Abstract

With the rising consumer demand for more natural skincare products, botanical ingredients have become more prevalent in skincare products. Skincare products with botanical properties are being preferred over those with chemical properties due to their biological origins. However, there are debates as to why botanical products are being used widespread and if they are safe to use. The safety of ingredients within cosmetics is observed by multiple regulatory systems throughout the world. These regulatory systems oversee making sure that each ingredient is extracted and purified before being incorporated into a cosmetic or skincare product. One goal of this project was to determine if botanical ingredients are safe to use and should be chosen over chemical ingredients. A literature review was conducted to gather information about the botanical ingredients commonly found in natural skincare products, the cultural usages of natural ingredients, the marketing behind natural cosmetic brands and products, the extraction and purification processes that natural ingredients undergo, and the regulatory systems that keep extraction and purification processes in check. The literature review concluded that botanical ingredients are safe to use when regulatory systems ensure that extraction and purification methods have been performed correctly, and when research has been conducted on the ingredients.

Semester/Year of Award

Spring 2024

Mentor

Jennifer Koslow

Mentor Department Affiliation

Biological Sciences

Access Options

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Honors Scholars

Degree Level

Bachelors

Department

Biological Sciences

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