# From Forest Berry Leaf Waste to Micellar Extracts with Cosmetic Applications
## 4 Conclusions  
Numerous scientific studies have highlighted the potential of waste plant leaves as valuable sources of active compounds, with applications across various industries, including cosmetics. This study confirmed that the plant materials used are rich in micro- and macronutrients, particularly manganese (in blackberry leaves), calcium, iron, and magnesium (in wild strawberry leaves), as well as phosphorus and potassium (in both wild strawberry and blackberry leaves). Their health-promoting and therapeutic potential can be effectively utilized in cosmetics. It was also found that the leaves of all the plants studied contain vitamin C, which, when used as a cosmetic ingredient, can, as reported in the literature, contribute to sealing blood vessels. Furthermore, the plant material used in the study exhibits antioxidant activity, as demonstrated by the reduction of DPPH free radicals and the presence of polyphenols, which are well-known indicators of anti-aging properties. The current literature on the subject states that active ingredients present in the plant material are also found in the composition of micellar extracts composed with their participation. On this basis, it is presumed that these cosmetically desirable ingredients will also be present in the extracts obtained in this work. However, in order to confirm these suppositions, it is planned to extend the research to analyze the chemical composition of both micellar extracts and cosmetics with their addition. The study also revealed that micellar extracts prepared from the leaves of forest berry plants, when used in bath wash formulations, decreased the viscosity of the cosmetics and reduced the stability of the foam during bathing. However, this decrease is too small to negatively impact the performance of the formulated products. Conversely, the reduced ability to emulsify fatty soils in cosmetics containing extracts and, as a result, their diminished capacity to decrease the skin can have a positive and significant impact, particularly for individuals with sensitive, dry skin.  
Based on the results of this study, it can be suggested that both the leaves--a by-product of forest berry plants--and the micellar extracts derived from them could be valuable ingredients in bath cosmetics. This may appeal to consumers who are especially attentive to their skin health and interested in innovative products in this market segment.  
Conceptualization, M.Z.; methodology, M.Z., M.R. and J.K.; software, M.Z., M.R. and J.K.; validation, M.Z., M.R. and J.K.; formal analysis, M.Z., M.R. and J.K.; investigation, M.Z., M.R. and J.K.; resources M.Z., M.R. and J.K.; data curation, M.Z., M.R. and J.K.; writing--original draft preparation, M.Z., M.R. and J.K.; writing--review and editing, M.Z.; visualization, M.Z., M.R. and J.K.; supervision, M.Z.; project administration, M.Z.; funding acquisition, M.Z. and M.R. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
The study was conducted under Project no. WZNJ/2025/PZ/05 at Gdynia Maritime University. Project was funded with the assistance of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (Poland) through subsidies for statutory activity.  
All subjects gave their informed consent for inclusion before they participated in the study. The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, and the protocol was approved by the Bioethics Committee of the Casimir Pulanski Radom University. (Project title: \"Evaluation of the impact of new technological solutions and new raw materials of natural origin on the safety of use and functional properties of selected types of cosmetics.\"; Approval code: Resolution No. KB/03/2024).  
Not applicable.  
The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author. The data are not publicly available due to funding agreement limitations.  
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.