What Are Cosmeceuticals?
                     What Are Cosmeceuticals?
Anil Kumar
Works for one of the quality Vinnerlabs
 cosmetics active ingredients suppliers. Writes on cosmetics 
active ingredients for personal care, home care, hair colour, 
sun care products, pigmentation dryer and dietary 
supplements including Iscotrizinol from Vinnerlabs, also 
called as Uvasorb Heb / Diethylhexyl butamido triazone.
    Cosmeceutical is a term derived from the merger of the two words – 
cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. In simple terms, cosmeceuticals are 
cosmetic products possessing bioactive ingredients with medical benefits. 
Cosmeceutical products act both as cosmetics and medicines. The 
bioactive ingredients in these products are beneficial to humans in some 
way. Currently, cosmeceuticals have taken over the personal care industry.
    History of cosmeceuticals and their regulations
    The term cosmeceuticals was popularized by Dr Albert Kligman of the 
University of Pennsylvania. The aim of coming up with such a term was 
to describe a hybrid category of cosmetic products that offer 
pharmaceutical as well as aesthetic benefits. The aptness of the term 
gained status as it represented a specific breed of cosmetics that 
provided effects beyond simple cosmetic enhancement. However, it fell 
short of qualifying for a pharmaceutical or drug. With the discovery of 
new active ingredients, the scope of cosmeceuticals has been 
expanding.
    Though the United States FDA doesn’t recognize cosmeceuticals as a 
separate category of products, these are accepted in many countries as 
unique skincare products. Even the European Union doesn’t recognize 
cosmeceuticals as a separate category of cosmetic products. Thus the 
cosmeceutical brands must comply with the product standards as per the 
local regulators to sell the products in American, European, Australian, 
and Asian countries.
    Cosmeceuticals and its ingredients
    Cosmeceutical products are composed of essential minerals, vitamins, 
and proteins. The products fall into one or more application categories, 
i.e. antioxidants, sunscreens, retinoids, peptides, botanicals, proteins, 
skin-brightening agents, and hydroxyl acids.
    Most cosmeceuticals share several common ingredients including 
antioxidants like vitamins A, C, and E, sunscreens, botanicals like green 
tea extract and aloe vera, and several other essential oils. Moreover, all 
cosmeceuticals and cosmetics contain similar ingredients for creating 
the texture of the products. The common ingredients include 
emulsifiers (for liquid products), water, lipid or mineral-based 
thickeners, and pigmentation products like beet powder, charcoal, and 
iron oxide.
    Cosmeceuticals and their function
    Cosmetic products are topical products applied directly to the skin.  
These cosmetics are applied on the epidermis- the top layer of skin. 
These products don’t promote long-term change. The cosmetics are 
formulated to alter the skin’s appearance for the short term and in the 
particular applied area.
    However, the cosmeceuticals act on multiple layers of the epidermis. 
The cosmeceutical products are applied topically on the skin by rubbing. 
The active ingredients are absorbed by the second layer of the skin, the 
dermis. These products typically contain high amounts of active 
ingredients like hyaluronic acid and vitamin C. Moreover, cosmeceutical 
products contain active ingredients that target different layers of the 
skin. These active ingredients work effectively for reducing healing scars, 
and signs of aging, removing wrinkles, protecting from sun rays, 
preventing acne, and keeping the skin moist.
    Cosmeceuticals contain multiple minerals and vitamins along with 
several other active ingredients which are similar to pharmaceutical and 
nutraceutical products. Though cosmeceutical products are not 
prescribed, many dermatologists recommend these for people 
struggling with different skin conditions.
    Though not recognized by the FDA, the cosmeceutical industry relies on 
skincare and beauty demands. The cosmeceutical industry occupies a 
significant share between cosmetics and medical-grade skincare products. 
An array of cosmeceutical skincare products containing active ingredients 
is available in the marketplace offering visible effects for everyone without 
any prescription.
    Classification of cosmeceuticals
    A wide variety of cosmeceuticals are available in the market. The products 
emphasize their ingredients. Apart from the ingredients, the function or 
effect categorizes the products. Cosmeceutical products may contain 
different active ingredients or ingredients that are formulated to be gentle 
on the skin. The active ingredients or ingredients selected for sensitive 
skin types tend to be different from the regular ones used on 
cosmeceutical products. The selected ingredients undergo rigorous 
screening to ensure the formulation of safe products. The increasing 
screening of ingredients has led to an increase in formulations of different 
new products catering to the rising need for safe cosmeceutical products.
    Cosmeceuticals and their usage
    Cosmeceutical products are for everyone and don’t need a doctor’s 
prescription for usage. However, people need to avoid using products 
with certain ingredients or need to use products containing certain 
active ingredients to keep their skin healthy. Such specialized products 
need to be selected considering the skin condition. In such cases, a 
doctor might recommend the right product. The specialized 
cosmeceutical products include moisturizers and cleansers for people 
with cystic acne.
    Moreover, specialized cosmeceuticals are not limited to skincare 
products. A wide array of hair care, makeup, lip care, and nail care 
products are also available. People with chronic skin conditions must 
remain more concerned about selecting the products to avoid increased 
risks of infection. However, cosmeceuticals hold more importance than 
just skincare products. Cosmeceuticals are predominant in lotions, 
exfoliators, toned sunscreens, cleansers, and moisturizers over similar 
products in the cosmetic industry.
   Conclusion
    Cosmeceuticals have emerged as a new form of dermatological 
medicine. However, the products must meet several regulations 
regarding their production, sale, and use. Though not fully regularized, it 
remains safely regulated. Meanwhile, the potential toxicity of some 
crucial chemical components used in cosmeceuticals can’t be ignored.
  About Vinner Labs 
    Vinner Labs specialises in the supply of 
functional and active ingredients for 
personal care, home care, hair dye 
intermediates, sun filter ingredients, FD&C 
pigments and dyes․ We have global reach 
and focused approach towards providing 
our customers with best products via our 
networked manufacturing and R&D 
facilities․ Vinner Labs aims to provide a 
wide range of functional active ingredients 
from a variety of technological platforms․ 
We are one of the unique players in this 
niche segment of specialty chemicals from 
India․ We consider ourselves as value-
unlockers in a variety of personal care 
categories including beauty care, skin care, 
and hair care․