Recent Progress on the Development of lignin as future ingredient biobased cosmetics

Because phenolic compounds in the structure of lignin function as free radical scavengers and UV blockers, lignin offers potential capabilities, particularly in terms of antioxidant and antibacterial properties. These qualities have led to its use as a natural sunscreen, anti-inflammatory, whitening agent, and anti-aging ingredient in cosmetic formulations. Furthermore, because of lignin's low cytotoxicity, lignin-based cosmetics can help to improve user safety to some level. In certain investigations, lignin was added to commercial sunscreen in varying concentrations, and a synergistic effect was achieved when paired with an existing inorganic ingredient. Differences in lignin absorptivity as a lignin-based sunscreen result from different sources and methods of lignin extraction processing, leading to the discovery of the most effective lignin structure as a sunscreen. Furthermore, the potential anti-inflammatory, wound treatment, tyrosinase inhibitory, and anti-aging activities of lignin have been reported to have potential as a new generation of bio-based cosmetic products. This review helps to understand better how to develop lignin as a natural cosmetic, including sunscreen, anti-inflammatory, whitening, and anti-aging agents, along with its mechanisms for environmental purposes.