Use of plants and other natural materials for modifying one’s appearance thus enhancing physical attractiveness is age old. Today’s already rapidly growing cosmetic industry, which is almost synonymous with herbal cosmetics, is a vast global industry with huge growth potential. Apart from increasing interest in plants used for cosmetic purposes in various societies since ages, current scientific focus is unravelling systematic evidence for their cosmetic utility. Results from such scientific experimentation demonstrate the physiological effectiveness of herbs, thus proving their therapeutic worthiness resulting in such tested herbs being included in medicinal care products. More and more cosmaceuticals are being isolated and identified for their therapeutic/cosmetic benefits. Herbal extracts from neem, turmeric, tea tree oil etc. are being accepted for use in ethical dermatological products for their clinically tested effects.

Further research actively undertaken in premier research laboratories and institutes across the world will definitely add more such tested herbs to medical and cosmetic use. Thus the potential for herbals in cosmetics is just beginning to open up with tremendous scope for plant-based products in the cosmetics of tomorrow.