Beyond Beauty: Microalgae and Cyanobacteria as Next-Generation Platforms for Functional Dermocosmetics, Cutaneous Delivery, and Skin Health
- 1UMR CNRS 7266 Littoral Environnement et Sociétés LIENSs, Institut du Littoral et de l'Environnement, La Rochelle Université, 2 Rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France.
- 2CINBIO, Faculty of Sciences, Campus Ourense, Universidade de Vigo, 32004 Ourense, Spain.
- 3Vigo Campus Lagoas Marcosende, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain.
Abstract
Microalgae and cyanobacteria are valuable sources of bioactive ingredients and innovative biological systems for skin applications. Their metabolites include exopolysaccharides (EPS), mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs), carotenoids, phycobiliproteins, peptides and lipopeptides, polyunsaturated lipids, chlorophyll derivatives, and distinctive secondary metabolites such as scytonemin. Cyanobacteria additionally provide defined molecular candidates, including sacran, C-phycocyanin, MAAs, scytonemin-related compounds, and specialized peptide scaffolds. These compounds may support hydration and barrier function, photoprotection, control of oxidative stress and inflammation, pigmentation, antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity, extracellular-matrix preservation, and wound repair. This review examines major bioactive families, their sources and mechanisms, with particular emphasis on the strength of evidence supporting skin applications. Recent developments from 2024 to 2026 are highlighted, including microalgal extracellular vesicles (nanoalgosomes), photoactivated antimicrobial systems, photosynthetic hydrogels and microneedle patches, green extraction and biorefinery strategies, reconstructed human skin and skin-on-chip models, and artificial-intelligence-assisted formulation. Most reported effects remain supported mainly by biochemical, cellular, or preclinical evidence, whereas human validation is still limited. Translation will, therefore, depend on rigorous chemical standardization, effective cutaneous delivery, demonstrated stability and safety, scalable manufacturing, and validation in human-relevant models. Microalgae and cyanobacteria thus extend beyond conventional natural extracts toward next-generation dermocosmetic and cutaneous-delivery platforms.
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BibTeX
@article{daviaud2026beyond,
title = {{Beyond Beauty: Microalgae and Cyanobacteria as Next-Generation Platforms for Functional Dermocosmetics, Cutaneous Delivery, and Skin Health}},
author = {Clément Daviaud and Herminia Dominguez and Luana Granja Fernández and María Lourdes Mourelle and Kévin Baranger and Nicolas Bridiau and Laurent Picot},
journal = {Marine drugs},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/md24100359},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05804819v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Beyond Beauty: Microalgae and Cyanobacteria as Next-Generation Platforms for Functional Dermocosmetics, Cutaneous Delivery, and Skin Health
AU - Clément Daviaud
AU - Herminia Dominguez
AU - Luana Granja Fernández
AU - María Lourdes Mourelle
AU - Kévin Baranger
AU - Nicolas Bridiau
AU - Laurent Picot
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/15
JO - Marine drugs
DO - 10.3390/md24100359
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05804819v1
AB - Microalgae and cyanobacteria are valuable sources of bioactive ingredients and innovative biological systems for skin applications. Their metabolites include exopolysaccharides (EPS), mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs), carotenoids, phycobiliproteins, peptides and lipopeptides, polyunsaturated lipids, chlorophyll derivatives, and distinctive secondary metabolites such as scytonemin. Cyanobacteria additionally provide defined molecular candidates, including sacran, C-phycocyanin, MAAs, scytonemin-related compounds, and specialized peptide scaffolds. These compounds may support hydration and barrier function, photoprotection, control of oxidative stress and inflammation, pigmentation, antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity, extracellular-matrix preservation, and wound repair. This review examines major bioactive families, their sources and mechanisms, with particular emphasis on the strength of evidence supporting skin applications. Recent developments from 2024 to 2026 are highlighted, including microalgal extracellular vesicles (nanoalgosomes), photoactivated antimicrobial systems, photosynthetic hydrogels and microneedle patches, green extraction and biorefinery strategies, reconstructed human skin and skin-on-chip models, and artificial-intelligence-assisted formulation. Most reported effects remain supported mainly by biochemical, cellular, or preclinical evidence, whereas human validation is still limited. Translation will, therefore, depend on rigorous chemical standardization, effective cutaneous delivery, demonstrated stability and safety, scalable manufacturing, and validation in human-relevant models. Microalgae and cyanobacteria thus extend beyond conventional natural extracts toward next-generation dermocosmetic and cutaneous-delivery platforms.
SN - 1660-3397
SN - 1660-3397
ER -