Abstract

COSMECEUTICALS AN EMERGING TECHNOLOGY– A REVIEW

Radhika Parasuram Rajam*, Sivaranjani Kannan and Deepa Kajendran

Abstract

Currently a new term in the cosmetic industry is Cosmeceuticals, which is the fastest growing segment of the natural personal care trade. Cosmeceuticals are cosmetic products with biologically active ingredients purporting to have medical or drug-like benefits. Cosmeceuticals are used to improve and nourish the skin appearance and to treat different dermatologic conditions. Cosmeceuticals are meant to improve appearance by delivering nutrients necessary for healthy skin. The efficacy of a cosmetic product depends not only on the active ingredients but also on the delivery system to improve its efficacy. Most of the cosmeceuticals have been developed with claims of antiwrinkle and firming, moisturizing and lifting, skin toning and whitening activity; the antiaging category of skin care products shows presently the highest growth rates. The cosmeceuticals product are most beneficial than cosmetics because it provides beauty as well as therapeutic effect. Careful preclinical or clinical evaluation of efficacy and safety is a prerequisite for the development of a specific cosmeceutical product. This article reviews some of the ingredients that are currently in use or might be potential candidates in cosmeceuticals of different categories.

Keywords: Cosmeceuticals, sunscreen agents, moisturizing agent, Anti-aging, Hyperpigmentation, Nano cosmeceuticals.