ABSTRACT
Biotechnology is a vital field for the cosmetics industry. Its many roles in the
industry extend from the discovery, manufacture, and evaluation of the raw
materials for cosmetics to the development of skin science, the basis of cosmetics
itself. The use of biotechnology has thus led to the development of many ingre-
dients to improve the skin and protect it against undue conditions such as dryness.
Recent biotechnologies, such as transgenic mice generation, artificial skin engin-
eering, and comprehensive mRNA expression analysis, have engendered new
proposals for skin functions and mechanisms for dry skin. After reviewing the
skin structure and functions involved in moisturization, this chapter describes
how biotechnology has been used to develop new skin-care concepts and ingre-
dients to regulate skin hydration.
