Mblue Labs

Magic Blue, LLC (dBa Mblue Labs) was founded in 2018 as a spinout company from the University of Maryland College Park (UMCP), aiming to commercialize a groundbreaking skin health technology discovered by Cell Biologist and Human Aging Expert Dr. Kan Cao, Professor of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics at UMCP. Initially researching treatments for Progeria, an accelerated aging disease affecting young teens, Dr. Cao discovered that Methylene Blue, a potent antioxidant and mitochondrial booster, reverses skin aging at a molecular level. This breakthrough was published in Natures Scientific Reports in 2017 and marked a significant advancement in the beauty market. Teaming up with Jasmin El Kordi as CEO and supported by startup funding from TEDCO (Marylands Technology Investment Fund), Mblue Labs launched its first anti-aging skincare product under the brand Bluelene. Since then, Bluelene has expanded to a portfolio of ten clinical skincare and sunscreen products sold globally through various channels, including Amazon, Beauty Bridge, and Macys. The brand boasts a dedicated following of over 154K Instagram followers and sells in 42 countries worldwide. Mblue Labs, in collaboration with UMCP, holds a patent for Methylene Blues application in human skin health. All products undergo rigorous R&D at Dr. Caos research lab at UMCP and are peer-reviewed in high-profile scientific publications, ensuring they are grounded in solid scientific research. The efficacy of Mblue Labs products lies in Methylene Blue, a safe and widely used compound in research and medicine, renowned for neutralizing skin-damaging free radicals, enhancing mitochondrial function, and combating aging in skin. Dr. Caos most recent research published in Nature Scientific Reports, demonstrates that Methylene Blue surpasses industry-leading Retinol in anti-aging skin benefits without adverse effects. Benefits include eliminating oxidative stress, doubling collagen and elastin production, and increasing skin cell count by up to 300%. Mblue Labs products are FDA-approved, cruelty-free, vegan, and adhere to Clean and Natural Beauty standards. The company is also committed to sustainability. In 2020, the National Science Foundation awarded Mblue Labs an STTR grant to research the potential of Methylene Blue as an active sunscreen ingredient for coral-safe sun protection. As a result, Mblue Labs published another Nature Scientific Report in 2021, and has a pending patent for a novel sunscreen active ingredient. With an impressive 65.2% return customer rate, Mblue Labs has sustained year-on-year growth since its inception. It operates without external investment through strategic customer acquisition and partnerships with boutique service providers in marketing, branding, social media, legal, and manufacturing. This lean startup model has enabled Mblue Labs to thrive in a competitive health and beauty market, consistently exceeding industry benchmarks for customer retention and acquisition. In 2024, Mblue Labs is collaborating with the Maryland Department of Commerce to expand into new global markets, targeting key regions such as the UAE and Australia. Proudly made in the USA, Mblue Labs is a woman-owned and minority-owned small business committed to excellence in skincare innovation.