Revealing Colors of Concealers using the Cary 60 UV-Vis DRA

Importance of the Topic

The accurate determination of color characteristics in cosmetic products such as concealers is essential for consumer satisfaction, marketing differentiation, and quality control. Reliable color measurement ensures shade consistency across production batches and supports development of new pigments with desired visual properties.

Objectives and Study Overview

This application note demonstrates how the Agilent Cary 60 UV-Vis spectrophotometer equipped with an internal diffuse reflectance accessory (DRA) and Cary WinUV Color software can be applied to measure color coordinates of six differently colored powdered concealers.

Methodology and Instrumentation

Powdered concealer samples were spread onto rough transparent plastic sheets using a Kimwipe. Measurements were performed in reflectance mode with a solid film holder positioned at the DRA reflection port. A blank sheet baseline was recorded prior to sample analysis.

• Instrument: Agilent Cary 60 UV-Vis spectrophotometer with internal DRA
• Software: Agilent Cary WinUV Color
• Measurement mode: Diffuse reflectance with specular included
• Scan range: 360–830 nm at 1 nm intervals
• Slit bandwidth (SBW): 1.5 nm; average time: 0.1 s; double-beam mode
• Illuminant: CIE A; Observer angle: 2°

Main Results and Discussion

Reflectance spectra of Teal, Yellow, Salmon, Purple, Brown, and Orange samples showed distinct profiles. The software automatically calculated Tristimulus (x, y, z), Chromaticity (x, y, z), and CIE L*a*b* values for each shade. For example, the Teal sample yielded L*=26.67, a*=-6.31, b*=-2.14, while Yellow produced L*=40.65, a*=2.40, b*=17.34. A chromaticity plot clearly separated the six colors, confirming the method’s sensitivity to subtle hue differences.

Benefits and Practical Applications

This analytical approach offers:

• Rapid, reproducible color quantitation for quality assurance in cosmetics manufacturing
• Flexibility to recalculate data across multiple illuminants and coordinate systems without remeasurement
• Adaptability to various sample types—including powders, films, liquids, and gels—using alternative holders

Future Trends and Applications

Integration of automated sampling and expanded wavelength ranges (UV-Vis-NIR) promises enhanced throughput and deeper insight into cosmetic formulations. Real-time process monitoring and machine-learning-driven analysis are emerging directions to optimize color consistency in production lines.

Conclusion

The Agilent Cary 60 UV-Vis spectrophotometer with internal DRA and Cary WinUV Color software delivers a simple yet powerful solution for characterizing concealer color. Its fast data acquisition, robust software capabilities, and versatile sample handling make it ideal for color-based quality control and product development.

References

• Agilent Cary 60 UV-Vis Spectrophotometer
• Cary 60 UV-Vis Diffuse Reflectance Accessory
• Color Measurements by Agilent UV-Vis and UV-Vis-NIR Spectrophotometers
• Cary WinUV Software for UV-Vis Applications
• UV-Vis Spectroscopy and Spectrophotometry FAQs
• UV-Vis Applications Guide