Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades, anthropogenic pressure has been increasing worldwide, leading to urgent environmental concerns, such as global warming and the progressive thinning of the ozone layer. Prolonged exposure to UVA (320–400 nm) and UVB (280–320 nm) radiation may result in acute and/or chronic effects on the skin and, in general, on human health. UVA rays in particular reach the Earth’s surface and can penetrate into the dermal skin layers, where they are responsible for skin photo-ageing and photo-carcinogenesis, mainly through the production of reactive oxygen species.

Marine organisms have evolved a plethora of molecular strategies to protect themselves from the harmful effects of UV radiation, producing UV-absorbing compounds such as scytonemins in cyanobacteria, mycosporines, mycosporine-like amino acids, carotenoids in microalgae, and melanin in marine invertebrates. These compounds offer great potential for the development of novel UV filters in sunscreen products or in antiaging creams aimed to reduce photo-oxidative damage. Recent investigations have shown that some traditional UV filters and other ingredients (e.g., preservatives and antioxidants) might have toxic effects both on humans and marine life. This evidence has stimulated new research on alternative and eco-friendly photo-protective compounds from marine organisms.

Therefore, faced with consumers increased inclination to seek natural cosmetics, manufacturers must seek new active ingredients of natural origin in order to meet this demand, which embraces a broad area in terms of moisturizing, lightening, anti-free radical, anti-wrinkle, and UV-protective compounds.

In this Special Issue, researchers are invited to provide recent and innovative results on different aspects related to the discovery and biological activity of marine-derived photo-protective and anti-aging compounds, their functional and ecological role, and their potential applications as active ingredients in health and beauty care products that are both effective and meet consumer expectations of tomorrow's cosmetics.

Dr. Immacolata Castellano
Dr. Elisabetta Damiani
Dr. Céline Couteau
Guest Editors

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