GREEN COSMETIC INGREDIENTS AND PROCESSES

The investigation and application of the green chemistry principles have led to a high level of change in the manufacturing and design of chemical products, with the development of cleaner and more benign processes as human and environmental safety demand. The cosmetics industry is subject to these changing attitudes, and personal care chemists need to take measures to improve the green credentials of their products. This chapter will cover studies in the cosmetic field concerning the use of solvent-free procedures under microwave irradiation, as very useful and innovative methodologies for a green approach in various concerns. Eco-friendly procedures under dielectric heating have been successfully applied to organic reactions for the synthesis of new potential cosmetic ingredients and well-known commercial compounds, simplifying and improving procedures. More recently, green extractions have been applied to organic matrices as alternative and sustainable procedures for the exploitation of green renewable sources.