Why we make Porphose

The Journey to Porphose: How Matthew Huber Turned a Passion for Algae into a Breakthrough Skincare Product

Matthew Huber's journey with algae began in 2000, during his time managing a culture collection that included Porphyridium cruentum at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, near Monterey, California. Known as "Porphy," this red microalga was studied for its ability to produce phycoerythrin, a pigment commonly used in biological research. It was here that Matthew’s fascination with algae first took root, sparking a passion that would later lead to the development of Porphose.

After completing his studies, Matthew shifted focus to large-scale algae cultivation at Earthrise Nutritionals, where he cultured Spirulina, another microalga. Spirulina produces phycocyanin, a blue pigment that fluoresces red under UV light. His work with mass cultures expanded as he moved into the biofuels sector, working on large algae farms in California, Hawaii, and Texas. These farms, developed for a government contractor, produced JP8 biofuel for the U.S. Department of Defense's Great Green Fleet initiative. However, the biofuels market proved volatile, and by 2011, as the "biofuel bubble" began to burst, Matthew sought new opportunities to apply his algae expertise.

Turning to education, Matthew embraced the idea that algae could sequester CO2 from the atmosphere and mitigate climate change. While running his lab, he maintained a culture of Porphyridium and began noticing an intriguing phenomenon: as the cultures aged, the media surrounding the cells became "goopy." After cleaning the cultures, Matthew realized that the substance made his hands feel soft and protected, as if they were "chemical-proof." Though this discovery was fascinating, he set it aside, thinking it was a mystery he could explore at a later time.

It took another decade before Matthew revisited the "goop." Curious about its properties, he hired a young researcher named Hunter Jenkins to investigate. Together, they concentrated, purified, and characterized the substance in the media. They found that it was sulfated polysaccharides (PcSPs) from Porphyridium cruentum that created the thick texture. Importantly, they also discovered that these polysaccharides were recognized by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Board as safe for use in skincare, with no sensitization effects.

Inspired by this discovery, Hunter suggested the name Porphose for the new product, combining "Porphy" for Porphyridium and "ose," the chemical suffix for sugars, as PcSPs are polysaccharides. From there, Matthew and his team at Algae Research and Supply decided the most efficient way to deliver these beneficial polysaccharides was through Porphyridium Conditioned Media (PCM)—the liquid medium in which the algae had been grown, with all cellular material removed.

The next step was testing the product. Matthew distributed samples to friends and family, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Users reported that Porphose made their skin feel smoother, less itchy, and more hydrated. Encouraged by this response, the team decided to officially launch Porphose to the public in October 2024.

For Matthew, Porphose represents more than just a skincare product—it embodies his long-term mission to use algae for the greater good. A portion of the profits from Porphose will go toward supporting algae education projects, with the ultimate goal of teaching the next generation of scientists and engineers how to harness algae as a tool to reverse climate change. This mission aligns with Matthew’s broader vision: algae can not only transform industries like skincare but also play a pivotal role in building a sustainable future.