Daily Exfoliation and Skin Regeneration: An OUMERE Laboratory Study

Research Lead: Wendy Ouriel, M.S.
Institution: OUMERE Laboratories, Palm Beach, FL

The current project underway in OUMERE Labs aims to examine the cellular-level changes in skin following daily exfoliation using No. 9 Exfoliant, compared against untreated control skin. The study is now on day five of seven, with histological preparation scheduled to begin upon completion of the exfoliation phase.

This initial run serves as a technical calibration study—to refine embedding, fixation, staining, and sectioning methods before expanding into a larger sample size. Once these protocols are optimized, the study will proceed with a full-scale replication using 12 wells (11 experimental, 1 control).

Materials & Methods

Human skin samples were obtained from Genoskin (donated live tissue). Each sample is biopsied into 11 mm sections and maintained in a 12-well plate at 37°C in a CO₂ incubator. Growth medium is refreshed daily to sustain tissue viability.

Each specimen was kept in a CO₂ incubator at 37°C per manufacturer guidelines.

Experimental Protocol

One sample (experimental) was treated daily at 10:00 AM with a cotton swab saturated in No. 9 Exfoliant. The control sample was swabbed at the same time with distilled water. After treatment, both were returned to the incubator for 24 hours.

Next Steps

Following the 7-day exposure phase, the specimens will undergo histological processing using electron microscopy embedding techniques—not for electron visualization, but to produce higher-fidelity sections for light microscopy analysis.

This will include:

• Fixation with picric acid
• Stepwise dehydration through ascending alcohol concentrations
• Epoxy resin embedding (instead of paraffin)
• Ultratome sectioning for light microscopy
• Contrast staining for structural visualization

The entire preparation will span approximately one week. Once complete, the specimens will be analyzed for morphological differences and extracellular matrix density.

Predicted Results

The working hypothesis predicts a visible increase in tissue thickness in the exfoliated samples compared to control, driven by upregulation of extracellular matrix proteins and improved skin renewal rate. Future quantitative measurements will examine collagen and elastin density within the dermal matrix.

Editor’s Lab Note

This ongoing project exemplifies OUMERE’s evidence-first approach to skincare science: applying full histological rigor—fixation, embedding, sectioning, staining—to understand how real skin changes under exposure to biologically balanced formulations. The study merges classical microscopy craftsmanship with modern skincare biology, ensuring every OUMERE formulation is validated at the cellular level before it reaches a bottle.

Further Reading & Research

• The Lost Art of Electron Microscopy — and Why Modern Skin Science Needs It Back
• Hyaluronic Acid Does Not Hold 1000× Its Weight in Water
• The Science of Anti-Aging
• Barrier Repair After Retinoid or Acid Damage
• No. 9 Daily Chemical Exfoliant
• Research & Methods at OUMERE Labs