Cosmetics Secrets from Cosmos

“I am among those who think that science has great beauty.” – Marie Curie

The pursuit of knowledge has been expanded and complemented over time by space science, which has offered a new perspective to the knowledge that has been gained from centuries of theoretical speculations and ground-based observations. Improvements in life on Earth, as well as opportunities for upcoming human space missions, will emerge from the unique blending of unified and diversified goals from various scientific disciplines.

A "revolution" in the space industry under the name of "New Space" is gaining significant attention as new participants, commercial entrepreneurs, and businesses explore the unique opportunities provided by the Space environment. These will bring more futuristic opportunities, such as space tourism, and therapeutic research in space. Over the next decade, a new frontier that incorporates the commercialization of space will have a significant impact on both space exploration and Earth. Therefore, diverse studies must be conducted, and new initiatives must be explored by upcoming players. As a result, in addition to industries like pharmaceuticals and biotech, we will soon be able to watch as the cosmetics sector ventures into space, which is regarded as a significant milestone for the beauty and personal care sector.

An experiment conducted by NASA in 2015 and 2016 aboard a space station with a?sample of mice?(RR-2 & RR-3) was carried out to investigate the effects of weightlessness on an animal's skin. The results revealed that the rodents lost roughly 15% of their skin thickness.

Similarly, the human body experiences stress in microgravity. During human space flight missions, we witness astronauts' dry, flaky, and thin skin that is deprived of the natural oils that make cells responsive in microgravity, which alters gene behavior and seems to accelerate the aging process. On Earth, skin aging occurs gradually over several years. However, an orbital stay appears to be a hyper-drive for aging. Other health issues could also arise from the loss of structural or functional stability in the skin. Therefore, dermatological research in space may contribute significantly to unraveling the mysteries behind skin issues linked to aging. Such research might sound like a voyage for astronauts who work on International Orbit Stations or spend months in space.

Thus, it is clear that this is an area of intense research right now. For getting breakthroughs in cosmetic research in space,?Colgate-Palmolive?sent an oral care experiment to outer space in early June. The experiment was carried on board the 22nd supply reloads mission from Space X to the International Space Station. The University of Nevada-Las Vegas College of Engineering professors and Colgate's microbiologists created microfluidic devices to simulate bacterial growth on a tooth-like surface, which will be used by the ISS crew to carry out the experiment. The experiment, which was conducted for 45 days in microgravity, will be analyzed after their return to understand more about the growth and metabolism of oral biofilms. The goal is to develop better toothpaste and other oral treatments that will benefit astronauts on upcoming long-duration space missions.

Furthermore, creating skincare products for space is no longer the stuff of science fiction. The emergence of space tourism has encouraged businesses to create cosmetic products suitable for use in microgravity. In addition to their growing interest in space flight, consumers are also eager about its potential uses in the beauty industry, notably for high-performance skincare. Considering the complexity of grooming in space. It is impossible to take a shower or a bath. The same goes for carrying out a load of laundry, brushing teeth with running water, and face washing. Going into space accelerates the aging process because cosmic radiation and the lack of gravity have a seriously negative impact on the skin. To understand this, the skincare company PCA Skin announced in February 2022 that it would send lab-grown engineered skin tissue samples from MatTek Life Sciences to the International Space Station (ISS) to investigate the effects of microgravity on the dermis and the overall skin's response to molecular and physiological stress.

Given the potential for space travel to become as common as aviation, the cosmetics industry will need to adapt and provide cutting-edge skincare products for missions involving humans in space. The science of space travel has long been an inspiration for the London-based skincare company 111Skin. The company seeks to comprehend how we can prevent and manage the aging and restoration of skin on all astronauts in microgravity settings. Dr. Yannis Alexandrides, inventor of 111Skin and a cosmetic surgeon, was able to create a solution that provides the same intensely reparative results on Earth. 111Skin's Skin Reparative Beauty Dose supplements "NAC Y2" are based on capsules given to astronauts to help slow down rapid aging and are made with vitamins A, C, and E as well as a variety of antioxidants.

While 111Skin has used the science of space travel to create products for use on Earth, several other companies are investing in formulations created especially for use in space. The first-ever line of space-friendly cosmetics is being created by Ana Holdings and Japan's Pola Orbis. Meanwhile, Astronauts are testing stain-removal wipes and pens at the International Space Station as part of a collaboration between Tide, an American laundry firm, and NASA to develop laundry solutions for space. Since skincare technology companies like Foreo have developed products for effectively cleaning skin without the use of water, solutions for space beauty are already available on Earth. With little to no water, the popular range of Luna devices uses massaging silicone bristles to remove up to 99.5% of pollutants. Classic sheet masks, on the other hand, provide a liquid- and cream-free method of moisturizing skin beyond the planetary orbit.

The scientific community has also recommended that businesses begin investigating fragrances that can be utilized in space to prevent motion sickness or dizziness. Apart from this, the emerging cosmetic industries for space research are?Estée Lauder Companies,?Byredo Parfums,?Huda Beauty, and?Forma Brands.

Even though we have a fundamental understanding of how the human body ages and what it needs to make up for its losses throughout time, we still don't have the whole picture. It is hoped that the space mission with the dermatological study would spur groundbreaking research in the field of cosmetics. This will also help us to identify new findings that will allow us to take better care of our bodies as we age.

Supporting Cosmetics in Microgravity