Book excerpt: All aspects of the personal care industry will be comprehensively discussed in Polymers for Personal Care Products and Cosmetics, including polymer synthesis, safety issues, and potential applications of a variety of materials in this large industry. There will be a broad overview of cosmetic ingredients, vehicles and finished products as well as coverage of the main methodologies for synthesis, safety and application testing. The reader will be provided with a solid background of the fundamentals of the area, before being brought up to date on the future of this field, along with discussion of the latest materials trends and future perspectives. Written by a world renowned expert in the area, the book will provide a unique look into this fast developing industry from insights obtained from key experts in industry and academia. The advantages and disadvantages of the technologies involved in the development of these materials are highlighted, providing a balanced and thorough review of the current state-of-the-art research. This book will appeal to researchers, academics and students working in polymer and materials chemistry, particularly those with an interest in personal care products.