Among clay minerals, smectite, having water-swelling property, is highly valued for its properties and is used as a cosmetic ingredient in various applications. Among those, it is often used as a quality-maintaining agent to improve the dispersion stability of emulsions. Currently, surfactants are generally used for emulsification; however, in some cases, surfactant-free emulsification can be achieved by using the amphipathic effect of smectite as an emulsifier. Therefore, an expected application of water-swelling smectite is as an ingredient for Pickering emulsification. This paper describes the basic properties of smectite, its function as an emulsion stabilizer, and its potential as an ingredient for Pickering emulsification, and introduces a new technology for emulsified dry powder.

Lips play a very important role in daily life because they greatly contribute to the personal impression. In addition, they frequently exhibit rough symptoms such as dryness and peeling because of their low barrier function. Though many people use lip balm to reduce roughness, our questionnaire survey clarified that customers were not fully satisfied with the improvement effect of lip balm. Based on the results of the survey, we hypothesized that the difference in the rough condition of the lips affects the actual feeling of the effect. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of the rough state of the lips from UV images of the lips and classified them it into three types. Based on the evaluation of a professional evaluator, we defined type A as a state in which peeling was confirmed, type B as a state in which peeling was not observed but fluorescence was observed in the UV image, and type C as a state in which neither peeling nor fluorescence in the UV image was observed. Furthermore, as a result of physiological characteristic investigation of these types, it was found that each type exhibits different characteristics. Interestingly, type B lips showed high water content and high TEWL, although chapped lips were generally recognized to exhibit lower water content and higher TEWL than good lips. In conclusion, our results suggest that chapped lips can be classified.

Bis-ethoxydiglycol cyclohexane 1,4-dicarboxylate (BECD), a water-and oil-soluble ester oil, contains hydrophilic (oxyethylene chain) and hydrophobic (cyclohexane ring) groups on the same molecule. The wavy hair undulation relaxed, and its restoration after 24 h was suppressed when wavy hair soaked in the BECD aqueous solution was hand-straightened and dried with a hair dryer. BECD was adsorbed on the non-keratin proteins, and straightening and drying wet wavy hair with a hair dryer caused BECD to easily promote the contraction and rearrangement of the elongated and deformed molecular chains and promote the homogenization of the aggregate structures of the non-keratin proteins, thereby relaxing undulation. Wavy hair not treated with BECD does not undergo uniform contraction or rearrangement of the molecular chains of the non-keratin proteins during the glassification process involving hair being straightened from wet conditions and finger-dried. This results in variations in the morphology of the aggregated structure of the non-keratin tissue, resulting in undulation. Contrastingly, the contraction and rearrangement of the constituent molecular chains of the non-keratin protein proceeded easily in the BECD-treated wavy hair, and the homogenization of the aggregated structure was promoted, which is thought to suppress undulation. The molecular mobility and moisture absorption characteristics of wavy hair were reduced after drying, and only slight contraction and rearrangement occurred over time. This may have inhibited the wavy hair from returning to its original state.

Rice bran is a by-product obtained during the polishing process of white rice and constitutes about 10% of the weight of unpolished rice. Extracts from rice bran contains various functional components, including inositol, ferulic acid, and γ-oryzanol. In recent years, the beneficial effects of these components derived from rice bran on the skin have been reported and attempts to use them as cosmetic raw materials are spreading. For these components to be effective, it is crucial that they penetrate the stratum corneum and reach their target sites within the skin. To explore this, we conducted in vitro skin permeation studies using human skin tissue sections with the stratum corneum, and diffusion cell equipment. Cosmetic formulations containing 1% concentrations of inositol, ferulic acid, or γ-oryzanol were prepared and applied to human skin tissue sections placed in a diffusion cell. The receptor fluid was collected at intervals of 2, 4, and 6 h and analyzed to determine the concentration of these substances. The results showed that ferulic acid exhibited the highest skin permeability, with an average of 352.67±234.45 μg/cm² over 6 h. This was followed by inositol, with an average permeability of 162.15±66.89 μg/cm² over the same period, and γ-oryzanol, with 46.10±12.60 μg/cm². These components derived from rice bran can penetrate the stratum corneum and potentially provide beneficial effects to skin cells.

In recent years, the Clean Beauty movement has gained momentum. Generally, clean beauty refers to brands and products that do not contain ingredients harmful to the human body, are environment- and animal-friendly, and are sustainable and transparent. However, there is no clear definition, and its interpretation is largely left to companies and consumers. While clean beauty aims to encompass diverse values, the concept remains somewhat uncertain and ambiguous. This paper will focus on the current state of clean beauty, particularly in relation to ingredient safety, and explore what steps can be taken to realize this ideal. In response to the growing demand for ingredient transparency, ingredient evaluation platforms have been introduced internationally. Additionally, as clean beauty continues to expand, the need to address issues like greenwashing and “free-from” claims has become a global concern. Product safety initiatives, sustainability, and environmental considerations are also essential pillars of clean beauty. The end-to-end (E2E) approach─understanding and improving the entire supply chain from the origin of raw materials to post-use by consumers, with transparency at each stage─is also gaining ground. As we work to address these issues, we cosmetics technologists must embody clean beauty with careful attention to detail and a commitment to scientific evidence.