Efficacy and Safety of a Topical Botanical Extract Formulation for Skin Aging

Efficacy Evaluation of a Botanical Extract in Simple Skincare Formulations for Anti-Ageing: A Single Center, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized, Split-Face Study

This is a single-center, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, split-face, prospective clinical study to evaluate the anti-ageing efficacy and safety of a topical cosmetic formulation containing a botanical extract. 66 female subjects with dry skin were recruited. The study compares the anti-ageing benefits of a formula containing the botanical active extract versus a placebo over a 8-week application period.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Aging; Dry Skin
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Cosmetic Topical Formulation 1; Other: Cosmetic Base of Topical Formulation 1; Other: Cosmetic Topical Formulation 2; Other: Cosmetic Base of Topical Formulation 2

Detailed Description

This is a single-center, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, split-face, prospective clinical study designed to evaluate the anti-ageing efficacy and safety of a botanical extract. 66 subjects with dry skin on both sides of their faces were recruited. A split-face design is utilized in this study. Test products are applied topically twice daily for 56 days.

The primary objective is to assess the skin anti-ageing efficacy (instrumental evaluations including skin tone & wrinkles, and clinical gradings on signs of ageing) of the active botanical extract compared to a placebo. The secondary objective is to investigate potential mechanisms via untargeted proteomics.

Instrumental evaluations and clinical scorings are performed at Baseline, Day 28, and Day 56. Non-invasive D-Squame tape-stripping samplings for proteomics analysis are collected at Baseline and Day 56.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 66
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• China
  • Shanghai, China
    • L'OREAL R&I China

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Chinese female subjects aged 35 to 60 years (inclusive) in good general health based on subjective self-report and investigator assessment.
2. Fitzpatrick skin type II, III, or IV.
3. Self-reported dry skin type.
4. Meets specified skin criteria assessed by investigator: Crow's feet wrinkle grade between 3 and 5 (inclusive), with priority given to subjects with a side-to-side difference ≤ 0.5 in grade.
5. Facial trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) ≥ 6 g/m²·h as measured by Vapometer.
6. Facial stratum corneum hydration level between 20 and 45 (inclusive) as measured by Corneometer.
7. Willing to avoid excessive sun exposure throughout the study period.
8. Females of childbearing potential (FCBP) must agree to use highly effective contraception methods or remain abstinent from 1 month prior to study start through study completion; or postmenopausal females.
9. FCBP must have a negative urine pregnancy test at screening.
10. Willing to undergo tape-stripping procedures for stratum corneum sampling.
11. No other dermatological conditions deemed unsuitable for participation (e.g., facial tattoos, scars).
12. Willing to sign Informed Consent Form (ICF) and Image Authorization Form.
13. Able and willing to comply with all study procedures and visit schedules.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Current pregnancy, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant.
2. Current smokers or history of smoking within the last 6 months (including e-cigarettes/nicotine products).
3. History of facial cosmetic procedures (fillers, lasers, implants, Botox, etc.).
4. Active systemic or localized skin diseases (acne, eczema, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis).
5. Known allergies to cosmetics, personal care products, or their ingredients.
6. Excessive UV exposure or frequent sauna/water sports usage.
7. Use of antihistamines, antibiotics, corticosteroids, or NSAIDs within relevant washout periods.
8. Participation in any other clinical trial within the past 30 days.
9. Planned surgical or invasive procedures during the study period.
10. Individuals deprived of liberty by judicial or administrative order.
11. Subjects who cannot be reached by telephone in case of an emergency.
12. Any other condition that, in the investigator's opinion, makes the subject unsuitable for participation.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Experimental: 0.05% Active Formulation; Formulation with 0.05% botanic extract	Other: Cosmetic Topical Formulation 1; Topical skincare formulation containing Botanical Extract (Concentration 1, 0.05%). Applied topically twice daily for 56 days
Placebo Comparator: Placebo: Vehicle control 1; Applying the placebo formula without active ingredient	Other: Cosmetic Base of Topical Formulation 1; Topical skincare formulation base (identical to Active Formulation 1 but without the active botanical extract). Applied topically twice daily for 56 days.
Experimental: Experimental: 0.14% Active Formulation; Formulation with 0.14% botanic extract	Other: Cosmetic Topical Formulation 2; Topical skincare formulation containing Botanical Extract (Concentration 2, 0.14%). Applied topically twice daily for 56 days.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo: Vehicle Control 2; Applying the placebo formula without active ingredient	Other: Cosmetic Base of Topical Formulation 2; Topical skincare formulation base (identical to Active Formulation 2 but without the active botanical extract). Applied topically twice daily for 56 days.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Instrumental Evaluation of Skin Tone, Elasticity, and Wrinkles	Evaluation of skin color/tone using Colorimeter (CL400), skin elasticity using Cutometer (MPA 580), and crow's feet wrinkles using PRIMOS CR (Canfield Scientific)	Baseline, Day 28, Day 56
Clinical Scoring of Facial Ageing Signs	Dermatological grading of crow's feet wrinkles, forehead wrinkles, fine lines on forehead, inter-ocular wrinkles, underneath eye wrinkles, visual smoothness, tactile smoothness, firmness, and skin elasticity using standard clinical visual/tactile grading scales. crow's feet(0-6, the higher the worse), forehead wrinkles(0-8, the higher the worse), fine lines on the forehead(0-7,the higher the worse), inter-ocular wrinkles(0-7, the higher the worse), underneath eye wrinkles(0-9, the higher the worse),smoothness(Visual)(0-9,the higher the worse), smoothness(tactile)(0-9,the higher the worse), firmness(0-9,the higher the worse), skin elasticity(0-9,the higher the worse)	Baseline, Day 28, and Day 56

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Trans-epidermal water loss(TEWL)	trans-epidermal water loss using Vapometer (Vapometer, Delfin)	Baseline, Day 28, Day 56
Skin Hydration Index	Hydration Index using Corneometer(Corneometer CM 825, Courage-Khazaka)	Baseline, Day 28, Day 56
Epidermal Proteomic Profile Changes	Characterization and untargeted proteomics analysis of epidermal biomarkers obtained via non-invasive tape-stripping (D-Squame) sampling	Baseline and Day 56

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: L'Oreal

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 11, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 29, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 25, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 27, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 18, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): August 24, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 24, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 18, 2026
• Last Verified: August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: ACR_EV_25-11289_01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No