Book excerpt: This symposium series book will tackle one of the fastest growing markets in the chemical industry in the US and world wide: personal care. Through advances in nanotechnology there have been significant opportunities for new developments in materials and delivery mechanisms for cosmetics and personal care products. This book will address the commercially important ingredients and delivery technologies used in cosmetic nanotechnology: polymers and colloids. Since more than half of the contributors are industrial researchers providing a perspective on real-life applications of personal care ingredients, the coverage of this topic will not only be comprehensive, but thoroughly undertake much needed concerns regarding research and development topics in cosmetic nanotechnology.