Challenges in formulating herbal cosmetics

Abstract

The herbal cosmetics are prepared by phytochemicals that occur in a variety of botanical sources, that influences the physiology of skin and provide nutrients that are necessary for the healthy skin or hair. These products are utilized for daily purposes, which include herbal shampoo, herbal conditioner, herbal face wash, herbal soap, etc. These products are classified as a different category by regulatory agencies. However, guidelines of these certifying agencies have no harmonization, and many cosmetic industries prepare and package these formulations in an irrationalway. Many cosmetic products have natural products in their formulation that perform a specific biological function, but these products should be evaluated on their toxicological and efficacy aspects. The contribution of developing countries is very poor in global herbal business because of lack of standardization measures and quality control. The lack of safety and efficacy data on herbal cosmetics renders it difficult to meet the criteria needed for supporting its use worldwide. This review article discusses challenges related to regulatory status, quality control, standardization, certification, drug processing and the opportunities for herbal cosmetics in local as well as the global scenario. The search criteria used in the present review were the keywords mentioned in the manuscript and articles from major scientific resources were cited. The articles from 1952 to 2018 were specifically referred, but few references from 19 century were also cited to support the prevalence of scientific principles in the development of herbal cosmetics in the ancient era.