Dear Colleagues,

In the last decade, the number of non-animal approaches for skin sensitization risk assessment has risen dramatically. With the final adoption of tests for the activation of dendritic cells by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a combination of complementary techniques is now available to characterize three of the four main key events involved in skin sensitization. Along with the Direct Peptide Reactivity Assay and the ARE-Nrf2 luciferase test method, the OECD Test Guideline No. 442E is part of the ‘golden triad’ of validated alternatives. These guidelines are destined to remain a reference point for the 3R paradigm (reduce, replace and refine the use of animal experimentation) for years to come. With further methods at various validation stages and new approaches constantly emerging, it is an exciting moment for dermatotoxicological research. However, the safety testing of cosmetics still faces challenges, including potency assessment and the testing of complex mixtures, which includes essentially the entire cosmetic realm.

To complicate things further, increasing consumer demand for ‘natural’ formulations is driving the industry back to green. This driving force is partly related to the (potentially deceptive) association of ‘natural’ with safe and sustainable. Conversely, new scientific evidence and a combination of traditional wisdom with new technological advances have pushed botanicals back into the limelight as promising active ingredients. This return to nature poses major challenges to ensure consumer safety.

This Cosmetic Contact Allergens Special Issue aims to provide a collection of trending topics in the field of skin sensitization. Critical reviews and articles covering the state-of-the-art and future of alternative methods, industrial and regulatory perspectives will be the main focus of this special edition. Articles covering the applicability of computational, in chemico and in vitro methods, especially to complex formulations and botanicals, will be particularly welcomed.

Dr. Cristina Avonto
Guest Editor

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• Alternative methods
• Skin sensitization
• Formulations
• Botanical ingredients