Morphological criteria of feminine upper eyelashes, quantified by a new semi-automatized image analysis: Application to the objective assessment of mascaras.

BACKGROUND

The wide diversity of feminine eyelashes in shape, length, and curvature makes it a complex domain that remains to be quantified in vivo, together with their changes brought by application of mascaras that are visually assessed by women themselves or make-up experts.

METHODS

A dedicated software was developed to semi-automatically extract and quantify, from digital images (frontal and lateral pictures), the major parameters of feminine eyelashes of Mexican and Caucasian women and to record the changes brought by the applications of various mascaras and their brushes, being self or professionally applied.

RESULTS

The diversity of feminine eyelashes appears as a major influencing factor in the application of mascaras and their related results. Eight marketed mascaras and their respective brushes were tested and their quantitative profiles, in terms of coverage, morphology, or curvature were assessed. Standard applications by trained aestheticians led to higher and more homogeneous deposits of mascara, as compared to those resulting from self-applications.

CONCLUSION

The developed software appears a precious tool for both quantifying the major characteristics of eyelashes and assessing the making-up results brought by mascaras and their associated brushes.