Herbs in Cosmetics: An Overview

Cosmetics are widely used by both men and women for beauty enhancement for ages. Herbal plants have been used in cosmetics manufacturing for centuries because they constitute natural ingredients that are harmless. Cosmetics alone are not capable to manage both beauty enhancement and skin care. Hence, herbs are used because they are able to check skin damage and aging due to the presence of natural constituents. Herbal cosmetics have gained immense popularity among the population because they do not show side effects as shown by synthetic cosmetics. The inclusion of herbal extracts in cosmetics can minimize skin damage due to oxidative stress and thus aging process gets delayed. Herbal products improve various functions of skin by boosting collagen growth and thus eradicating harmful effects of free radicals, maintaining the structure of keratin, and keeping skin healthy. A number of herbal plants are naturally accessible and are used in the preparation of herbal cosmetics. These include gingko, neem, coconut, and many more. Herbal cosmetics for daily purposes include lotion, creams, oils, cleansers, etc. Herbal skin cosmetics have multi functionalities like anti-oxidant, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic properties. The herbal cosmetic industry is rapidly growing with a vast scope of multifold expansion in the future. In this article, we have reviewed various herbal plants used in cosmetics along with the regulatory status and evaluation parameters of herbal cosmetics.