## 3 Results
In contrast, the placebo group showed a significant increase (8.67 \(\rightarrow\) 9.42, \(p=0.023\)), suggesting a deterioration in skin uniformity. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (\(p=0.040\)), highlighting the beneficial effect of _K. elatine_ on skin structure (Table 3). Although the changes were not statistically significant, the _K. elatine-treated_ group showed only a slight increase in wrinkle depth from 0.07 to 0.08 mm (\(p=0.520\)), whereas the placebo group exhibited a greater increase from 0.09 to 0.14 mm (\(p=0.178\)). The between-group difference (\(p=0.516\)) was not significant; however, the smaller change observed in the group applying the cream with the extract may have indicated a mild protective or anti-ageing effect (Table 3). The group treated with _K. elatine_ cream showed a significant reduction in vascular lesions, decreasing from 2.72 to 1.54 mm\({}^{2}\) (\(p=0.011\)), suggesting a calming effect on the skin. In contrast, the placebo group experienced a significant increase in vascular changes from 1.78 to 2.83 mm\({}^{2}\) (\(p=0.002\)), indicating a deterioration. The statistically significant difference between groups (\(p=0.005\)) supports the potential soothing and anti-inflammatory properties of _K. elatine_ (Table 3). \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c c c} \hline \multirow{2}{*}{**Skin Parameter**} & \multicolumn{3}{c}{**Placebo**} & \multicolumn{3}{c}{**Cream Containing _K. elatine_ Cell Extract**} & \multirow{2}{*}{\(p\)**-Value Between Groups**} \\  & \multicolumn{3}{c}{**(\(\textit{n}=20\))**} & & & **(\(\textit{n}=20\))** & & **After** & **Before** & **After** \\  & **Before** & **After** & **Before** & **After** & **After** & **After** \\ \hline Skin structure & 8.67 \(\rightarrow\) 1.43 & 9.42 \(\pm\) 1.64 & 9.23 \(\pm\) 1.24 & 8.50 \(\pm\) 1.02 & 0.191 \({}^{\circ}\) & 0.040 \({}^{\circ\circ}\) \\ _p-_value & & 0.023 \(\star\)a  & 0.028 \(\pm\)a  & 0.011 \(\star\)b  & 0.040 \(\star\)c  \\  & & 0.023 \(\star\)a  & 0.028 \(\star\)a  & 0.028 \(\star\)a  & 0.08 \(\pm\)a  & 0.011 \(\star\)b  & 0.0516 \(\star\)b  \\  & & 0.178 b  & 0.283 \(\pm\)a  & 2.72 \(\pm\)a  & 1.54 \(\pm\)a  & 0.019 \(\star\)b  & 0.005 \(\star\)b [ENDFOOTNOTE] \\  & & 0.002 \(\star\)b  & 0.011 \(\star\)b  & 0.005 \(\star\)b [ENDFOOTNOTE] \\ Skin discolouration  & 18.06 \(\pm\)a  & 22.71 \(\pm\)a  & 20.98 \(\pm\)a  & 14.84 \(\pm\)a  & 0.029 \(\star\)b  & \(<0.001\)\({}^{\circ}\)b [ENDFOOTNOTE] \\ \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 3: Skin parameter values before and after six weeks of application of placebo or cream containing _K. elatine_ cell extract, measured using Nati Skin Analyzer. The _K. elatine_-treated group demonstrated a significant reduction in skin discolouration, decreasing from 20.98% to 14.84% (_p_ < 0.001), indicating an improvement in skin tone uniformity. In contrast, the placebo group showed a significant increase in discolouration from 18.06% to 22.71% (_p_ < 0.001), reflecting a deterioration in pigmentation. The highly significant difference between the groups (_p_ < 0.001) highlights the skin-brightening and tone-evening potential of the _K. elatine_ extract (Table 3). We conducted a comparison of the evaluation between the placebo and cream containing _K. elatine_ cell extract based on nine attributes: colour, consistency, fragrance intensity, fragrant note, spreadability, absorption, effectiveness, and general assessment (Figure 4). The test was important to understand the receptiveness of participants to the studied product for formulation improvement [34]. In general, the participants gave positive reviews  
Figure 3: Skin parameter changes were assessed using the Nati Skin Analyzer after six weeks of applying the cream containing _K. elatine_ cell extract. (general assessment average score of 16.8 for both creams). Furthermore, the addition of the _K. elatine_ cell extract retained the same efficiency (15.8) and spreadability (18.2) as the placebo (15.6 and 18.2, respectively).