How One Hawaiian Microalgae Farm Is Advancing Sun Care with BioAstin® Hawaiian Astaxanthin®

A new conversation in sun care is emerging — one that goes beyond the surface and into the science of supporting skin from within with microalgae. Nutrex Hawaii, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cyanotech Corporation and producer of BioAstin Hawaiian Astaxanthin, is leading that evolution with more than 40 years of natural microalgae cultivation, research, and innovation on Hawaii’s Kona Coast.

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Wide aerial view of the 96-acre Hawaiian farm where BioAstin® Hawaiian Astaxanthin® is grown.

“For years, public health guidance has focused on external protection — sunscreen, shade, hats, protective clothing, and sunglasses. That’s smart and we agree. Everyone on our Hawaiian farm follows these practices,” said Collette Kakuk, Chief Strategic Officer at Nutrex Hawaii. “But science has evolved — and so has our understanding of skin support from within.”

The Science Behind the Shield.

BioAstin Hawaiian Astaxanthin is one of nature’s most powerful antioxidants and works in two ways to help protect skin under the sun:

• Neutralizes UV-induced free radicals, supporting healthy inflammation response, collagen integrity, and skin elasticity
• Accumulates in the skin’s layers, embedding in cell membranes to deliver continuous, inside-out defense before damage begins

With only 6–12mg daily (one small softgel), BioAstin® Hawaiian Astaxanthin® builds resilience and provides antioxidant support from within ^☨ after about 3 to 4 weeks.

Not a Sunscreen Replacement — A Sun Care Reinforcement

Skin cancer is on the rise globally, with the United States consistently ranking among the highest reported cases. According to National Cancer Institute estimates, there were 100,640 new cases of skin melanomas and 8,290 related deaths in the United States in 2024. The American Academy of Dermatology Association estimates that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. Finally, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, about 90 percent of nonmelanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.

The following have long been advocated for with regard to sun safety:

• Using broad-spectrum, reef-safe sunscreen
• Wearing a wide brimmed hat & protective clothing
• Wearing UV-blocking sunglasses
• Seeking shade during peak hours

BioAstin® doesn’t aim to replace these measures — but to reinforce them. “Internal support fills a critical gap in modern sun care,” said Kakuk. “It’s not a replacement for sunscreen, but a crucial internal layer of adjunctive UV and sun support for responsible sun care — especially given how sunscreen is used in the real world: it sweats off, washes off, gets missed in spots, or isn’t reapplied as often as it should be.”

More Than Skin Deep: Full-Body Support for Life Under the Sun

As an antioxidant 6,000x stronger than Vitamin C — BioAstin® helps provide internal support against UV and sun exposure ^☨ — it’s also one of the rare natural antioxidants capable of crossing both the blood-brain and blood-retinal barriers, entering deep into the mitochondria, our cellular engines where energy is produced and oxidative damage is most critical.

This extraordinary bioactivity supports a wide range of clinically documented benefits for full-body wellness, including eye, skin, joint, heart, and brain health ^☨, as well as post-exercise recovery ^☨ and cellular support ^☨.

“Here in Hawaii, we’ve long known BioAstin® provides powerful internal antioxidant support. From beach goers, lifeguards, surfers, and tourists to outdoor workers and healthy agers, we’re proud to expand the sun care conversation with superior microalgae that supports the body in much the same way it functions in nature,” said Kakuk.

Nature’s Blueprint for Sun Defense: Biomimicry in Action

In the natural world, the freshwater microalga Haematococcus pluvialis faces harsh environmental stress, including intense UV radiation from the sun. To survive, it produces high levels of astaxanthin, a powerful red carotenoid antioxidant, to form a protective barrier against UV damage and oxidation.

This same mechanism is what makes astaxanthin so extraordinary for humans. The way astaxanthin protects microalgae from UV-induced stress in nature is the same way it works within the human body — helping to support skin from within. It’s a striking example of biomimicry, where nature’s survival strategies are mirrored in how it functions in the body.

“In nature, this unique microalgae survives intense UV stress by producing astaxanthin — a powerful antioxidant and striking example of biomimicry,” said Dr. Gerry Cysewski, PhD, Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Nutrex Hawaii. “I’ve spent my career studying and cultivating these remarkable organisms because of their unique biochemical properties and continually unfolding potential. Supporting our bodies under the sun with the same molecule nature uses to protect its own life forms isn’t just smart science — it’s common sense.”

BioAstin harnesses this biological brilliance with natural astaxanthin farm grown outdoors — never synthetic or bio-identical versions produced in labs under LED lights. BioAstin is cultivated in sustainable, open-air ponds on Hawaii’s Kona Coast, where intense natural sunlight triggers the microalga’s defense response to produce astaxanthin.

A Legacy Rooted in Science, Sustainability, and Hawaii

Nutrex Hawaii is one of Hawaii’s longest-standing farm-based supplement brands, having sustainably cultivated microalgae on the Kona Coast for over 40 years. Every harvest is traceable, rigorously tested, and grown with care using sustainable aquaculture practices in one of the world’s sunniest climates.

See Where It’s Grown – Video Link

Fly over the Kona Hawaii Farm Navigate to https://youtu.be/L-JwDj_Ym1E?si=gPM82mTqp0RNKMZU

About Nutrex Hawaii: For over 40 years, Nutrex Hawaii has sustainably cultivated microalgae to support health and wellness. Grown on a purpose-built 96-acre farm on the pristine Kona Coast of Hawaii, its flagship products—BioAstin® Hawaiian Astaxanthin® and Hawaiian Spirulina Pacifica®—are trusted worldwide. Nutrex Hawaii products are distributed across the United States and internationally through natural and specialty retailers, healthcare professionals, and e-commerce platforms including Amazon.com and nutrex-hawaii.com.

^☨These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

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For years, health guidance has focused on external protection - sunscreen, hats, UV clothing, and sunglasses. That’s smart. But science has evolved — and so has understanding of support from within.