Karthikha Vijayakumar, Nandhini Jayaprakash, Elizabethrani Edwin
The skin’s outermost stratum corneum serves as a formidable barrier to the efficient delivery of cosmetic actives, particularly hydrophilic or high-molecular-weight compounds which often fail to penetrate to the viable epidermis or dermis. In recent years, microneedle (MN)-based delivery systems have emerged as a minimally invasive, precise and versatile platform to overcome this barrier and enhance intradermal delivery of cosmetic and dermatologic actives. This review examines the recent advances in microneedle technology—covering various designs (solid, coated, dissolving, hollow, hydrogel-forming), materials, fabrication methods, and mechanistic considerations—within the context of skin-care and aesthetic dermatology. We then highlight key applications of MNs in cosmetic fields including anti-aging and skin rejuvenation (e.g., delivery of peptides, retinoids, growth factors), pigmentation and whitening therapies, acne and sebum control, hydration/barrier repair, and hair-growth/scalp treatments. Safety, regulatory and consumer-acceptance issues of microneedle cosmetic platforms are discussed, alongside current market trends and commercial product developments emphasizing the need for sustainable and responsible innovation in product development. Finally, we explore the future perspectives of MN-based cosmetic delivery — including smart or stimuli-responsive microneedles, personalized patches, integration with wearables/IoT, and challenges such as large-area coverage and manufacturing scale-up. We conclude that microneedle-based systems hold significant potential to shift cosmetic delivery from passive topical application toward controlled intradermal administration, thereby bridging cosmetic science and aesthetic dermatology, albeit with further clinical validation and standardized regulatory frameworks required.