Progress in the Biosynthesis of Cosmetic Ingredients through Engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Driven by consumer preferences for safety and environmental protection, the global cosmetics industry has an increasing demand for natural and sustainable ingredients. Saccharomyces cerevisiae has emerged as a powerful platform for the biosynthesis of cosmetic ingredients due to its strong metabolic capacity, genetic operability, and cost-effective production capabilities. This review focuses on the latest advances in S. cerevisiae for the production of high-value cosmetic compounds, including antioxidants, repair agents, moisturizers, and structure-maintaining ingredients. Key strategies, such as genetic and metabolic engineering, pathway modularity, and fermentation optimization, are discussed, demonstrating significant improvements in yield and efficiency. In addition, the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning in strain design and process control is explored, providing promising solutions to overcome metabolic bottlenecks and scale up production. Despite challenges such as metabolic burden, S. cerevisiae shows great potential for sustainable and scalable biosynthesis of cosmetic ingredients, paving the way for the next generation of biobased cosmetics. This comprehensive review provides valuable insights and technical references for the development of the field of synthetic biology in the cosmetics industry.