Future Challenges and Opportunities of Marine Algae in Cosmeceuticals

Abstract

Abstract: Marine algae have garnered significant attention in the cosmeceutical industry due to their diverse array of bioactive compounds and unique properties. As the demand for sustainable and effective skincare solutions rises, marine algae offer a promising avenue for innovation. This study explores the future challenges and opportunities of utilizing marine algae in cosmeceuticals. One of the foremost challenges lies in the sustainable sourcing and cultivation of marine algae to meet the growing demand while preserving marine ecosystems. Overcoming this challenge requires advancements in biotechnology, including the development of efficient cultivation techniques and sustainable harvesting practice. Cosmetics are widely used by people around the world to protect the skin from external stimuli. Consumer preference towards natural cosmetic products has increased as the synthetic cosmetic products caused adverse side effects and resulted in low absorption rate due to the chemicals’ larger molecular size. The cosmetic industry uses the term “cosmeceutical”, referring to a cosmetic product that is claimed to have medicinal or drug-like benefits. Marine algae are rich in bioactive substances that have shown to exhibit strong benefits to the skin, particularly in overcoming rashes, pigmentation, aging, and cancer. The current review provides a detailed survey of the literature on cosmeceutical potentials and applications of algae as skin whitening, anti-aging, anticancer, antioxidant, antiinflammation, and antimicrobial agents. The biological functions of algae and the underlying mechanisms of all these activities are included in this review. In addition, the challenges of using algae in cosmeceutical applications, such as the effectiveness of different extraction methods and processing, quality assurance, and regulations concerning extracts of algae in this sector were also discussed.