Recent advances in synthesis and mining strategies of bioactive peptides in cosmetics

Bioactive peptides have become promising functional ingredients in cosmetics due to their high specificity, rapid biological activity, and low toxicity. This review systematically discusses their applications in anti-aging, antioxidant, antimicrobial, UV protection, and skin-brightening functions, while focusing on recent advances in synthesis and mining strategies. The authors compare chemical synthesis, enzymatic hydrolysis, and recombinant biosynthesis approaches, emphasizing their advantages and limitations in large-scale production. In addition, peptide stabilization and delivery technologies, including chemical modification, liposomes, and nanoparticles, are summarized. Emerging discovery strategies based on phage display, machine learning, and deep learning are highlighted as powerful tools for identifying and optimizing novel multifunctional cosmetic peptides.