Sulfated exopolysaccharides: rethinking hydration

Over the past decade, the cosmetics industry has faced increasing pressure to deliver ingredients that combine high performance and sustainability. Consumers now expect moisturizers and other bioactives to provide not only short-term sensory benefits but also measurable improvements in hydration, barrier function, skin resilience and protection against environmental stressors.

At the same time, brands are being pushed to move beyond well-established ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid (HA) and polysaccharides obtained through traditional fermentation,^1,2,3 as these categories have become saturated and offer limited multifunctionality. In addition, concerns regarding environmental dependency, agricultural inputs and traceability have intensified the search for more robust and sustainable alternatives.

In this context, sulfated exopolysaccharides (EPS) derived from microalgae have emerged as a compelling next-generation option. These biopolymers, naturally secreted by the red microalga Porphyridium cruentum, present a distinctive molecular architecture rich in sulfate groups and functional sugars that contributes to their hydrating, film-forming, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-ageing properties.^{4,5,6,7,8,10,11}