grade strains against a control.
Phases 2 and 3 include species that represent about 90-95+ % of the microbiome of the specific area of application. With phase 4 the testing is concluded by assessing the effect of the products on the entirety of our microbiome.
Phase 4: Microbiome Balance
Crucially, KIND TO BIOME’s testing protocol involves an Ex Vivo approach where products are tested on swabs from certified volunteers. This phase is aimed at bridging the gap between In Vitro and In Vivo studies, examining the product’s impact on an actual human microbiome. This phase allows us to assess the product’s impact on biodiversity and is carried out through co-culture inoculation of live strains.
KIND TO BIOME offers protocols for all areas of the body.
Having available testing protocols for all areas of the body, where cosmetics can be applied, allows KIND TO BIOME to assess all final products and raw materials according to their intended area of application. See below protocol examples.
• Face
• Body
• Scalp
• Feet
• Baby’s skin (general and nappy area)
• Forehead and other sebaceous areas
• Armpit and other moist skin areas
• Hand (volar forearm) and other dry areas
• Intimate area (vaginal and vulva)
• Nasal cavity
• Oral
• Palm of hand
• Acne prone skin
Based on KIND TO BIOME's scientifically validated testing protocols the following type of claims are enabled:
Skin/scalp microbiome-gentle
Skin/scalp microbiome-friendly
Does not disturb/interfere with the all-important skin/scalp microbiome
Respects the natural microbiome of healthy skin/scalp
Maintains the skin microbiome balance of healthy skin/scalp
IN THE NEWS: KIND TO BIOME Certifies Eight Cosmetic Ingredients from COSMAX BTI
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