From Lab to Market: The Role of Spirulina in Cosmetic Innovation

The growing demand for multifunctional, sustainable cosmetics is driving interest in natural ingredients such as Spirulina, a microalga recognized for its antioxidant, vitamin, and photoprotective properties. Despite formulation challenges and the need for further research into its market applications, Spirulina offers significant innovation opportunities for industry and research. Using the search strategy ‘Spirulina and cosmetics,’ this study identified 1,550 granted patents in English and 17 original scientific articles on cosmetic formulations containing Spirulina or phycocyanin. These were selected based on strict eligibility criteria that excluded applications, reviews, and documents in languages other than English. This review highlights Spirulina’s wide range of cosmetic applications, as evidenced by patents and scientific articles. Although these sources are limited, they underscore the ingredient’s potential to innovate in the industry. However, they also point to the need for future research into acceptance, application challenges, and interactions with other ingredients. Chemical engineering plays a pivotal role in advancing the sustainable production of cosmetics by optimizing processes, reducing waste, and promoting the use of renewable resources, an approach that aligns closely with the emerging clean-label movement and the growing consumer demand for transparency, safety, and environmentally responsible products.