ABSTRACT
The human skin is the largest organ in the body and serves the major function of protecting the underlying tissues from external elements. The skin offers a formidable barrier in the form of a multilayered stratum corneum, which is renewed continuously by the underlying epidermis. With increasing use of cosmetics and cleansing products, the human skin is brought into contact with the variety of excipients used in these topical formulations. Many of these contain surfactants, which can have toxic and irritating effects on skin. In addition, these amphiphilic molecules can partition into the stratum corneum and compromise the epidermal barrier function.
