Nanotechnology is reshaping cosmetics, from smarter face masks to advanced sunscreens. So, how are nanocarriers and 2D materials unlocking safer, more effective, and personalized skincare solutions?
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At the frontier of this revolution are nanomaterials, ranging from lipid-based nanocarriers like niosomes and liposomes to two-dimensional (2D) materials such as graphene and MXene. These innovations are transforming cosmetic applications, from moisturizers and sunscreens to anti-aging treatments and therapeutic face masks.1
Overcoming the Skin Barrier with Nanocarriers
With most cosmetics, the skin is one of the biggest barriers to seeing results. The outer layer, the stratum corneum, is a protective barrier that prevents harmful molecules and active cosmetic compounds from penetrating deeply.
As a result, conventional formulations are often unable to carry out their potential cosmetic impact due ot low solubility and limited bioavailability. Nanotechnology offers a compelling solution by enhancing transdermal penetration, increasing entrapment efficiency, and providing controlled release of bioactives.1
Niosomes, vesicles made from non-ionic surfactants, are among the most promising options. Their amphiphilic nature allows them to transport both hydrophilic and lipophilic molecules across the skin barrier. These structures have superior chemical stability, long shelf life, and biocompatibility compared to traditional carriers like liposomes, which are composed of naturally derived phospholipids and are less chemically stable.2
Preparation methods like thin-film hydration, sonication, microfluidization, and reverse-phase evaporation allow for the customization of niosome size, charge, and payload, tailoring them for specific cosmetic applications such as anti-aging creams, moisturizers, and skin-lightening agents. Their capacity for sustained and targeted delivery enhances their overall efficacy and minimizes the dosage required, thereby reducing the risk of side effects.1-2
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Lipid-Based Nanocarriers in Face Masks
Cosmetic face masks are particularly conducive to nanotechnology integration as they offer extended contact of a product with the skin. Liposomes, solid nanoparticles, and nanostructured lipids are increasingly used in mask formulations to maximize absorption. In a recent study, Alzahabi et al. developed a nanostructured lipid using prickly pear seed oil to deliver retinyl palmitate, showing improved penetration of vitamin A in ex vivo skin models.3
A particularly interesting application involves peel-off face masks with trehalose-loaded liposomes and myoinositol. These formulations have seen clinical success in treating adult acne in women, demonstrating the enhanced autophagy in skin cells and reduced androgen levels. There was a visible improvement in acne symptoms and overall skin appearance in the studies.1
Lipid-based carriers also stabilize sensitive ingredients like vitamin C, coenzyme Q10, and retinoids, encapsulating them and protecting them from degradation. This is particularly valuable in face masks aimed at combating photoaging, hyperpigmentation, and oxidative stress.4
Two-Dimensional (2D) Materials: The Next Frontier
As well as these lipid nanocarriers, 2D materials are also seeing significant uptake in the cosmetic industry. Materials like graphene, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), and MXene are all being explored as potential antioxidants, sunscreen agents, and active ingredient carriers.5
Graphene and its oxide derivative, graphene oxide, have a high surface area, excellent electrical conductivity, and potent antioxidant capabilities. Their sp2 carbon domains enable them to scavenge free radicals effectively, making them ideal for anti-aging formulations. Additionally, their layered structures allow for the adsorption and stabilization of other actives, enhancing the efficacy of the overall formulation.6
MXenes, such as Ti3C2, are transition metal carbides with unique electronic and surface properties. Their conductivity, hydrophilicity, and thermal stability open possibilities for antibacterial skincare and conductive face masks, with the added benefit of long-term product stability.7
Importantly, both of these 2D materials absorb ultraviolet radiation. This makes them particularly appealing as a sunscreen alternative without using traditional ingredients such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. With the appropriate surface modifications, they can provide broad-spectrum UV protection while maintaining biocompatibility.8
Safety and Regulatory Considerations
The benefits of nanomaterials, however, must be weighed carefully against safety concerns. Their small size and reactivity, while valuable for efficacy, also raise questions about their unintended penetration, circulation, or toxicity at higher concentrations,.
The very properties that make nanomaterials effective, such as small size, high surface area, and reactivity, can also pose risks, including increased penetration into systemic circulation or cytotoxic effects at high concentrations.9
While graphene oxide shows excellent biocompatibility at low concentrations, its accumulation in tissues over time and the long-term effects on cellular structures remain under investigation. Similarly, MXenes require surface modifications or encapsulation strategies to reduce oxidation and ensure safe application.10
Globally, regulatory bodies such as the FDA and the European Commission have issued guidelines to ensure the safe use of nanomaterials in cosmetics. These include requirements for detailed labeling, safety assessments, and toxicological studies. However, harmonized international definitions and regulations are still evolving.1, 11
Market Implications and Consumer Trends
The growing consumer demand for high-efficacy, anti-aging, and multifunctional skincare products is rising in step with interest in nanocosmetics. Formulations promising deeper penetration and longer-lasting effects are gaining traction, especially in Asia-Pacific and North America.11
Consumers are also increasingly aware of ingredient sourcing, ethical testing, and sustainability, areas where nanotechnology can offer both solutions and challenges. Biodegradable nanocarriers and greener synthesis methods are being developed to meet these demands.11
Future Directions
The future of high-tech cosmetics will likely be shaped by the convergence of nanotechnology and biotechnology, as well as artificial intelligence. Researchers are exploring stimuli-responsive nanocarriers that release actives upon exposure to pH, temperature, or light changes. Even personalized skincare driven by genetic profiling and smart diagnostics could soon tailor nanocosmetic formulations to individual skin types and conditions.12
Still, thorough long-term studies on their safety, biodegradability, and enviornmental impact iwll be essential for their adoption to become widespread.
References and Further Studies
- Chavda, V. P.; Solanki, H. K.; Vaghela, D. A.; Prajapati, K.; Vora, L. K., Nanotechnology-Based Face Masks: Transforming the Cosmetics Landscape. Micro 2025, 5, 11.
- Lens, M., Niosomes as Vesicular Nanocarriers in Cosmetics: Characterisation, Development and Efficacy. Pharmaceutics 2025, 17, 287.
- AlZahabi, S.; Sakr, O. S.; Ramadan, A. A., Nanostructured Lipid Carriers Incorporating Prickly Pear Seed Oil for the Encapsulation of Vitamin A. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology 2019, 18, 1875-1884.
- Hernández-Camacho, J. D.; Bernier, M.; López-Lluch, G.; Navas, P., Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation in Aging and Disease. Frontiers in physiology 2018, 9, 316577.
- Pan, X.; Yu, R.; Wu, J.; Liang, J.; Huang, W.; Huang, R.; Li, W.; Xie, Y.; Zhao, Y.; Huang, Y., Two-Dimensional Materials as Antioxidants and Sunscreen Agents in Cosmetics. Brazilian Journal of Physics 2025, 55, 183.
- Fathurrohman, P. Z.; Kunarti, E. S.; Wijayanti, N.; Sato, N.; Amano, Y.; Machida, M.; Santosa, S. J., A Comparative Study of the Effect of Oxygen-Containing Functional Groups in Go and Rgo Sheets Decorated with Small Gold Nanoparticles on Bioactivities. Journal of Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers and Materials 2024, 34, 5854-5868.
- Marquez, K. P.; Sisican, K. M. D.; Ibabao, R. P.; Malenab, R. A. J.; Judicpa, M. A. N.; Henderson, L.; Zhang, J.; Usman, K. A. S.; Razal, J. M., Understanding the Chemical Degradation of Ti3c2tx Mxene Dispersions: A Chronological Analysis. Small Science 2024, 4, 2400150.
- Gatou, M.-A.; Syrrakou, A.; Lagopati, N.; Pavlatou, E. A., Photocatalytic TiO2-Based Nanostructures as a Promising Material for Diverse Environmental Applications: A Review. Reactions 2024, 5, 135-194.
- Das, S. K.; Rajabalaya, R.; David, S. R. N., Nanotechnology in Cosmetics: Safety Evaluation and Assessment. In Nanotechnology, CRC Press: 2019; pp 419-446.
- Huang, H.; Jiang, R.; Feng, Y.; Ouyang, H.; Zhou, N.; Zhang, X.; Wei, Y., Recent Development and Prospects of Surface Modification and Biomedical Applications of Mxenes. Nanoscale 2020, 12, 1325-1338.
- Nwosu, C. N.; Iliut, M.; Vijayaraghavan, A., Graphene and Water-Based Elastomer Nanocomposites–a Review. Nanoscale 2021, 13, 9505-9540.
- Chen, D.; Zou, Y.; Wang, S., Surface Chemical-Functionalization of Ultrathin Two-Dimensional Nanomaterials for Electrocatalysis. Materials Today Energy 2019, 12, 250-268.
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