Quantification of the Color Transfer from Long‐Wear Face Foundation Products: The Relevance of Wettability

Foundation products are expected to fulfill a myriad of functions including the ability to resist transfer from the skin to contacting surfaces. To evaluate the quantity of foundation transfer, four currently marketed foundation products containing four distinct film-formers were tested in both in vitro and in vivo settings. Contact angle measurements on each product were taken to examine the role that surface wettability has on foundation transfer. Quantification of foundation transfer was carried out using image analysis techniques on fabric contacted with applied foundation. Results showed transfer to be relatively independent of contact angle of water on the foundation surface. The extent of transfer exhibited by foundations was determined to be largely dependent on the synergy of foundation compositional elements such as film-formers, emulsifying agents, and fillers and less dependent on constituents involved in achieving shade variance. Furthermore, properties of the application surface were shown to have an impact on the overall transfer resistance. Correlations between in vitro and in vivo assessments were observed as well, providing valuable insights into future directions for the evaluation of foundation transfer.