Easy-to-use and inexpensive sensors for assessing the quality and traceability of cosmetic antioxidants

We describe an easy-to-use sensor as a tool to quantify and authenticate antioxidant active ingredients in cosmetic products. The sensing platform comprises a responsive nanoengineered surface that reacts specifically and generates distinct optically detectable signals that are representative of the chemical composition and concentration of active ingredients. The platform can be inexpensively produced in large quantities and a procedure to manufacture the sensors by 3D printing is described. These sensors can be used as smart labels to check the quality of antioxidant constituents in a large variety of cosmetic products without involving any sample pretreatment. Possible applications include at home and on site testing by consumers or manufacturing companies to check the quality, shelf life and origin of raw materials and products during their manufacturing, storage and use. [Display omitted] •A consumer-friendly sensor to assess cosmetic antioxidants is developed.•Single-step quantification of the antioxidant activity in cosmetic products is demonstrated.•Sensors can be used to authenticate antioxidant-containing cosmetics.•Sensors can be manufactured in large quantities by printing.