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If you’re like us, when you hear the word “algae,” you think “shrimp food.” Those junior high science lessons weren’t lost on us, so we know that algae is basically a type of organism that lies pretty close to the bottom of the food chain and feeds things like other microorganisms, and of course, shrimp.

So, when we started seeing “microalgae” listed in the ingredients list of our favorite beauty products, we admittedly raised an eyebrow. Being a little skeptical, we did our research, consulted our skin professionals with their decades of experience in the skin industry, and discovered some pretty surprising facts about these ocean and lake-dwelling organisms. Not only are they beneficial for shrimp, but they’re also beneficial for our skin in practically every way imaginable!

We at KULCBD formulate our skincare products with natural, plant-based ingredients that have been proven through scientific research to have benefits to overall health, wellness, and beauty. If an ingredient doesn’t meet our high standards for usefulness, we don’t include them. What we discovered about microalgae was so significant, we now include it in multiple products! We believe microalgae are some of our biggest allies in fighting the signs of aging, and developing and curating an overall healthier, more radiant-looking skin tone.

If you’ve been curious about microalgae, we can help. We can help you learn about what microalgae actually are (hint: it is not just shrimp food), where they come from, what the benefits are from using them, and how best to incorporate them in your own skincare routine.

A Little Background on Microalgae

Let’s first start by talking about what microalgae actually are.

Microalgae is the term given to microscopic organisms living in freshwater and marine habitats. These microorganisms are made up of a single cell, and as such, they can appear in water and marine sediment as one single organism or in groups and clusters.

The chemical makeup of microalgae makes them beneficial for use in skincare products and other cosmeceuticals (cosmetics and beauty products with bioavailable ingredients). Full of antioxidants, carbohydrates, fatty acids, and other key enzymes, these tiny organisms are capable of helping the skin maintain hydration, fight off signs of aging, and can even help protect against environmental hazards.

You may wonder how these organisms make it from ponds and other marine environments into your products. How can you be certain they don’t spoil and that all their beneficial properties remain intact once they are harvested for use? The harvesting of microalgae and retention of their bioavailable makeup is made possible through modern technology and science. Let’s take a look!

Harvesting Microalgae

You may think that harvesting microalgae is simple, but the process is pretty complicated and very expensive. This is why many products containing microalgae carry a price tag that reflects the amount of effort placed into harvesting. There are different harvesting techniques, and each one is time-consuming and not especially cost-effective.

Essentially, microalgae must be collected from marine landscapes in their watery habitat, and “dewatered.” This means that the tiny microalgal organisms must be removed from the water.

There are many various methods of getting this job done, and they are all highly specific to microalgal harvesting and containment. Rather than bore you with the details, suffice it to say that the removal process basically includes separating the microalgae from their watery hosts and concentrating them in a suspension of fluid that protects the integrity of the microalgae makeup, so that it can be transferred to products for further use.

What are the Benefits of Microalgae?

Once microalgae are harvested, they can be added to products and passed on to the consumer for use. Microalgae have proven to be especially useful when added to skincare products.

Here are some of the most useful benefits of microalgae when added to your skincare routine.

Hydration. Skin that is dehydrated, consistently dry, flaky, or otherwise lacking in moisture can greatly benefit from a moisturizer containing microalgae. Microalgae can not only deeply hydrate skin, but it can also help your skin maintain that hydration by keeping moisture locked in tight.

To level up your hydration and take your skin’s moisture to the next level, look for a moisturizer that contains microalgae and a CBD oil blend. CBD oil is also very efficient in hydrating and moisturizing your skin, and when coupled with microalgae, dry skin simply doesn’t stand a chance!

Anti-aging. If anti-aging is your concern (and honestly, it’s a concern we should all be addressing no matter what age) then microalgae can help. The antioxidants available in microalgae are incomparable in fighting off the early signs of aging, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and restoring that youthful appearance to your skin.

Microalgae may also be able to promote collagen in the skin. When your skin loses collagen, fine lines and wrinkles form, and your skin loses elasticity. When your skin produces more collagen, it looks more youthful and radiant!

Algae extract can be found in KULCBD’s Glö Serum, which is a highly concentrated formula of not only algae extract, but also CBD oil, and a proprietary blend of lactobacillus probiotic.

This rich blend of super nourishing ingredients can give your skin the extra boost it needs to fight the signs of aging where they start, deep below the surface of the skin. Applied after your favorite moisturizer, our Glö Serum effectively seals in additional products and their ingredients, allowing them to work harder and more efficiently!

Evening Out. While microalgae comes in all different colors and blends because of the vast array of organisms available in the microalgae realm, almost all microalgae boasts some ability to help reduce the appearance of scarring and hyperpigmentation. Because many of these microalgal organisms are high in vitamin C, they are renowned for being able to gently correct the appearance of discoloration in the skin.

When coupled with other skin-nourishing ingredients like CBD oil and other plant extracts known to be beneficial in brightening the skin, a high-quality moisturizer like KULCBD’s anti-aging moisturizer can be the perfect product for helping to promote the appearance of even, glowing skin.

Related: Why KUL is Revolutionizing Skin Care »

Smoothing Out. Most blemish-fighting products available today lack the ability to tackle the dirt and oil that clogs pores, and cannot properly moisturize skin that needs moisture but may be overproducing sebum. Luckily, we have microalgae!

Not only can the vitamins in some microalgae formulas remove the dirt and oil that clogs pores, thoroughly cleansing it, and allowing other products to penetrate and work more effectively, microalgae can moisturize blemish-prone skin without the use of oil, which can clog pores and make acne worse.

A great way to reduce the appearance of blemishes is by combining the cleansing effects of microalgae with the moisturizing and balancing capabilities of CBD oil. CBD helps regulate the production of your skin’s own oil, helping oily spots produce less sebum and dry spots produce more.

Environmental protection. Pollution is all around us, no matter where we live. Environmental hazards like smog, smoke, and other irritants release into the air, and our skin is a prime target for those stressors to attach to. Antioxidants help our skin fight off environmental threats, which can cause our skin to age prematurely, and causing fine lines and wrinkles to form.

Microalgae is rich in antioxidants and can help create a virtual barrier between your skin and your environment, protecting it from being attacked. Using a combination of nighttime and daytime products to combat environmental stressors is the best way to give your skin around the clock protection.

More and more studies point to the massive negative impacts the environment can have on our skin, so it’s important to take this issue seriously and protect your skin before any damage!

Soothing. If your skin is dry, itchy, flaky, red, or even oily and patchy, you could be suffering from some type of skin irritation. Whether caused by environmental conditions, poor product choices, or our own not-so-great health and wellness habits, skin irritation makes its home on our skin and causes us to look unhealthy, often giving us an overall uneven skin tone.

Microalgae has a wonderful soothing effect on the skin when applied topically, which can help calm and soothe skin that is badly irritated. Not only can it help reduce irritation that already exists, but it can also reduce the chances of future irritation from occurring by supporting healthy skin.

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In Summary

Microalgae are tiny, microscopic organisms found in marine environments that can be harvested and used in skincare products for a myriad of benefits.

From intense moisturization to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and even protection against environmental pollution, microalgae are beneficial to our skin in many ways.

Using products that contain microalgae can help maintain skin’s elasticity and give our skin a radiant, healthy glow.

Skin that is blemish-prone can also benefit from the use of microalgae as they have the ability to deeply cleanse pores and moisturize them without the use of heavy oils or emollients that can clog pores and make blemishes worse. KULCBD is a great source for microalgae products that also contain rich blends of high-quality full-spectrum CBD oil and numerous other plant extracts, so explore our array of microalgae-packed products today!

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microalgae#:~:text=Microalgae%20or%20microphytes%20are%20microscopic,or%20in%20chains%20or%20groups.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780081010235000054

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6266229/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3299230/"

Directions for how to use QUL Wellness Tinctures: Shake well before using. Using provided dropper, take desired amount daily. Repeat as needed at home or on the run as a powerful hemp extract facial oil.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.