Two experiments, two development questions
Climate storage and pressure exposure answer different development questions. The climate study measured mass change and examined formulation appearance, applicator condition, and package function. The altitude study looked for leakage or measurable package changes under reduced pressure. Results from the two studies should not be combined into a single pass/fail claim.
| Experiment | Units | Conditions | Observation plan | Primary question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climate storage | 210 total; 70 per variant | -30, 5, 23, 40, and 60 °C; study spanning 226 hours | Seven timepoints; immediate and 4-hour room-temperature observations | Mass change, formulation appearance, applicator condition, and package function |
| Simulated altitude | 54 total; 18 per variant | 18,000, 26,000, and 40,000 ft simulated elevation | Immediate and 4-hour room-temperature/pressure observations | Leakage and package behavior under reduced pressure |
The experiments used the same three anonymized variant labels but were not one combined protocol.
Climate-storage design
The climate experiment included 210 units: 70 per anonymized variant and 14 per variant at each of -30 °C, 5 °C, 23 °C, 40 °C, and 60 °C. The study ran for 226 hours. At each of seven observation points, two units from every variant-temperature group were removed. One was evaluated immediately, and the other was evaluated after four hours at room temperature.
ARE Labs weighed each unit before and after exposure. The inspections covered residue, internal appearance, cap and wand behavior, brush appearance, product accumulation, crystallization, and wiper seating. Because the qualitative accumulation scale was intentionally strict, a slight level-1 observation did not necessarily indicate an unacceptable condition.
Climate-storage results
View figure data as a table
| temperature | Variant A | Variant B | Variant C |
|---|---|---|---|
| -30 °C | 0 mg | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| 5 °C | 0 mg | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| 23 °C | 15 mg | 15 mg | 15 mg |
| 40 °C | 93 mg | 52 mg | 51 mg |
| 60 °C | 88 mg | 95 mg | 90 mg |
Values summarize the climate-storage experiment.
- The 40 °C Variant A bar includes one anomalous 93 mg result; the maximum among the remaining Variant A units was 46 mg.
- The report did not determine the cause of elevated-temperature mass loss.
| Temperature | Units across variants | Variant A | Variant B | Variant C | Observed package/formulation condition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -30 °C | 42 | 0 mg | 0 mg | 0 mg | Frozen immediately after removal; thawed after four hours |
| 5 °C | 42 | 0 mg | 0 mg | 0 mg | Generally normal; occasional slight accumulation |
| 23 °C | 42 | 15 mg | 15 mg | 15 mg | Weight loss observed; occasional accumulation |
| 40 °C | 42 | 93 mg (46 mg among remaining units) | 52 mg | 51 mg | More visible accumulation; a pre-existing residue condition dried or crystallized |
| 60 °C | 42 | 88 mg | 95 mg | 90 mg | All 42 wands bent; all wipers displaced or stuck during opening |
The 93 mg result came from one anomalous Variant A unit. The maximum among the other Variant A units at 40 °C was 46 mg. Cause of mass loss was not determined.
Three abnormalities were documented before climate exposure. One Variant A unit had an internal-leak observation. A second had serum on the exterior, thread, and wand, while one Variant C unit was difficult to open. The unit later photographed with dried or crystallized thread residue at 40 °C was the same unit that had residue before exposure. The image therefore does not establish a new storage-caused leak.
The report did not determine what caused the elevated-temperature mass loss. It discussed possible mechanisms, but none were measured as causal findings.
Altitude-exposure design
The altitude experiment included 54 units: 18 per variant, with six per variant exposed at each simulated elevation. For each variant/elevation combination, three units were inspected immediately and three after four hours at room temperature and pressure. The samples were held close to horizontal in a sealed chamber for 15 minutes at the target condition.
| Simulated altitude | Equivalent absolute pressure | Gauge vacuum | Ramp | Dwell | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18,000 ft | 7.6 psi | -15.0 in Hg | 9 min | 15 min | 18 |
| 26,000 ft | 5.2 psi | -19.5 in Hg | 13 min | 15 min | 18 |
| 40,000 ft | 2.7 psi | -24.5 in Hg | 20 min | 15 min | 18 |
| Variant | 18,000 ft | 26,000 ft | 40,000 ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 0.167 ± 0.408 mg | 0.333 ± 0.516 mg | 0.833 ± 0.753 mg |
| B | 0.667 ± 0.816 mg | 0.333 ± 0.516 mg | 0.500 ± 0.548 mg |
| C | 0.500 ± 0.548 mg | 0.667 ± 0.516 mg | 0.833 ± 0.753 mg |
The report recorded no observed exterior or cap-thread leakage. An internal-visual inconsistency between summary and inspection sheets remains disclosed in the article.
What the altitude results support
The report recorded no exterior or cap-thread leakage at either post-exposure time. Mean weight changes were below 1 mg for every variant/elevation combination. The individual inspection sheets marked the bottom viewing window as cloudy throughout, while the summary described a moving or visible bubble. Because those records are inconsistent, the conclusion is limited to the supported leakage and inspection findings. The data do not support an unqualified statement that every internal-visual observation agreed.
Development interpretation
For this anonymized product-package configuration, elevated temperature produced a clearer package-function signal than the tested reduced-pressure exposures. The most consequential observation involved the working applicator system: at 60 °C, wand deformation coincided with wiper displacement during opening.