Enhancing Dermal Absorption of Cosmeceuticals: Innovations and Techniques for Targeted Skin Delivery

As beauty consumption upgrades and skincare concepts evolve toward science-backed efficacy, the field of cosmetology has put forward higher requirements for the dermal absorption efficiency of efficacious products. Notably, amid the global medical aesthetics market's 12.8% Compound Annual Growth Rate (projected to reach $35,327.5 million by 2030), rising demand for high-efficacy cosmeceuticals has amplified the significance of a longstanding issue: the low transdermal efficiency of active ingredients due to skin barrier and molecular constraints. Various studies have explored different dermal absorption promotion methods, but there is a lack of a systematic review that encompasses all types of permeation promotion technologies.

This review aims to systematically sort out the mechanism of dermal absorption and comprehensively summarize the commonly used permeation methods, in order to provide technical solutions for breaking through the barriers of active ingredient delivery and realizing the targeting effect of the skin in the deep layers of the skin.

We conducted a comprehensive review and analysis of existing literature related to dermal absorption promotion methods, systematically organizing the mechanisms of dermal absorption and integrating the commonly used permeation approaches.

Active ingredients show low transdermal efficiency due to skin barrier and molecular constraints, with permeation via epidermal pathways and appendages. Non-invasive (chemical enhancers, nanocarriers, ultrasound) and invasive (microneedles, electroporation, needle-free injectors) techniques exist, with combinations boosting efficacy.

Appropriate dermal technology is crucial to solve the problem of low dermal efficiency of active ingredients. The systematic sorting of dermal absorption mechanisms and the comprehensive summary of commonly used permeation methods in this review can provide effective technical support for the development of high-efficacy cosmeceuticals and the improvement of dermal penetration efficiency in the field of cosmetology.