OBJECTIVES: The assessment of quality of life (QoL) in dermatology is becoming increasingly popular as demonstrated by the creation and development of numerous questionnaires for the principal diseases of the skin. Paradoxically, although cosmetic dermatology is rapidly developing, there is no questionnaire to assess the impact of these products on the QoL of the women that use them. There was therefore a need for the creation of the Cosmeti QoL. METHODS: The questionnaire was developed using rigorous methodology in accordance with international standards in terms of quality of life. A literary review and face-to-face interviews were conducted to identify the concepts that preoccupied women over 25 years of age. Twenty-two items were identified after the first transcription; this was reduced to 12 items after an initial analysis making it easier to use. A representative population of 1002 French women aged 25 years and over, was put together by the CSA Santé institute using the quota method. They were given the Cosmeti QoL; the lower the score the better the Qol RESULTS: The questionnaire is easy to use, good comprehension of the questions was observed. The Cosmeti QoL score is correlated to age. An improved QoL is seen in women who frequently use a moisturising cream (13.7 vs. 14.23, p<0.001). Sensitive skin resulted in poorer QoL (14.77 vs. 13.34 p<0.001), the frequency of episodes of sunburn during childhood also reduced the QoL (14.96 vs. 13.86 p<0.001). In the population over 65 years of age, the QoL was superior in women who claimed to use cosmetic, anti-wrinkle, or moisturising products on a regular basis. CONCLUSIONS: The Cosmeti QoL scale, which is essentially based on the women’s point of view, is a valid, pertinent, and well accepted tool enabling the assessment of quality of life perceived through the skin.