Cosmetopeia
"A cosmetic product is a substance or preparation intended to be placed in contact with the various parts of the human body, for example, the skin, hair, nails, lips or teeth, in order to cleaning them, perfuming them, modifying their appearance, protecting them, keeping them in good condition or correcting their odors"
Cosmetopeia is to cosmetics what the traditional pharmacopoeia is to pharmacy : the inventory of natural resources (vegetal, algae, mushrooms, mineral...) and their traditional uses for skin care and well-being.
Currently, this subject is poorly documented and writings are not widely available, although popular uses of natural resources for cosmetics have always existed in many countries and cultures of the world.
A risk of traditional knowledge loss of so orally transmitted data may occur if not recorded.
Cosmetopeia aims at a better knowledge of the traditional uses of natural resources for cosmetic purposes in order to preserve them and to favor the economic development of the local and/or native populations through the valorization of their biodiversity. The development of this concept should allow structuring the natural resources sector for its use in cosmetics.
The current global context of the development of the cosmetic market is increasingly oriented towards natural products and more particularly towards plant materials.
Cosmetopeia would constitute an innovative source of cosmetic ingredients inspired by traditions with an "ethnic" and "ethical" label.
Thanks to this survey, the partnership aims to identify main areas of actions for the cosmetic industry to develop innovative proposal for the sector.
