This review found that niosomes—tiny capsules made from non-toxic surfactants and lipids—can potentially deliver both water-soluble and oil-soluble ingredients deeper into skin. The key to making them work: longer-chain surfactants for oily actives, cholesterol for stability, oleic acid for penetration, and herbal oils to keep particles flexible enough to slip through pores. The trade-off: ionic components boost penetration but may irritate skin cells.

This wasn't an experiment—it was a comprehensive review of existing published research on niosomes, examining what factors affect how well they penetrate skin and what makes them stable.

Funding not disclosed in abstract