Current status and future prospects of Chlorella as raw materials in cosmeceuticals: cultivation, extraction, and commercial applications

Chlorella and its metabolites have been known for decades to affect skin and beauty positively. With its increasing use in cosmeceuticals, there is a growing interest in elucidating its potential, particularly the bioactive compounds extracted from Chlorella biomass. Chlorella has numerous advantages as the key ingredient in cosmeceutical products as it can be easily cultivated, is highly adaptable in various environmental conditions, and contains high-value metabolites. The bioactive compounds include polysaccharides, chlorophyll, carotenoids, lutein, and peptides, demonstrating antioxidant, anti-aging, moisturizing, brightening, and UV-protection properties that are highly desirable in cosmeceutical products. This review highlights the biodiversity of Chlorella bioactive compounds, the application of Chlorella and its bioactive compounds for commercial cosmeceutical products, along with the production and extraction systems that have not been discussed elsewhere. Further optimization on the extraction and purification of bioactive compounds from microalgae biomass and the use of genetic engineering and omics of Chlorella will have the potential to improve the purity and yield of bioactive compounds.