Nanoparticles for cosmetics : how safe is safe? Authors Maria Guix Carlos Carbonell Joan Comenge Lorena García-Fernández Alfonso Alarcón Eudald Casals Abstract The increasing use of nanoparticulate engineered materials posses the question on the safety of those materials. A paradigmatic case is their use in cosmetics, in principle because those materials are in direct contact with the body and because probably cosmetic usage of nanotechnology will anticipate the use of nanoparticles in medicine. Non acute toxic effects have been observed so far and some tones of some nanoparticles are already used in sunscreens. However the observed effects of interaction between nanoparticles and biological structures calls for a better understanding of that interaction and a prudent development of consumer products based on nanoparticles. In this paper we summarize the known facts regarding the use of nanoparticles in cosmetics. Downloads Text complet (Català) Published 2010-01-18 Issue 4-2 : Nanoscience and nanotechnology research in Catalonia : Special Issue / N. Ferrer-Anglada, Guest editor Section Research reviews License This work is subject, unless the contrary is indicated in the text, the photographs or in other illustrations, to an Attribution —Non-Commercial— No Derivative Works 3.0 Creative Commons License, the full text of which can be consulted at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/. You are free to share, copy, distribute and transmit the work provided that the author is credited and reuse of the material is restricted to non-commercial purposes only and that no derivative works are created from the original material.