In this case study, we demonstrate how APLUSA’s global aesthetics research expertise enabled a leading international aesthetics manufacturer to identify the most compelling product combination for a next-generation skin quality injectable. Using a robust, data-driven approach, we translated practitioner insights into a clear formulation strategy with strong potential for commercial success.

Background

The aesthetics market is a dynamic segment. Patients are seeking natural-looking, minimally invasive treatments to improve overall skin quality. With rising competition and rapid innovation, manufacturers must make confident, data-driven decisions about formulation and positioning.

For this project, we partnered with a leading global aesthetics company known for its strong R&D capabilities and injectable expertise.

Their goal was to determine which combination of ingredients, benefits, indications, device features, and pricing would create the most compelling and commercially viable skin quality product.

Meet your study partners

With more than 25 years of expertise, APLUSA has established one of the most comprehensive global footprints in aesthetics market research. In just the past three years, we have delivered 40+ dermatological/ Skin care projects, conducting over 5,000 expert interviews each year across 30+ countries.

Our work spans a wide spectrum of therapy areas. From aesthetics and fillers to wound care, atopic dermatitis, acne, and more, collaborating closely with dermatologists, aesthetic physicians, plastic surgeons, pharmacists, and nurses. This depth of experience enables us to bring unmatched insight into practitioner needs, treatment trends, and commercial opportunities in the aesthetics space.

Objectives

Business Objective

Define the optimal combination of product attributes for a new skin quality injectable, supporting both R&D decision-making and commercialization strategy.

Research Objectives

The study aimed to:

• Assess how specific ingredient combinations influence HCP preference
• Identify the most appealing formulation aligned with real clinical practice
• Determine which product profile holds the greatest potential for market demand and adoption

Methods

To address these objectives, APLUSA delivered a 20-minute quantitative study featuring a Choice-Based Conjoint (CBC) exercise, a powerful analytic approach that reveals how practitioners make real-world trade-offs when selecting among product options.

What the Conjoint Method Measured

Respondents were presented with a set of products varying combinations of product attributes, such as ingredient mixes, benefits, indications, delivery mechanisms, and pricing, and asked to choose between them. This method replicates actual clinical decision-making, uncovering the true drivers of product desirability.

Based on respondents’ selections across multiple trade-off scenarios, the model calculates the relative value of each attribute, reflecting actual choice behavior rather than self-reported preferences. This approach ensures insights are grounded in how practitioners truly make decisions, not what they say they would choose.

We provided our client with an interactive choice-based model, enabling them to test and optimize different product configurations and simulate how changes in ingredients, benefits, or other features would impact practitioner preference and adoption.

Results

The study highlighted the strong and growing role of skin quality injections in aesthetic practice.

Practitioners show interest in emerging ingredient classes, especially when combined with proven components, alongside clear expectations for safety, efficacy, natural results, and broader treatment areas.

The conjoint analysis pinpointed the specific features across ingredients, benefits, indications, and delivery that most influence practitioner choice, enabling a precise and evidence-backed formulation strategy.

Discussion

This research highlights the complexity of designing a competitive skin quality product. Success relies not only on choosing the right hero ingredient but on balancing a full ecosystem of attributes: efficacy, safety, benefits, indications, device format, and price.

Practitioners are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their evaluation criteria, demanding evidence-backed combinations that align with a holistic treatment philosophy. The winning formulation, emerging clearly through conjoint analytics, struck the ideal balance between clinical credibility, innovation, and practicality.

For the client, this provided a decisive foundation for product development and future market positioning, reducing uncertainty and accelerating strategic alignment between R&D, medical affairs, and commercial teams.

Conclusion

Through advanced statistical analytics, in conjunction with deep category expertise, APLUSA enabled the client to confidently identify the optimal product combination for a high-potential skin quality injectable from a HCP’s perspective.

The findings offered:

• Clear direction on the most attractive formulation profile
• Validation of key ingredients and benefits that resonate with HCPs
• Evidence-based insight into pricing and delivery expectations
• Strategic clarity to support launch planning and market success

This project exemplifies how APLUSA’s global experience, methodological rigor, and aesthetics specialization empower companies to make informed, market-ready decisions.

Looking to validate your next aesthetics innovation?

APLUSA is the global partner of choice for data-driven, high-impact insights in the aesthetics market.

Get in touch to discuss your next challenge or to learn more about our proprietary study solutions for aesthetics brands.