Exploring the Skin Cosmetic Benefits of Phenolic Compounds and Pigments from Marine Macroalgae: A Novel Green Approach for Sustainable Beauty Solutions

Marine macroalgae, particularly brown algae, are rich in bioactive compounds such as phenolic compounds, terpenoids, bromophenols, mycosporine amino acids (MAAs), and flavonoids, including a well-studied polyphenol compound called phlorotannin. These algae also contain pigments like chlorophylls, carotenoids (fucoxanthin and β-carotene), phycobiliproteins (phycoerythrin and phycocyanin), and melanin. These compounds and pigments have been extensively studied for their potential cosmeceutical applications due to their beneficial effects on the skin, including skin whitening, moisturizing, photoprotection, anti-aging, anti-wrinkle, anti-melanogenic, and antioxidant properties. This review explores the extraction, characterization, and skin cosmetic effects of these compounds and pigments derived from marine macroalgae, highlighting their therapeutic potential.