Abstract: A method and apparatus for assessing characteristics of a semisolid material is provided. The method and apparatus are particularly well suited for the testing of semisolid cosmetic products in stick form such as lipsticks, lip salves, and deodorant sticks. The method includes testing the rate of deposition of the semisolid material onto a substrate when a test sample of the material is moved against the substrate under controlled conditions. The method also includes measuring the drag on a test sample of the material when the test sample is moved against the substrate under controlled conditions. The illustrated testing apparatus permits a researcher to perform these tests on a test sample. The testing results in qualitative, reproducible data which can be used to compare different batches of the semisolid materials for consistency, and which can be correlated with qualitative human test panel data about the semisolid material for research and development purposes.