The beauty of biocatalysis: sustainable synthesis of ingredients in cosmetics

Covering: 2015 up to July 2021 The market for cosmetics is consumer driven and the desire for green, sustainable and natural ingredients is increasing. The use of isolated enzymes and whole-cell organisms to synthesise these products is congruent with these values, especially when combined with the use of renewable, recyclable or waste feedstocks. The literature of biocatalysis for the synthesis of ingredients in cosmetics in the past five years is herein reviewed.

Automated summary

The cosmetics market is driven by consumers' increasing desire for green, sustainable and natural ingredients. The use of enzymes and microorganisms for synthesizing products, combined with renewable, recyclable or waste feedstocks, aligns with these values. This review examines the literature on biocatalysis in synthesis of cosmetic ingredients in the past five years.