Nanotechnology Driven Cosmetic Products: Commercial and Regulatory Milestones

Background: Nanotechnology has found manifold applications in both medicine and cosmetics. It has lead to various beauty solutions by innovating products with nanoparticles or nanocolloidal carriers that can go deeper below the skin surface to give better results. This technology has been used in skin care formulations like sunscreens, antiaging creams, etc. Many natural sunscreen agents (Retinol and Vitamin E) and physical sunscreens (Titanium dioxide and Zinc oxide) have been tried successfully in cosmetics by converting into nanoproducts. Objective: Almost 15000 personal care products and more than 7000 constituents ingredients consists of nanotechnology although, their exposures and potential risks are poorly understood. Various reports of toxicity have lead to concerns for consumer issues like safety, stability, and effectiveness of these products. Various regulatory bodies existing in the world are handling this critical pathway in their own niche. Although issues related to nanotechnology have been addressed but no harmonized status regarding safety, toxicity, and labeling of nanocosmetics is available. Discussion: USFDA has taken an initiative and various committees have been constituted which are involved in deliberations with the manufacturers for making regulatory guidelines for ensuring the safety of the consumers. European Union and Therapeutic Goods Administration have their own perspectives. This article discusses the various regulatory guidelines of nanocosmetics, their applications, issues, and challenges related to consumers.