Chiral Bioactive Molecules in Cosmetics: Advantages and Opportunities

Continuous exposure to environmental stressors necessitates the development of novel, effective, and safe cosmetic active ingredients to preserve the skin’s structural integrity and physiological function. In this context, chiral cosmetic actives have emerged as particularly promising candidates owing to their diverse skincare properties. Notably, stereochemistry can markedly influence biological activity, producing enantiomer- or diastereomer-specific differences in efficacy and safety. Herein, we summarize recent advances in the application of chiral bioactive molecules as cosmetic actives, organizing them according to biological activity. We provide a comprehensive discussion of their mechanistic biological activities, the activity differences arising from distinct stereochemical configurations, current limitations, and future prospects.