Bio-functional Cosmetics for Health: Exploring Nature’s Ingredients for Safety, Efficacy, and Sustainability

Bio-functional Cosmetics for Health: Exploring Nature’s Ingredients for Safety, Efficacy, and Sustainability bridges the gap between cosmetics, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals, providing the latest research for developing health-promoting cosmeceuticals and nutricosmetics from various food sources and food waste. From medicinal plants, teas, cacao, coffee, fruits, vegetables, plant oils, nuts, and cereals to marine microorganisms, fungi, insects, crustaceans, and more, this book takes a close look into the safety, efficacy and sourcing of bioactives from these food sources and how they can be sustainably used as ingredients to create bio-functional cosmetics, cosmeceuticals and nutricosmetics.

Readers will gain insight on the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-aging, and anti-cancer properties of bioactive ingredients in cosmetics and will also be informed on the latest regulatory and safety issues and R&D trends for the application of bioactives in functional cosmetics and cosmeceutical products.

• Explains the science behind bioactive ingredients from sustainable food sources for formulation, manufacturing, and health promotion in cosmetics, cosmeceuticals, and nutricosmetics
• Explores health benefits from sustainable plant and animal source bioactives in cosmetic formulation
• Highlights the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-UV, and anti-cancer properties of bioactive ingredients in cosmetics
• Examines the safety and benefits of using functional ingredients and bioactives from sustainable sources in cosmetics
• Outlines regulatory issues, safety issues, and R&D trends for the application of bioactive ingredients in functional cosmetics and cosmeceutical products

Alexandros Tsoupras, PhD, is Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Democritus University of Thrace, Greece. His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms linking inflammation, thrombosis, and oxidative stress to chronic disease, with particular emphasis on platelet-activating factor (PAF) signaling and the evaluation of natural and synthetic bioactive compounds for applications in food, nutraceutical, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical sciences. He has held academic and research appointments at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Albany Medical College, and the University of Limerick, and has participated in nationally and internationally funded research projects as principal investigator and researcher. His professional activities include patent-related research, editorial contributions to scientific journals, and authorship of books and book chapters in the fields of biochemistry, inflammation, and bioactive compounds.

George Z. Kyzas is a Full Professor of Chemistry at the Democritus University of Thrace, Greece. He has served as Head of the Department of Chemistry since 2019, Director of the MSc Program in Cosmetic Chemistry since 2021, and Head of the Hephaestus Laboratory since 2023. His research focuses on the synthesis and characterization of advanced materials, including polymers, graphene-based materials, activated carbons, and nanomaterials, for environmental applications such as adsorption, photocatalysis, and wastewater treatment. He has authored numerous books and book chapters, holds several patents, and serves as an Editor of Environmental Science and Pollution Research. In addition, he has guest-edited multiple special issues and served as an assessor for national and international funding agencies. His contributions have been recognized through awards and scholarships from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the Greek State Scholarship Foundation, and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation.