Daily Cosmetic Research Analysis
Analyzed 17 papers and selected 3 impactful papers.
Summary
Three impactful studies span cosmetic ingredient biomanufacturing, aesthetic surgery technique, and population-level exposure data. Researchers engineered new-to-nature biosynthetic pathways for β,γ-alkanediols at industrially relevant titers, demonstrated a periareolar breast augmentation approach that preserves muscle–gland unions with low complications, and delivered a large, validated dataset on cosmetics consumption in China to inform safety assessments.
Research Themes
- Sustainable biomanufacturing of cosmetic ingredients
- Technique innovation in aesthetic breast surgery
- Population-based cosmetics exposure data for safety assessment
Selected Articles
1. Engineering New-to-Nature Biological Pathways for β,γ-Alkanediol Synthesis.
The authors engineered E. coli to synthesize linear β,γ-alkanediols via AHAS-mediated carboligation, achieving 17.98 g/L 2,3-hexanediol in fed-batch and producing 2,3-pentanediol in flasks. They demonstrate two distinct production pathways and highlight AHAS versatility for sustainable diol manufacturing relevant to cosmetic formulations.
Impact: Introduces new-to-nature biosynthetic routes achieving industrially relevant titers for cosmetic-relevant diols, shifting supply from petrochemical to renewable platforms.
Clinical Implications: While not a clinical trial, sustainable, high-purity diol production can influence dermatologic practice by enabling safer excipients, reducing impurities/allergens, and stabilizing supply chains for cosmetic and dermal products.
Key Findings
- Two engineered E. coli pathways (redesigned clostridial and artificial reversal β-oxidation) synthesized 2,3-hexanediol.
- Fed-batch fermentation reached 152.2 mM (17.98 g/L) 2,3-hexanediol from 60.03 g/L glucose after thioesterase disruption.
- The approach was extended to 2,3-pentanediol, yielding 15.5 mM (1.61 g/L) in shake flasks.
- Demonstrated AHAS-mediated carboligation as a versatile platform for linear β,γ-diol biosynthesis from renewables.
Methodological Strengths
- Comparative pathway engineering with in vivo validation in fed-batch bioreactors
- Genetic disruption (thioesterases) to channel flux and improve titers
Limitations
- No downstream purification, toxicology, or formulation performance testing reported
- 2,3-pentanediol titers remain low relative to industrial benchmarks
Future Directions: Optimize pathway flux and cofactor balance to increase yields, scale-up with techno-economic and life-cycle analyses, and assess dermal safety/allergenicity and performance in cosmetic formulations.
β,γ-Alkanediols are value-added chemicals that can be used as functional solvents, biofuels, and cosmetic components. Although some linear chain β,γ-alkanediols beside butane-2,3-diol are naturally present, their biosynthetic pathways remain underexplored. In this study, we expand the acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS)-mediated carboligation for the synthesis of linear chain β,γ-alkanediols in Escherichia coli, namely, hexane-2,3-diol (2,3-HDO) and pentane-2,3-diol (2,3-PDO). Two pathways for the production of 2,3-HDO (a redesigned Clostridium-derived clostridial pathway and an artificial reversal β-oxidation pathway) were developed, and the engineered E. coli cells with further disruption of endogenous thioesterases produced 152.2 mm (17.98 g/L) 2,3-HDO from 60.03 g/L glucose in the fed-batch bioreactor. We also expand the similar design for 2,3-PDO biosynthesis, achieving 15.5 mm (1.61 g/L) in shake flasks. This work demonstrates the great versatility of the AHAS-mediated carboligation for the synthesis of linear chain β,γ-alkanediols, which would pave its way for the future production of other linear chain β,γ-diols from renewable feedstocks.
2. Preservative Breast Augmentation: Preserving Muscle-glandular unions by areolar approach.
A periareolar approach that preserves the muscle–gland junction produced stable submuscular pockets in 64 patients, with low complications, normal sensation by 2 months, high BREAST-Q satisfaction, and BAKER grade I in all cases at 1 year. The technique may reduce glandular atrophy and improve implant coverage.
Impact: Offers a reproducible tissue-preserving augmentation technique with favorable safety and satisfaction profiles, addressing common complications in aesthetic breast surgery.
Clinical Implications: Surgeons may consider a periareolar, muscle–gland-preserving approach to reduce atrophy risk, maintain sensation, and optimize implant coverage in eligible patients with mild to moderate atrophy.
Key Findings
- Prospective series of 64 patients (mean age 26) undergoing periareolar augmentation with implant sizes 275–375 cc.
- At 1-year follow-up: 1 surgical correction for asymmetry, 1 self-resolving subcutaneous hematoma; no infections or wound dehiscence.
- Sensation normal in all patients at 2 months; BREAST-Q indicated satisfactory outcomes; BAKER grade I in all cases.
- Technique preserves muscle–gland junctions, stabilizing submuscular pockets and reducing glandular atrophy.
Methodological Strengths
- Prospective data collection with standardized patient-reported (BREAST-Q) and clinical (BAKER grade) outcomes
- Clear technical description enabling reproducibility
Limitations
- No control group or randomization; single-arm case series
- Single-center experience with limited generalizability; follow-up limited to 1 year
Future Directions: Conduct comparative or randomized studies versus standard approaches, extend follow-up to assess long-term capsular contracture and atrophy, and evaluate outcomes across broader patient phenotypes.
BACKGROUND: Breast augmentation remains one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgical procedures worldwide to achieve a youthful and beautiful breast appearance. We describe a technique that preserves glandular tissue and muscle-glandular junctions of a submuscular pocket through a periareolar approach, providing stable implant coverage. METHODS: Prospective data collection of all patients with mild and moderate breast atrophy who underwent the preservation breast augmentation technique were included, and procedures were performed from February 2019 to August 2021. Demographic characteristics and peri- and postoperative variables were collected. RESULTS: Sixty-four patients were included in the study. The mean age at the time of the breast augmentation surgery was 26 years. The size of the breast implants used ranged from 275 to 375 cc. At one year postoperative follow-up only one patient required surgical correction for breast asymmetry and another patient experienced a self-resolving subcutaneous hematoma. No infections or wound dehiscence was observed. Sensation in both breasts was normal in all patients at the two-month mark, surgical results were deemed satisfactory according to the BREAST-Q score, and the BAKER score for all patients was one. CONCLUSION: Preserving the anatomy and function of the glandular muscle unit leads to the preservation of the breast glands and the creation of more stable sub-muscular mammary pockets. This results in implants with greater muscle-glandular coverage throughout their entire extent and significantly reduces glandular atrophy. These advantages distinguish the technique and make it highly reproducible, with a short learning curve.
3. Relative quantitative data of cosmetics consumption: An online survey in Guangzhou, China.
A validated online survey of 2,013 participants in Guangzhou quantified product-specific cosmetics use. Hygiene products were used most frequently (median twice daily), liquid soap had the highest daily amount (median 4.42 g/day), and several categories exceeded SCCS benchmarks, underscoring regional exposure differences crucial for safety assessment.
Impact: Provides large-scale, locally validated consumption data essential for realistic exposure assessments in China, reducing reliance on non-local SCCS assumptions.
Clinical Implications: Regulators and clinicians can refine risk assessments and counseling by using local consumption patterns, particularly for high-use products and sensitive populations.
Key Findings
- 2,013 valid questionnaires; reliability and validity verified via follow-up records and measurements.
- Prevalence >80% for body wash, shampoo, and toothpaste.
- Hygiene products (toothpaste, facial cleanser, liquid soap) used median twice daily; liquid soap median amount 4.42 g/day.
- Several product categories exceeded SCCS reported values; regional consumption differences observed.
Methodological Strengths
- Large sample size with validated questionnaire reliability and follow-up measurements
- Product-specific frequency and quantity enable exposure modeling
Limitations
- Online self-report design susceptible to recall and selection bias
- Single-city cross-sectional study limits generalizability and temporal trends
Future Directions: Expand to multi-city longitudinal cohorts, integrate biomonitoring where feasible, and harmonize with international exposure databases for global comparability.
Reliable cosmetics consumption data is crucial for exposure and safety assessment of cosmetics. However, due to absence of local data, the safety assessment of cosmetics in China relied on non-local consumption data. In this study, an online questionnaire survey was carried out to investigate the frequency and quantity of cosmetics consumption in Guangzhou, China. The reliability and validity of the questionnaire were verified through follow-up with participants and by conducting consumption records and measurements. Based on 2013 valid questionnaires collected, it was found that the prevalence of body wash, shampoo and toothpaste exceeded 80%. Personal hygiene products, such as toothpaste, facial cleanser and liquid soap, were the most frequently used cosmetics, with a median of twice a day. Moreover, liquid soap had the highest consumption amount, with a median of 4.42 g/day. Furthermore, distinct patterns of cosmetics consumption were observed when comparing different regions. In this study, the consumption levels of several cosmetics were higher than the values reported by the SCCS, indicating the existence of different exposure situations. As a large-scale investigation of cosmetic consumption in China, this study provides accurate and comparable data, marking an important milestone in ensuring the safety of cosmetics for the Chinese population.