Chlorella Extract
Also known as: chlorella-vulgaris, freshwater-algae
The freshwater algae doing detox-skincare's heavy lifting — packed with chlorophyll, amino acids, and B vitamins, and a key player in clean-beauty brightening lines.
What It Does
Deep Dive
Chlorella is a single-celled freshwater green algae with one of the highest chlorophyll concentrations of any food, plus a complete amino acid profile (all 9 essentials), B vitamins (including B12, rare in plant sources), and a tough cellulose cell wall that needs to be cracked for the actives to be bioavailable. In skincare, chlorella extract delivers antioxidant support, mild brightening (chlorophyll plays a role in oxidative defense), and amino acids that contribute to NMF (natural moisturising factor) replenishment. K-beauty brands like SU:M37, Sulwhasoo's lighter lines, and clean-beauty US brands (Tata Harper, Drunk Elephant) feature it in 'detox' or 'glow' positioning. The clinical data is real but lighter than for hyaluronic acid or niacinamide — think of chlorella as a supporting cast member rather than a hero active.
Sources
- [1]Chlorella vulgaris cosmetic applications review — View source
