Implementation of phenols recovered from olive mill wastewater as UV booster in cosmetics

The current study investigates the application of different concentrations of phenols (recovered from olive mill wastewater) as UV booster in cosmetics. The spectrums (220-400 nm) of 0-15 mg olive phenols/L combined with physical (30 mg TiO2/L) and chemical (5 mg Benzophenone-3, 5 mg Uvinol A, 2 mg Octocrylene, 1 mg OMC and 0.5 mg OC-PABA/L) sunscreen agents were obtained and the in vitro SPF of respective solutions were calculated. In both UVB and UVA regions, absorption of synthetic UV filters increased as a function of olive phenols concentration, whereas the relationship between SPF increase and olive phenols concentration was linear. The corresponding equations could be used to estimate the amount of added olive phenols in order to reach a desirable SPF value and partially replace the amount of synthetic filters in the final product. The entrapment of olive phenols in silica particles and/or liposomes prior their emulsification in cosmetics was also investigated and resulted in an increase of phenols' water resistance. The results of the current study reveal the potentiality of using olive mill wastewater as a source for the recovery of phenols and their application as UV booster in cosmetics.