Astaxanthin Luxury All Natural Skincare Antioxidant
CTFA Name: Astaxanthin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
INCI Name: Astaxanthin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: China
Packaging: Amber glass bottles
Description: Dark orange to red oil; characteristic oil aroma
Applications: Skincare, Hair care
Benefits: boosts natural collagen production; protects skin from UV-damage; helps remove toxins and oxidative stress from the skin; creates smoother skin; antioxidant; improved elasticity; boosts skin hydration
Suggest levels of usage: .0.1-2%
Suggested method of use: Add a temperatures below 60°C/140°F, then blend until evenly distributed.
Composition:
Astaxanthin CAS no 472-61-7 1.9-2.1%/wt
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride CAS no 65381-09-1/73398-61-5 97.9-98.1%
A powerhouse ingredient for natural skincare formulations, Astaxanthin creates truly effective natural skincare products.
Astaxanthin for skincare is a high performing, naturally-occurring antioxidant that works in the oil phase of the skin to help protect and firm the skin. Natural Astaxanthin for skin is bright orange in color with a characteristic oil aroma. You use this product in very small percentages (0-1%) so there is no concern with skin discoloration.
Astaxanthin is derived from microalgae (haematococcus pluvalis). It is a clean, high-impact ingredient. Astaxanthin is a lipid- active, oil soluble carotenoid, working directly to repair and protect. Astaxanthin should be used in formulas targeting sun protection, environmental repair, aging skin and dull skin.
Why should I use Astaxanthin in my skincare formulas?
Astaxanthin is one of the most powerful, naturally occurring carotenoid that works to protect the skin against environmental toxins and to help create smoother, more radiant skin. You can create luxury skincare formulas using natural astaxanthin.
Astaxanthin is oil soluble and very stable, making it an easy addition to your ingredient line-up.
Astaxanthin should only be used in 1% or less, making it an easy addition to any oil based product without drastically raising your end costs.
Can I use astaxanthin instead of vitamin C?
Vitamin C works differently than astaxanthin, but they are very complimentary and should be used together in formulas. Vitamin C and astaxanthin are both strong antioxidants, just vitamin c works to help brighten the skin where astaxanthin works to protect and improve the skin.
What types of products should have astaxanthin in them?
This is the next level of skincare ingredients so use this in your high-end, targeted product lines. Do not use astaxanthin in wash-off products as your customers will just be washing the benefits down the drain. Astaxanthin can be used in any emulsified or oil based product. Add it into your:
Facial Oil Serums- we have so many great oils to create facial oil serums. These have become very popular, especially with the aging crowd as the benefit of moisturizers without feeling heavy or paying for water is very popular. Checkout our Facial Oils lists to find great pairings.
Water-based facial serums- you can incorporate astaxanthin as a serum ingredient but if your base is primarily water based (think using our Aloe Gel as the base), you may need to distribute the astaxanthin using an emulsifier.
Eye Creams and gels- looking to create a line specifically targeting under-eye damage and those fun 11 lines? Astaxanthin is an excellent ingredient choice as it helps create smoother skin, promotes a more radiant complexion, and creates firmer looking skin.
Sun Care products- we are all aware of the damage that the sun and UV exposure to our skin. Incorporation astaxanthin into your sun protection products, and into your sun repair products will help to protect the skin against both environmental pollution and UV damage. Astaxanthin helps to protect against blue light exposures and oxidative stress.
Lip care products- dry, aging, chapped, wrinkled lips? The lips themselves are often overlooked when doing face care routines so creating a lip specific line that incorporates astaxanthin can make that protocol more complete. You can add a small amount of astaxanthin to our Lip Balm Base to create lip balm, or add other hydrating oils such as Organic Castor Oil, Organic Black Seed Oil, Olive Oil Eco Silicone, Organic Broccoli Seed Oil and Alpha Bisabolol to create a lip gloss with excellent hydration and protective care properties.
What color is astaxanthin?
Astaxanthin is bright orange to red in color. All things naturally bright in color showcase their antioxidant plant power. This is true with vegetables and with plant based oils. Astaxanthin should be used in less than 1% in your formula; any more and you won’t see additional benefits, and you may cause some temporary skin discoloration. Skincare products with astaxanthin will have a yellowish tone to them, which is how you know the formula has real ingredients. The skin will have a warm glow when the product is first applied but it will not stain the skin, even with daily use.
Will it stain the skin?
No, not when used at the proper levels. Even if you were to put pure astaxanthin on your skin, it would have a natural glow to it for a while but will eventually return to normal. We DO NOT recommend anything higher than 2%, though. Reap all the benefits of the plant along with being able to market your product at a higher price point, without overdoing the formula. Astaxanthin is for glowing skin!
What does astaxanthin help with?
Decreases fine lines and wrinkles
Boosts natural elasticity
Increases natural collagen production
Detoxes skin from environmental and product pollution
Increases hydration the skin by improving skin’s natural barrier
Creates smoother, more refined skin
Can help improve texture
Increases glow and decreases redness and unevenness
Can astaxanthin replace retinol?
No, just like with vitamin c, astaxanthin is a complimentary ingredient to use with retinal or alongside retinal based products. We carry Retinaldehyde, which is the most effective and most stable form of retinal. Utilize this along with astaxanthin and vitamin c in your formulas. All of them can be used at small percentages, but have high marketability so you can charge more for your product.
We also offer fabulous plant-based retinol alternatives. Bakuchi Oil, in both cold pressed and Co2 extractions, and Buriti oil are excellent retinol alternatives. Use these together in your facial oils and serums to increase the end result.
How do I add astaxanthin to my formula?
Astaxanthin should be added in the oil phase and when the product in cooling. It is very easy to just blend in and will not take any special additional ingredients. Since you are adding such a small amount, it is often ideal to add it to another carrier oil, such as Organic Jojoba Oil or Organic Black Seed Oil, then blend that into your product.
How much astaxanthin should I use in my formulas?
Facial Serums- 0.01-0.2%
Facial Oils- 0.01-0.2%
Creams and Lotions- 0.01-2%
Eye Products- 0.1-1%
Balms- 0.1-2%
Hair and Scalp Treatments- 0.05-2%
What other skincare ingredients can I use with astaxanthin?
You can create a very effective product using just astaxanthin as your active if you’d like. If you’re looking to create a multi-purpose product consider pairing it with any of these:
Organic Sea Buckthorn Oil
Organic Black Seed Oil
Retinaldelyde
Tetrahexyl Decyl Glucoside (Vitamin C)
Olive Oil Squalane
Organic Camellia Seed Oil
Bakuchi Oil/Bakuchioil
Alpha Bisabolol Natural
Buriti Oil
Wholesale antioxidant Astaxanthin for skincare is sold in ½-ounce amber glass bottles, 1-ound amber glass bottles with a dropper, 4-ound amber glass bottles, 8-ound amber glass bottles, 16-ounce amber glass bottles.
This information is for reference only. These recommendations have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not meant to treat, cure or remedy any diseases.
See lot specific C of A for expiration date.
Shay and Company is a wholesale supplier of premium cosmetic ingredients for formulators, indie brands, spas, manufacturers, soap makers and beauty brands.
