Algae a Potential Source in Cosmetics: Current Status, Challenges, and Economic Implications

Recently, many studies have revealed the association between environmental stresses and skin disorders. Skin protects the inner body organs as a first line of defence against various environmental detriments. The physical, chemical, biological, and environmental stresses and internal factors, including reactive oxygen species, can lead to skin aging, laxity, wrinkles, dryness, and coarse texture. Therefore, utilizing naturally occurring bioactive phytochemicals has increased in recent years because of advancements in green technology, and new extraction techniques have made their use more compatible, enabling sustainable development. Alga, both macroalgae and microalgae are photosynthetic organisms that are highly exploited in food, feed, pharmaceuticals, nutraceutical, and cosmetic industries. Algae widely synthesize primary and secondary bioactive metabolites such as polysaccharides, vitamins, flavonoids, carotenoids, pigments, phenolic, and mycosporine-like amino acids, etc. Many cosmetic formulations use algal bioactive metabolites or algal cells as a moisturizer, texture-enhancing agents, anti-wrinkle agents, whitening agents, sunscreen, anti-cellulite, thickening agents, and also for hair care. The current review focuses on a better understanding and recent advancements in the application of algal extract and its biomass in a cosmetic formulation. It also briefly describes the current market scenario, challenges, and future prospectus of algae-based cosmetic products.