Chances are, you’ve never heard of “extremophiles.” And unless you’ve got a pretty powerful microscope on hand, you’ve definitely never seen them, either. But these tiny microorganisms are quite abundant in extreme environments.

From the Antarctic to salt fields of Alicante to the coral reefs of Florida, and beyond, extremophiles are thriving. And, they have a very compelling story to tell.

These little lifeforms have survived the most extreme environmental conditions imaginable - deep sea pressure, deserts, high UV radiation, extreme temperatures, and more. And along the way, they have developed unique mechanisms to protect themselves. The most relevant of these is their capacity to produce extremolytes -- molecules that safeguard their cells against the damaging effects of the harsh environments where they exist.

It just so happens, their protective capabilities can protect us, too.

The human benefits of Extremophiles

Through extensive research and innovation, Lubrizol has harnessed the power of extremophile microorganisms using biotechnology to revolutionize the field of skin care.

Since 2001, our scientists have been at the forefront of biotechnology with extremophiles. By tapping into the cellular protection mechanisms of these organisms that have survived extreme conditions, we have created a vast library of cosmetic active ingredients containing Lubrizol’s proprietary extremolytes. These ingredients deliver exceptional skin benefits.

These benefits include:

Regeneration and cell cohesion
Moisturization
UV protection
Stem cell protection
Connexin level increase
Epidermal thickening
Improvement of collagen density

With a commitment to unlocking the full potential of nature’s adaptations, Lubrizol continues to push the boundaries of biotechnology launching products like Zenerity™ biotech ingredient, Xpozuki™ biotech ingredient, Telophi™ biotech ingredient and Lumicease™ biotech ingredient. Learn more about these and other active ingredients in our website.

Extremophile Microorganisms. The little lifeforms behind big skin care breakthroughs