Skin colorimetric parameters involved in skin age perception

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Optical Physics
• Consumer Science

Background:

• Facial attributes like wrinkles and skin properties influence age perception.
• Consumer interpretation of 'skin age' is linked to skin's optical and colorimetric characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare skin's colorimetric and optical diffusion properties with consumer perception of 'skin age'.
• To identify key optical parameters influencing perceived skin age in facial areas without wrinkles.

Main Methods:

• Acquisition of controlled lighting skin images using Visia CR.
• Selection of cheek skin sections, excluding wrinkles and feature lines, for consumer evaluation.
• Analysis of optical roughness and colorimetric parameters (LCH color space) in selected skin sections.

Main Results:

• Chroma (color saturation), lightness, and local light-diffusion significantly impact perceived skin age.
• Consumers consider large-scale inhomogeneities (0.8-2 cm(-1)) in chroma and lightness.
• Skin hue variations showed no correlation with consumer grading of skin age.

Conclusions:

• Optical properties, specifically chroma and lightness, are key determinants of perceived skin age.
• The absence of correlation with hue suggests it's not a primary factor in visual age assessment.
• Understanding these optical parameters can advance methods for objective skin age evaluation.