FITOCOSMÉTICOS: BENEFÍCIOS DE COSMÉTICOS DE ORIGEM NATURAL NA ESTÉTICA

The introduction of this article presents the current context of the cosmetic market, highlighting the growing demand for products that are both effective and sustainable. The aim of this literature review is to compile and critically analyze existing scientific studies on the pharmacological, therapeutic, and chemical properties of three specific medicinal plants. The review seeks to identify the main applications of these plants, highlight the bioactive compounds present in each, and discuss advances related to their potential use, emphasizing the key properties of each plant. The cosmetic benefits were categorized into properties such as hydration, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial actions. The results indicated that phytocosmetics show similar efficacy to synthetic cosmetics in terms of skin hydration and treatment, with the added advantage of being less aggressive and causing fewer allergic reactions. Furthermore, phytocosmetics demonstrated a significantly lower environmental impact, particularly in terms of biodegradability and the absence of toxic substances. The conclusion emphasizes that, although both types of cosmetics are effective, the growing trend towards the use of phytocosmetics is justified by their health and sustainability benefits.