Psychophysical factors structuring the feel of skin lotion were determined from the subjective estimation of tactile sensation and whole impression. First, 300 words expressing the feel of skin lotion were collected, synonyms were reduced, and then 41 words were selected to make a questionnaire. The 41 words were deviled into 3 categories; the tactile sensations of skin lotion in application (A), the tactile sensations of skin surface after application (B), and the impressions as a whole (C). Subjects were 240 female volunteers (aged 20-49yr), who were classified into three groups according to the self-reported skin surface conditions; oily, normal, and dry. In the experiment 16 skin lotions were used, each of which had different textural properties. Subjects were assigned to each lotion according to our experimental design, and they were asked to use the lotion and to estimate their feel by an 8-point scale on each of 41 words.
Factor analysis was applied to each words category, and 7 factors could be identified; sticky BETATSUKI and slimy NUMERI obtained from category A, sticky BETATSUKI, softness YAWARAKA and smooth SARASARA obtained from category B, and comfortableness KAITEKIKAN and refreshed SAPPARIKAN obtained from category C. Factor analysis was applied to each of oily, normal, and dry skin group. No obvious difference could be found between these three groups concerning the psychophysical factors structuring the feel of skin lotion. Furthermore, the multiple regression analysis applied to the factor scores showed that the higher the estimation of skin softness is, the higher the scores of comfortableness are (standard partial regression coefficient: 0.44). The study showed an approach to survey the relationship between comfortableness and tactile sensation of skin lotions.
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