As nanotechnology gains growing interest and popularity from a wide range of industries, in this review special focus is given to the cosmetics industry, one of the first industries to implement nanomaterials. Among the different types of extensively utilized nanoparticles, silica stands out with its unique physicochemical characteristics and favorable benefits. This article presents several common synthetic methods for nanoscale silica. In addition, its distinctive features and numerous advantages are reviewed, followed by its varieties of uses in the cosmetics industry, in terms of skin care, make-up, hair care, and dental care products. However, considering the large-scale applications of silica nanoparticles, their potentially hazardous impacts on humans and the environment cannot be overlooked. Concerns over possible health risks and environmental harms that nanoparticles may cause arise among the general public and are becoming increasingly widespread. The potential toxicity of nanoscale silica to humans and its detrimental environmental effects are also discussed in this paper. Since further incorporation of nanomaterials into cosmetics has now been limited, more thorough and detailed regulations, safety assessments, as well as toxicological investigations and characterizations are encouraged and required to allow for the future development of nanotechnology.