The field of nanotechnology when applied to the cosmetics and personal care industry first emerged over 40 years ago. The first applications were with moisturizing creams that included liposome technology. At that time scientists used nanotechnology to increase or improve the solubility of otherwise incompatible materials. Today, however, nanotechnology may do much more by even altering the physical properties of many kinds of cosmetic products. This leads to a very important and much discussed question: Do microparticles penetrate the skin more readily than nanoparticles? Investigators at the United States Food and Drug Administration are considering these issues as this agency begins to explore nanotechnology in the cosmetics and personal care industry and if they should be regulated. Recent findings say they do not.
In researching more articles related to nanotechnology, I found that the American Chemical Society (ACS) held a conference in August 2005 in Washington, DC devoted entirely to nanotechnology in the cosmetics and personal care industry.