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Due to increasing awareness of natural compounds, attention has been shifted toward the use of novel bioactive compounds from microbial sources. Among these microbial communities, the importance of algae is a prominent one due to the presence of numerous biologically active compounds [75]. Algae are eukaryotic organisms with a primary photosynthetic pigment. Most of them have an autotrophic mode of nutrition and are related to various polyphyletic groups [76]. Algae can be broadly classified based on the chlorophyll pigments and type of reserve food materials. According to the pigments, a few major types of class are Chlorophyceae (green algae), Phaeophyceae (brown algae), Xanthophyceae (yellow green), Rhodophyceae (red algae), Chrysophyceae (golden algae), Bacillariophyceae (diatoms), and Dinoflagellates [77]. Based upon the cell size and morphology, they can be further grouped as microalgae and macroalgae (seaweeds). Furthermore, depending upon salinity, algae can occur in freshwater, marine, or brackish water habitats [78].

Algae are known to produce abundant bioactive molecules associated with antiaging and skin lightening products, which have potential applications in the cosmetic industry [79]. Algal products widely used in the cosmetic industry include bioactive compounds such as antioxidants, sunscreens lotions, UV protectants, anti‐photoaging compounds, skin smoothing, thickening, gelling, moisturizing, skin lightening, and de‐pigmenting agents to enrich the competence of skin against abrasions, tanning, sunburn, aging, and increase the overall radiance of skin [80–82]. These products comprise complex and simple compounds such as carbohydrates, proteins (enzymes, peptides, and amino acids), lipids (PUFA, MUFA, omega‐3‐fatty acids, sterols), pigments, and vitamins, antioxidants, and secondary metabolites [83]. These wide arrays of compounds can be extracted, solubilized, isolated, and purified by several different methods based on their physicochemical properties, molecular size, and solubility for utilization in cosmetic products. To use these potential bioactive molecules in the cosmetic application, the downstream recovery, purification of these ingredients of the whole process must be streamlined as per GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) practice, under the sections 201(s) and 409 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.