HelioBioSys harvests and purifies natural ingredients from marine cyanobacteria that grow on air, seawater, and sunlight to formulate environmentally safe, non-toxic cosmetics. We are developing clean, natural, sustainable products, using patented technology developed by microbiologists who worked with NASA.
Sun, air, water icons.

How it works

Real-world ecomimicry

We have deep-rooted admiration for how nature works. Nothing in nature thrives by itself so we mimicked how organisms survive and thrive in the oceans — we let them live together and make what they evolved to make. No gene tinkering here! The result is a family of cyanobacteria working together, using plentiful, free resources and leaving a small footprint. We strive to do the same in our production, packaging, and distribution. Together we can take care of our planet and ourselves by working with nature, not against her. 

Our mixed population of carefully selected non-genetically-modified marine cyanobacteria obtains its energy from the sun, and carbon and nitrogen from the atmosphere. These highly efficient and robust bacteria are grown in outdoor growth systems requiring only sunlight, seawater and air/carbon dioxide to produce a variety of compounds with a range of commercial applications.

The process produces compounds including mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs), extracellular polysaccharides (EPS), and phycocyanin.

Our first product category in production harvests  ingredients for cosmetics — compounds with UV-protective, moisturizing, anti-aging, and anti-oxidant properties — all from a single, sustainable source.

About cyanobacteria

Harsh conditions on the early Earth led nature’s first photosynthetic organisms to develop protection from UV rays, to shield themselves from drying out and to repair themselves from oxidative damage. The compounds they produce have been tested by nature and evolution for safety and effectiveness. Now it’s our turn to use them to nourish, repair, and protect our skin!

Our Partners

Product categories

Our current production effort is focused on producing all-natural ingredients for the cosmetics industry.

Cosmetics

Our marine cyanobacteria produce novel ingredients that nourish the skin and protect against harmful UV light, blue light and pollution, setting a new standard for effective, clean, natural, and safe beauty products.

Our key ingredients are all derived from a single source and include mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs), extracellular polysaccharides (EPS), and phycocyanin.

Uses include
  • Skin care
  • Sun care
  • Microbeads replacement
Properties
  • Broad Spectrum UVA and UVB protection
  • Moisturizing
  • Emollient
  • Anti-aging
  • Anti-oxidant

Future product ideas

Other categories we can apply our technology to.

Food and Beverage

Our cyanobacteria can produce natural, safe, and vibrant food coloring.

Uses include
  • Blue candies (think M&Ms)
  • Cake icing
  • Blueberry ice cream
  • Cocktail mixes
  • Juice and soda drinks
Properties
  • All-natural ingredient
  • Non-GMO
  • Vibrant color
  • Healthy and safe

UV-protective products

Our natural UV-protective compounds can protect a wide variety of consumer and industrial goods from the degradation caused by long-term sun exposure.

Uses include
  • Fabrics, clothing
  • Sailboat sails
  • Awnings
  • Lawn furniture, deck chairs
  • Tarps
  • Umbrellas
  • Toys
Properties
  • Broad spectrum UVA and UVB absorbing compounds
  • Naturally occurring so no downstream environmental concerns

Packaging

Our compounds can produce packaging materials that have a significantly lighter footprint on landfills and the environment.

Uses include
  • Food clamshells
  • Thin plastic food wrap
Properties
  • Transparent
  • Compostable
  • All-natural
  • Not made with petrochemicals