Protein-Based Materials in Cosmetics

Cosmetics or beauty products are used to care and beautify the face, body, and hair of the humans. They contain multiple active ingredients including proteins, which play an important role to compensate the loss of these materials during the skin aging and the hair damages. After reviewing the most important proteins used in cosmetics – collagen, elastin, fibronectin, keratin, milk, and silk protein – we have considered the origin of the ingredients. Consumers are looking for animal free, ethically sourced and environmentally friendly ingredients in their personal care products. This has pushed cosmetic companies to seek alternative sources for their ingredients. This consumer preference has stimulated the development of biotechnologies using microorganism to obtain specific ingredients through fermentation processes and genetic engineering techniques.