Active Ingredients and Carriers in Nutritional Eco-Cosmetics

Abstract

Beauty and personal care became a significant part of the global economy for two reasons: (1) The elderly growing in the global population and (2) the desire of women and men to appear younger and more attractive. Thus, both young and old people are looking for revolutionary nutritional eco-cosmetics (combined use of cosmeceuticals and nutraceuticals) manufactured by natural active ingredients, using biopolymers as substrates, and made by innovative and sustainable technologies. Consequently, the market of both cosmetics and diet supplements is continually growing together with the request of natural active ingredients, including bio-peptides and biological macromolecules such as chitin and lignin. Therefore, both consumers and industry need to recover innovative active ingredients and carriers (vehicles), naturally derived and supported by advanced methods for controlling their effectiveness and safeness on skin and mucous membrane layers. The use of selected bio-ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid and bio-mimetic peptides, obtained by advanced, innovative and sustainable bio nanotechnologies, will be of interest to develop smart cosmeceutical and nutraceutical formulations. Innovation is considered the key business strategy to drive sustainable economic growth. For trying to reduce waste and produce sustainable, biodegradable and innovative products, the realization of new non-woven tissues, used as carriers for making innovative cosmeceuticals and nutraceuticals was considered. Both carriers and active ingredients have been obtained from food waste to reduce loss and pollution. This review will report a brief description of the skin functions, trying also to focus and discuss some of the active ingredients and carriers used in nutritional eco-cosmetics to clarify the supposed mechanism of action, effectiveness and safeness of both active ingredients and carriers, as well as the supposed activity of beauty and personal care products.

Does the purchase intention of green consumers align with their zero-waste buying behaviour? An empirical study on a proactive approach towards embracing waste-free consumption

“…Bio nanotechnology has emerged as a crucial player in this sector, driving innovation and progress. The integration of bio nanotechnology enables the formulation of products that not only cater to cosmetic needs but also adhere to eco-friendly principles [ 27 ]. In the pursuit of sustainable cosmetics, researchers are exploring a rich array of natural active ingredients.…”

Smart Tissue Carriers for Innovative Cosmeceuticals and Nutraceuticals

“…However, it seems important to underline that skin penetration-which is achieved through two principal ways (i.e., intercellular and trans-cellular (Figure 2))-is affected and depends on the integrity of SC, as well as on the particle size, the lipophilic-hydrophilic gradients, the pH and the isoelectric point of the products applied to its surface [11,12]. [11]).…”

“…However, it seems important to underline that skin penetration-which is achieved through two principal ways (i.e., intercellular and trans-cellular (Figure 2))-is affected and depends on the integrity of SC, as well as on the particle size, the lipophilichydrophilic gradients, the pH and the isoelectric point of the products applied to its surface [11,12]. It is also important to remember that one of the fundamental cosmetic functions for both skin and mucous membranes is to maintain their flexibility and hydration state with the presence of the right content of bound water, which has to be greater than 10%.…”

“…With respect to this purpose, our research group proposed the use of natural polymers to make biodegradable packaging [6], as well as tissues to be used as new smart containers and carriers for producing innovative cosmeceuticals and nutraceuticals that are human body and environmentally friendly [12].…”

Towards Sustainable Color Cosmetics Packaging

“…This growth was supported on the consumer side by increased prosperity, population growth and aging, and the presence of more women in the workplace [2]. The global beauty and personal care market was worth around USD 565 billion in 2022 and is projected to be worth USD 758 billion by 2025 [3]; and is estimated to be the third fastest market overall in terms of growth [4].…”