{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T00:59:13Z","timestamp":1760057953789,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":41,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,4]],"date-time":"2025-03-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1741046400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Cosmetics"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Developing innovative cosmetics products is essential for businesses in the beauty industry, influencing their ability to grow, remain competitive, and respond to rapidly shifting market trends. A structured, customer-oriented approach to product design and development is particularly crucial in cosmetics, where factors such as product safety, regulatory compliance, and sustainability are paramount. In this context, Conceptual Engineering offers a valuable early-phase framework for cosmetics design, providing a foundation to define the structure, functionality, and feasibility of product concepts prior to detailed development. This study focuses on the application of Conceptual Engineering to the creation of a bio-based cosmetic product, specifically a hair mask. Here, we address unique challenges in cosmetics design, including strict health regulations, ingredient safety, environmental considerations, and cost management in generating and validating product concepts. To meet these demands, we propose an iterative concept development process tailored to cosmetics: a single concept is generated and iteratively refined through feasibility testing, physical validation, and further adaptation based on feedback. Each successful iteration brings the concept closer to market readiness, bridging the gap between sustainable product innovation and practical industrialization. This structured process, implemented in collaboration with an industry partner, underscores the potential of Conceptual Engineering to support sustainable cosmetics design. The case of the bio-based hair mask illustrates how aligning design innovation with environmental and regulatory requirements can enhance the responsiveness of cosmetics companies to consumer demand for eco-friendly products.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/cosmetics12020045","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,4]],"date-time":"2025-03-04T10:43:31Z","timestamp":1741085011000},"page":"45","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["A Conceptual Engineering Approach to Developing a Bio-Based Hair Mask"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"given":"Ana S. P.","family":"Pascoal","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Instituto Polit\u00e9cnico de Coimbra, Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Coimbra, Rua Pedro Nunes, 3030-199 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5883-5516","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria J.","family":"Moura","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Instituto Polit\u00e9cnico de Coimbra, Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Coimbra, Rua Pedro Nunes, 3030-199 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"CERES\u2014Chemical Engineering and Renewable Resources for Sustainability, Universidade de Coimbra, Rua S\u00edlvio Lima, P\u00f3lo II, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3393-4427","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Paula C. N.","family":"Ferreira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Instituto Polit\u00e9cnico de Coimbra, Instituto de Investiga\u00e7\u00e3o Aplicada, Rua da Miseric\u00f3rdia, Lagar dos Corti\u00e7os, S. Martinho do Bispo, 3045-093 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Mara L. C.","family":"Ramos","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dermicalab, Lda., Zona Industrial Casal do Cego, Rua do Com\u00e9rcio, Lote 19, 2415-830 Marrazes, Portugal"}]},{"given":"M\u00f3nica A. N.","family":"Salavessa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dermicalab, Lda., Zona Industrial Casal do Cego, Rua do Com\u00e9rcio, Lote 19, 2415-830 Marrazes, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2550-4320","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Belmiro P. M.","family":"Duarte","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Instituto Polit\u00e9cnico de Coimbra, Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Coimbra, Rua Pedro Nunes, 3030-199 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"CERES\u2014Chemical Engineering and Renewable Resources for Sustainability, Universidade de Coimbra, Rua S\u00edlvio Lima, P\u00f3lo II, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Instituto Nacional de Sistemas de Engenharia e Computadores\u2014Coimbra, Universidade de Coimbra, Rua S\u00edlvio Lima, P\u00f3lo II, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,3,4]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Ulrich, K.T., and Eppinger, S.D. (2016). Product Design and Development, McGraw-Hill. [6th ed.]."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Cooper, R.G. (1993). Winning at New Products: Accelerating the Process from Idea to Launch, Addison-Wesley. 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