Robert E. Kalafsky

Approaches to the Development of Cosmetic Products to Counter the Effects of Skin Aging

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses mainly on the treatments for face, as facial beauty and appearance are the most significant and recognizable yardstick of youth and aging in human societies. Antiaging cosmetic products are being developed with the most sophisticated cell and molecular biology techniques, including gene arrays, SAGE, and proteomics in scientific laboratories the world over, using isolated skin cells to pinpoint the beneficial effects of active ingredients. Such studies are followed by testing on three-dimensional skin equivalents, which alleviates the need for animal testing. An array of noninvasive techniques utilizing instrumentation to measure a wide array of skin responses, parameters, and physiological functions has aided the cosmetic scientist and the dermatologist in quantifying the biological effects for claim substantiation of antiaging products. True antiaging efforts should have a holistic approach, addressing not only skin care, but nutrition, wellness, balanced lifestyle, and stress management. The cosmetic industry is embracing such an approach, and with increasing consumer awareness industry investments in research and development efforts to meet this need, antiaging is no more just a buzzword.