Cosmetic Ingredient: Metabolism and Mechanism

Abstract

As additives, scents, preservatives, stabilizers, surfactants, stains, and shine, a variety of chemical substances have been added into the creation of cosmetic, beauty, and personal care products. Many of these compounds, on the other hand, are bioactive, ecologically persistent, and have the potential to bioaccumulate, posing a major hazard to the environment and human health. To genuinely address this issue, new techniques and approaches are necessary. This review summarizes the use of preservatives, pigments, and UV filters in cosmetics. The mechanisms of toxicities of preservative, such as parabens, benzalkonium chloride, and chlorphenesin are illustrated. Parabens have non-cutaneous adverse health effects, including infertility, spermatogenesis, adipogenesis, and perinatal exposure effects. Benzalkonium chloride in preservative decreased cell viability and caused apoptotic cell death in vitro. Pigment also played an important role in cosmetics and, some pigmentations in cosmetics are made by heavy metal or have heavy metal as ingredients. Cadmium and Chromium are two commonly used heavy metal in cosmetics. UV filters absorb UV energy and transform it chemically, which can lead to breakdown and the formation of photo-unstable reactive intermediates. Future research may focus on the safety assessment of specific substance in the application of cosmetics.