Cosmeceuticals: Nanotechnology-Based Strategies for the Delivery of Phytocompounds

Cosmeceuticals are innovative emerging health and beauty aid products that combine the benefits of cosmetic active ingredients and often innovative technological solutions of formulation and delivery. For decades, phytocompounds have been used in cosmetics as sunscreen, moisturizing, antiaging, and skin-based therapy. When compared to synthetic cosmetic ingredients, phytocompounds are generally milder, have a more favourable toxicity profile, and are biodegradable. The major concerns in the usage of phytocompounds are their low solubility, low penetration and physico-chemical instability when applied on the skin. To overcome these issues, different nanotechnology-based systems have been proposed and some of them are already on the market. Nanotechnologies can improve the solubility of poorly water-soluble compounds, facilitate skin permeation and increase their stability against light and temperature. Liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, transfersomes, ethosomes, nanostructured lipid carriers, and cyclodextrins are examples of nanotechnology-based systems currently in use to improve the performances of phytocompounds in skin care. This review focuses on cosmeceuticals that explore nanotechnology-based systems for the delivery of phytocompounds and emphasizes how these approaches can improve product performances with respect to conventional cosmetic formulations.