Abstract
The preparation and selection of biobased materials compatible with skin is essential for producing innovative and highly eco-friendly beauty masks. The use of a commercial elastomeric poly(hydroxyalkanoate) and starch was fundamental to select materials for bioplastic films with the necessary resistance in wet conditions, skin compatibility and capacity for a fast release of polysaccharides and similar active and functional molecules. Micrometric calcium carbonate was also used to control the stickiness of film during moulding. Starch release in water was investigated by gravimetric and infrared analyses. The compatibility with skin was investigated via two different in vitro tests based on human keratinocytes and human mesenchymal stromal cells. The materials were highly cytocompatible with skin, enabled immune modulation by keratinocytes and starch release in water up to 49% by weight in 30 min. These outcomes are a good starting point for boosting the production of biobased and biodegradable beauty masks, thus decreasing the impact onto environment of cosmetic products that are currently still mainly produced using petrol-based substrates.
Highlights
Considering environmental concerns, it is necessary to produce more and more commercial products, especially those having a brief life-cycle, with biobased and biodegradable polymers [1,2,3]
The addition of micrometric calcium carbonate was attempted at 7% by weight (BM 2AV and BM SMART) (Table 2)
A commercial elastomeric PHA (EM) and starch were selected for preparing films to be used as beauty mask substrates
Summary
Considering environmental concerns, it is necessary to produce more and more commercial products, especially those having a brief life-cycle, with biobased and biodegradable polymers [1,2,3] Many of these products, such as cosmetics, are naturally oriented towards the use of biobased active molecules and materials and consumers demand is following this direction. Beauty masks are currently produced using wet non-woven tissues, often prepared with petrol-based fibres, packed in sealed total barrier packaging. After their use, these products are not selectively collected, they contribute to increase the non-differentiated part of the urban waste all over the world. The possibility of recycling beauty masks is highly limited because of the Cosmetics 2018, 5, 70; doi:10.3390/cosmetics5040070 www.mdpi.com/journal/cosmetics
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