The founder

The founder - Prof. Mette H. Thomsen

Haloderma is founded by Prof. Mette H. Thomsen, a chemical engineer with an MSc. in Chemical Engineering and a PhD in Biochemistry. She has dedicated her career to discovering the therapeutic properties of coastal plants, specifically halophytes. Twenty years ago, Prof. Thomsen started working with halophyte plants in Abu Dhabi as part of a research project to develop biofuels from the stem part of Salicornia. Salicornia is a halophyte plant that grows along the coasts of the world. It can tolerate high salt concentrations in the soil, making it an excellent candidate for soil bioremediation. In addition, halophytes have a strong secondary metabolism and produce a myriad of phytochemicals as part of their resilient immune system. These coastal plants are naturally built to resist microbial infections and environmental stressors.

During her work and research on halophytes, Prof. Thomsen was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent radiation therapy. The radiation affected her skin and gave her a radiation rash. Her skin was red, swollen and painful, with symptoms similar to a skin burn. She decided to formulate a cream based on salicornia to help her skin heal. After personally experiencing the great relief from the cream and its extract, she decided to bring that research back to Denmark, where halophytes also naturally grow.

Over the years, she has researched the application of halophyte extracts in the fields of nutrition, microbiology and personal care. Haloderma was founded to bring the results of her research, in the form of products, to people who can benefit from them.

Publications

200+ scientific publications
70+ peer-reviewed papers
3 patents
40 presentations at international conferences
1 book

Research Funding

Improving GreeN Innovation for the blue revoluTION: new tools and opportunities for a more sustainable animal farming – IGNITION. Horizon Europe.
Flexible and resilient integrated biofuel processes for competitive production of green renewable jet and shipping fuels – FLEXI-GREEN BIOFUELS. H2020 project.
Halophilic plant extracts as natural corrosion inhibitors and biocides for oil field application. Danish Hydrocarbon Research and Technology Centre
Integrated on-farm Aquaponics systems for co-production of fish, halophyte vegetables, bioactive compounds, and bioenergy – AQUACOMBINE. H2020 project.

A new phytoactive extract for your skin

Prof. Mette H. Thomsen developed a groundbreaking patented extraction method to create a phytoactive extract rich in a composition of phenolic acids, flavonoids and antioxidants that are beneficial for skin care. Find more information about the extract and its properties here.