Testing on a Budget: A Smart Sequence for Indie Beauty Brands

Clinical testing is essential, but when you're working with limited time and budget, it can be hard to know where to start. At Orivida Research, we work with emerging and indie brands every day to help prioritize testing without cutting corners on safety or credibility.

Here’s our recommended testing order when the budget (or launch timelines) is tight:

1. Start with PET: Preservative Efficacy Testing

Before anything else, make sure your formula can prevent microbial contamination over time. PET (Preservative Efficacy Testing) — also called USP <51> — evaluates how your preservative system performs against common microbes like bacteria, yeast, and mold.

🟢 Why it matters:
If your product fails PET, it isn't safe, and there’s no point moving on to further testing until it's reformulated.

2. Begin Stability Testing Early

Ideally, you would complete stability testing before starting any other studies. This ensures the product being tested is the same from start to finish.

But we understand that timelines don’t always allow for that. In that case:

🟡 What we recommend:
Start stability testing as soon as your formula is finalized and packaging is selected. Even if you're in a rush, aim for at least 3 months of accelerated stability data before proceeding to clinical or perception testing.

This gives you enough confidence that the formula won’t separate, oxidize, or degrade while in the middle of a study, which could invalidate your results.

3. HRIPT: Test for Skin Safety

The Human Repeat Insult Patch Test (HRIPT) is the gold standard for assessing irritation and sensitization potential. If you plan to market your product as “non-irritating,” “clinically tested”, “dermatologist tested”, or “safe for sensitive skin,” this test is a must.

🟢 Why it matters:
HRIPT provides human data to support safety claims, and some retailers now require it.

4. Add Safety in Use + Consumer Perception (If Budget Allows)

If your budget allows, a Safety in Use Study is a great next step. This involves supervised, real-world product use over 2–4 weeks, with dermatological assessments for tolerance and skin compatibility.

For additional value, you can combine it with a Consumer Perception questionnaire. While the clinical team is monitoring for adverse reactions, participants can also report their own experience, giving you real, usable marketing language like:

- “92% said their skin felt softer after two weeks”
- “88% noticed a visible improvement in texture”

🟡 Tip:
Combining the two helps you stretch your budget and maximize ROI on each study.

5. After Launch: Invest in Instrumental Testing

Once your product is on the market and revenue is flowing, you can consider instrumental efficacy testing to support advanced claims. These include:

- Hydration (Corneometer)
- Barrier repair / TEWL (Tewameter )
- VISIA
- Sebum or oil control (Sebumeter)

Instrumental studies provide quantifiable data that enhance the credibility of your claims and align with industry expectations for evidence-based marketing.

Final Thoughts

Testing doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. By starting with PET and stability, then layering on HRIPT and optional safety-in-use or perception testing, you can build a launch-ready testing package that fits your current stage and grows with your brand.

Need help designing a customized testing roadmap?
Email us at hello@orivida-research.com, and we’d be happy to walk through options that work with your budget and timeline.