Cosmetics are substances and formulated products applied to the skin, hair, nails, lips, and other external parts of the body to cleanse, beautify, alter appearance, or maintain condition. They include skincare preparations, color cosmetics, haircare and oral-care products, fragrances, and sun-protection formulation…
Cosmetics are substances and formulated products applied to the skin, hair, nails, lips, and other external parts of the body to cleanse, beautify, alter appearance, or maintain condition. They include skincare preparations, color cosmetics, haircare and oral-care products, fragrances, and sun-protection formulations. A typical cosmetic combines functional ingredients, such as emollients, humectants, surfactants, pigments, antioxidants, and active botanicals, with a delivery base and stabilizing, preserving, and sensory agents. Formulation science addresses how these components interact to achieve performance, stability, and acceptable texture, while dermatological and toxicological evaluation considers skin penetration, irritation, sensitization, and allergic contact reactions to constituents including fragrances and plant-derived oils. Increasing interest centers on naturally derived and biotechnologically produced ingredients, such as plant extracts, essential oils, algal and microbial products, and lipids, valued for emollient, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and conditioning properties. Regulatory frameworks govern ingredient safety, labeling, and permissible claims, distinguishing cosmetic effects from therapeutic ones. The study of cosmetics spans formulation chemistry, ingredient sourcing and characterization, efficacy and stability testing, and assessment of safety and tolerability, including contact hypersensitivity, supporting the development of products that are effective, stable, and safe for routine use across diverse populations and skin types.
6 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 6 articles above have been cited 557 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Cosmetics, linking to each citing work.