Ingredients Index: Spirulina

There’s something quite ethereal and captivating about spirulina. We’ve all seen this fabulously vivid blue-green powder… it’s so eye catching, like a pinch of the ocean in powder form. It’s one of those ingredients that catches your eye visually first, but then you look a little closer and think… yes, I need this.

If you’re experiencing any of the following, spirulina may be particularly supportive:

• Tired, stressed or reactive skin
• Breakouts, inflammation or dullness
• Low energy, burnout or general depletion

This is due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, making it a wonderfully supportive ingredient.

This blue-green algae is rich in nutrition and often considered a superfood… let’s talk about some of the benefits and how you can use it in your wellness and beauty routines.

• Inner Beauty: It’s often taken as a supplement in tablet or powder form and valued for its dense nutritional profile.
• Outer Beauty: Spirulina is used in skincare for its potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Great for stressed, reactive skin.

The key benefits

Spirulina’s star component is phycocyanin, it is an antioxidant and gives it the unique blue colour. It’s known for its antioxidant activity, helping to protect cells from oxidative stress.

Other widely known benefits include:

• It may help lower cholesterol and blood pressure.
• It may increase satiety and prevent fat build-up in the liver, therefore helping with weight loss.
• It could be effective against anaemia too, although more research is needed.
• It’s a complete protein, containing all essential amino acids.
• Spirulina may provide support for ageing skin due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.
• The amino acids including glycine and proline can help support collagen production can help keep the skin firm.
• Spirulina is a good source of B vitamins, beta-carotene, iron, copper, along with other minerals like potassium, manganese, and magnesium.

What makes spirulina so interesting is the multitude of benefits it offers, not just on how your body looks but how it feels too.

 What to consider when buying a spirulina supplement

Not all spirulina is created equally. Algae absorbs everything from its environment, so quality and sourcing really matter.

Look for:

• Purity: look for 100% pure spirulina without additives or fillers, so you get the benefits without unnecessary ingredients.
• Look for the source: look for spirulina from clean, controlled environments, free from contaminants. Look for information about their sourcing practices.
• Organic certification: spirulina can absorb toxins from its environment, so looking for spirulina grown without pesticides or harmful chemicals is important.
• Third party testing: look for ones that have been independently tested for purity, potency and safety.

Transparency really matters with this ingredient!

Our Favourite Spirulina-Rich Products

We’ve rounded up some of our favourite spirulina-infused products that bring this ingredient into everyday rituals to support both skin vitality and inner wellbeing.

Spirulina works at a cellular level to gently return your body and skin back to balance. Have you tried it yet?