The emerging role of nanotechnology in skincare

The role of cosmetic products is rapidly evolving in our society, with their use increasingly seen as an essentialcontribution to personal wellness. This suggests the necessity of a detailed elucidation of the use of nanoparticles(NPs) in cosmetics. The aim of the present work is to offer a critical and comprehensive review discussing the im-pact of exploiting nanomaterials in advanced cosmetic formulations, emphasizing the beneficial effects of theirextensive use in next-generation products despite a persisting prejudice around the application of nanotechnol-ogy in cosmetics. The discussion here includes an interpretation of the data underlying generic information re-ported on the product labels of formulations already available in the marketplace, information that often lacksdetailsidentifying specific components of the product, especially when nanomaterials are employed. The empha-sis of this review is mainly focused on skincare because it is believed to be the cosmetics market sector in whichthe impact of nanotechnology is being seen most significantly. To date, nanotechnology has been demonstratedto improve the performance of cosmetics in a number of different ways: 1) increasing both the entrapment effi-ciency and dermal penetration of the active ingredient, 2) controlling drug release, 3) enhancing physical stabil-ity, 4) improving moisturizing power, and 5) providing better UV protection. Specific attention is paid to theeffect of nanoparticles contained in semisolid formulations on skin penetration issues. In light of the emergingconcerns about nanoparticle toxicity, an entire section has been devoted to listing detailed examples ofnanocosmetic products for which safety has been investigated