At PhycoHealth, we’ve always believed that caring for human health should never come at the expense of ocean health.
That belief is what led us to transition many of our core formulations into sustainable aluminium packaging — reducing plastics while protecting the integrity of our marine bioactive ingredients.
Recently, as thousands of our Renew Night Cream and Phyaluronic® serums have moved into this new packaging, we’ve observed something interesting.
Always expect the unexpected as we travel new territory
When a powerful marine molecule meets sustainable aluminium packaging, you quickly discover that leadership means stepping into new terrain first. Innovation rarely travels on a perfectly smooth road. It is the leader who meets the unexpected interaction, who notices the subtle signals, and who learns how to refine the path forward.
In this case, our highly active marine glycans did what nature designed them to do — they responded to their environment. In a small number of jars, that meant gently “speaking” to the inner surface of the container, and started to do what charged molecules do in the presence of a positive charge - they started to cross link and create a gel lattice. This is actually one of the features of Phyaluronic that we use in our biomaterials wound healing research, but it started to perform outside of that context as well.
Revealing where we could further improve the barrier between our advanced biomaterials ingredient and sustainable packaging. For us as scientists, there is something quietly fascinating in seeing just how responsive and dynamic these natural molecules can be when placed into new situations. It is a reminder that we are not working with inert fillers, but with living chemistry drawn from the ocean.
Curiosity is always our antidote to frustration. Each discovery helps us refine both our formulations and the systems that carry them, so that what reaches you reflects the very best of both science and sustainability — and honours the remarkable intelligence of the marine materials themselves.
A small texture change — and what it means
In some jars, customers may notice a small area where the product appears slightly thickened or gently clustered, usually at the inside edge of the jar.
Let us reassure you clearly:
This is not mould.
It is not microbial growth.
It is not a safety concern.
What we’re seeing is a rare but fascinating interaction between our highly active marine glycan ingredient (Phyaluronic®) and a microscopic variation of ionic charge in the inner barrier lining of some containers.
Why this happens
Phyaluronic® is a naturally derived marine glycan with a strong negative charge and remarkable water-binding capacity — part of what gives it its ability to support hydration, barrier function, and skin repair.
Because it is such an active natural polymer, it can respond to tiny variations in its environment. In this case, in a small number of jars, a microscopic inconsistency in the inner barrier lining at the rim has allowed a tiny portion of the formula to cluster slightly — creating visible soft granules or thickened areas.
Importantly:
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The formulation remains safe and effective
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The ingredient itself is stable
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The change is purely visual/texture-related
However, it is not the perfectly smooth experience we expect you to receive.
The reality of moving to sustainable packaging
Transitioning away from plastic into highly recyclable aluminium is an important step for both planetary and human health. But when working with advanced marine biomaterials like ours, packaging must be perfectly inert and consistent at a microscopic level.
This discovery has helped us identify where we can improve further.
We are now:
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Upgrading to an enhanced inner barrier lining
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Testing thicker and more uniform liner systems
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Running compatibility trials across all aluminium-packaged SKUs
Our goal is simple:
beautiful, stable formulations in packaging that supports both your health and the ocean’s.
Our commitment to you
If your product shows any unusual texture, we will always:
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Replace it immediately, or
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Offer a generous credit if you’re happy to continue using it
We stand behind every formulation we create and are committed to constant refinement as we lead the shift toward more sustainable skincare systems.
Innovation sometimes reveals new learnings — and we believe in sharing those openly with the community that supports us.
Thank you for being part of this journey with us.
With respect and care,
Pia & The PhycoHealth Team