Wax Tag

Upwell Cosmetics has industry-sized aspirations for its latest microalgae-derived wax base. Formulated as a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based and animal-derived waxes, the wax has the flexibility to be utilized in myriad beauty and private care products including sunscreen, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, lip products and more. The important thing ingredient is microalgae isochrysis, which scientists at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute discovered synthesizes a compound called alkenones, which creates a wax-like consistency when extracted. Upwell cofounders Daniella Zakon and Alexandra Dowling Lari — who occur to be Woods Hole, Massachusetts, natives themselves — licensed the ingredient patent from the Institute, and at the moment are focused on scaling production enough for the wax to be a viable alternative to existing prevalent wax...