Antiaging Effects of Oleuropein Combined with Helichrysum Italicum or Kumquat Essential Oils in Cosmetic Lotions

Abstract

Skin aging as a complex process involves innumerable genetic, biochemical, and environmental mechanisms. This in vitro study delves deep into whether topical cosmetic formulations containing oleuropein combined with essential oils of Helichrysum italicum or kumquat prevent skin aging. Two separate cosmetic lotions were formulated and evaluated by their physical and bioactive properties. The oil-in-water emulsions were prepared, antiaging lotions were formulated with the addition of oleuropein combined with either of the two essential oils as active components with the equal total doses of 1.5%, and lotions containing vitamin C or only oleuropein were used as controls. Findings revealed that pH, viscosity, and appearance of the lotions were stable and that the essential oils did not influence the physical properties. The lotion containing the combination of oleuropein and H. italicum exhibited the highest antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. In contrast, the oleuropein and kumquat combination exposed the highest inhibitory effect on all three hyaluronidase, lipoxygenase, and tyrosinase enzymes. It can be inferred that the combination of oleuropein and H. italicum is the most potent active ingredient of antioxidant in skin care products and that the oleuropein and kumquat combination is the better candidate as an active ingredient against skin inflammation, pigmentation, and loss of collagen.