Cosmetic preparations and formulations are described, comprising high concentration (from at least 75% to at least 95%) of thermal mineral waters within the aqueous portion of the formulation. In preferred embodiments, the thermal mineral waters are rendered more bioavailable by pre-fermentation with a microorganism such as the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Formulations are also described in which at least a portion of the thermal mineral water is incorporated into phospholipid liposomes.