Essential oils as an active ingredients or preservativies in cosmetics

An important trend in current cosmetic industry is increasing demand for new, biologically active compounds and preservatives of natural origin. These products constitute a major ingredients of natural (organic) cosmetics and usually may also be used in typical cosmetics as functional additives. This work summarizes the perspectives of the use of essential oils as active ingredients and preservatives in cosmetic products and as biopesticides. Brief characteristics of essentials oils, their preparation and biological activity is provided. Literature data suggests that essential oils exhibit broad therapeutic effects including antibacterial, antiseptic, antifungal and antioxidant activity, they can be also used as transdermal enhancers. On the other hand, in essential oil have been found compounds which can be use as a biopesticides. The use of essential oils in cosmetic products is possible, but requires a detailed knowledge regarding their compatibility, active concentration as well as toxicological and skin irritant characteristics. The literature review, presented in this paper, shows the great potential of essential oils as a biologically active preservatives and antioxidants, repellents and transepidermal enhancers