## 1 Introduction
Growing consumer awareness and demand for cosmetic products containing raw materials of plant origin stimulate scientists to search for new active substances and to improve existing raw materials used in the production of cosmetics. The chemical composition of _H. perforatum_, its biological properties, and its use in medicine and pharmacy are widely known. Despite well-documented effects on the skin, which include anti-inflammatory, anti-tyrosine, anti-collagenae, anti-elastase, UV photoprotective, and wound healing properties, the potential of St. John's wort is not fully used in cosmetology [4]. Several commercial extracts or isolated compounds obtained from _H. perforatum_ are currently available in the Polish market and are utilized in facial/body care and cleansing cosmetic products. Currently, the cosmetics industry must meet consumer safety requirements and comply with the principles of green chemistry. Using safe, ecological solvents and extractants is one of these principles. Available data on the biological activity of _H. perforatum_ and other _Hypericum_ spp. are mainly based on oil, alcoholic, or hydroalcoholic extracts, which have limited application to actual skin care products. From a practical point of view, plant extracts containing propylene glycol (PEG) as a solvent are more useful in the cosmetics industry. Glycol or water-glycol extracts are characterized by good solubility in water and stability. Using PEG reduces water activity and, thus, the risk of contamination of the cosmetic product. The application of PEG also reduces the amount of preservative(s) used in the finished product. PEG increases the solubility of other poorly soluble raw materials, increases the viscosity of the cosmetic, and acts as a humectant [25]. Glycerol (GL) is one of the most frequently used ecological extraction solvents and is also an important cosmetic raw material, acting as a humectant and an agent that prevents the cosmetic mass from drying out. It is a raw material of natural origin, odorless, non-toxic, and biocompatible [26; 27]. GL can also be a component of natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES), defined as a combination of two or more natural compounds with the properties of accepting and delivering hydrogen bonds. In NADES, GL acts as a hydrogen bond donor, alongside other substances such as sugars, amino acids, succinic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, oxalic acid, and sodium acetate. Among others, these mixtures are characterized by low toxicity and high biodegradability, so they are environmentally friendly. NADES are regularly used in the extraction of plant material due to their ability \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c} \hline
**Type of Preparation** & **External Use** & **Ref.** \\ \hline \hline \multicolumn{2}{c}{Creams} & & \\ \hline \hline \begin{tabular}{c} cream containing 5\% \\ apolar extract, overcritical \\ carbon dioxide as \\ eluting agent \\ \end{tabular} & twenty-one patients suffering from mild & [19] \\ \hline \begin{tabular}{c} creams containing \\ ethanolic extracts at 5\% \\ and 15\% concentrations \\ \end{tabular} & \begin{tabular}{c} antibacterial activities were tested using \\ _E. coli_ and _S. aureus_ bacteria, potential \\ use in the cosmetic sector \\ \end{tabular} & [20] \\ \hline \begin{tabular}{c} cream (O/W emulsion \\ type) containing 15\% \\ oil extract \\ \end{tabular} & \begin{tabular}{c} anti-inflammatory effect on sodium \\ lauryl sulfate (SLS)-irritated human skin, \\ antimicrobial activity \\ \end{tabular} & [21] \\ \hline \begin{tabular}{c} petroleum ether extract \\ from root cultures \\ \end{tabular} & \begin{tabular}{c} proliferative effect, human keratinocytes \\ (HaCaT), and human dermal \\ fibroblast monolayers \\ \end{tabular} & [22] \\ \hline \
\begin{tabular}{c} ethyl acetate, methanol, \\ and water extracts \\ \end{tabular} &
\begin{tabular}{c} anti-tyrosine, antioxidative properties \\ \end{tabular} & [23; 24] \\ \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table}