Seaweed-based ingredients are absolutely having their moment in the spotlight. All of a sudden, it seems that everyone is buzzing about Undaria, sea moss, and kelp, raving about the incredible health benefits of these algae. For our founder, and Chief Seaweed Officer, Jenefer Palmer, a former spa director and holistic healer, this revelation came over three decades ago, when she set out to share the healing power of the sea (and seaweed) with skincare and wellness products founded on purity, quality and efficacy.
But what exactly are the benefits of seaweed in our skincare, and which seaweed is right for your skin type? Below, we’re taking a deeper dive into everything you need to know about seaweed in skincare, along with some of our favorite seaweed-infused face and body care products and how to incorporate them into your routine.
Seaweed Is Our Source
Seaweed, the signature ingredient in our products, is an abundant, sustainable resource known for its vast skin benefits. We formulate with seaweed–aka marine plants and algae–because it’s one of nature’s most incredible superfoods. With thousands of known species of seaweed in the ocean, this powerful plant is loaded with vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants and essential fatty acids. The benefits of seaweed in skincare are endless and can include moisturizing, anti-aging, and more.
Harnessing the Powers of the Sea
We source seaweed from around the world based on its high mineral content and combine it with plant-based active botanicals at clinically proven levels to create our clean, effective skincare.
What Are the Skincare Benefits of Our Seaweed?
Our mineral-rich seaweed each has its own unique science-backed properties that can benefit your skin in different ways. Keep reading to find the best fit for you.
Undaria Seaweed
Rich in amino acids, antioxidants, minerals, nutrients and vitamins, Undaria seaweed (Undaria pinnatifida), is a species of kelp that replenishes the moisture barrier and keeps skin looking healthy.
If your goal is moisturization and a full-body glow, our bestselling Undaria Algae™ Body Oil is the best place to start. This nourishing oil combines seven active botanical oils, including passion fruit, acai and babassu, with mineral-rich Undaria seaweed for silky-soft, glowing skin–without any greasiness. White lupin flower promotes more youthful-looking skin by visibly contouring, firming and improving skin elasticity for results you can see and feel. In fact, in a third-party clinical study, 100% of participants showed an instant improvement in skin elasticity and moisturization. Plus, the subtle, uplifting, all-natural citrus scent will make you feel like you’re on vacation.
Fun fact: We soak our Undaria seaweed in barrels of botanical oils to infuse our cult-favorite body oil with vitamins and nutrients. Our infusion process is quite extensive and can take anywhere from 3-6 months. Undaria seaweed gives our body oil its unique color that changes with each harvest. It can range from golden to emerald green and it’s normal to see some seaweed in the bottle—that’s our beloved seaweed!
Red Seaweed
Our red seaweed mineralizes and moisturizes to promote smoother, more supple, healthier-looking skin. It’s packed with bio-protective oligosaccharides and essential minerals, in addition to containing amino acids, antioxidants and other nutrients.
Get started with red seaweed skincare by incorporating our bestselling and award-winning Ocean Eyes® Age-Defying Serum into your eye care routine. A potent blend of red algae and Undaria seaweed visibly brightens skin under the eyes and diminishes the look of fatigue by reducing the appearance of crow’s feet and undereye bags. This red seaweed-powered eye serum helps you appear bright-eyed and rested (although you may still need your double shot of espresso). The cooling rollerball applicator awakens the entire eye area and feels fantastic on skin. Just a few strokes have us feeling altogether bright-eyed—we didn’t realize how tired our eyes felt before! We love that it’s completely scent and fragrance-free and gentle on the eyes, so you can roll it on with abandon. Apply it to your undereye area morning and night and prepare to be blown away by the fresh-faced transformation.
Sink into the silky-smoothness of red seaweed with our bestselling Salts of the Earth Body Scrub. Red algae from the pristine waters of Patagonia mineralizes skin. This cult-favorite moisturizing body scrub uses mineral salts from around the world (including Himalayan and Red Hawaiian salts) in a base of creamy high-performance shea butter and nutrient-rich Gigartina seaweed (a type of red algae) to sweep away dead skin cells and roughness, revealing healthy-looking skin that glows. It smells incredibly relaxing, courtesy of the lavender and rosemary, has a velvety texture on skin, and leaves your whole body feeling soft, smooth and brand-new.
Japanese Miru Seaweed
If you’re looking for deep hydration, look no further. Our Japanese Miru seaweed helps replenish and balance the skin’s natural moisture level for healthy, hydrated skin. It’s no surprise that this silky seaweed is the star ingredient in our community favorite hyaluronic acid serums for face and for body.
Our Hyaluronic Sea Serum is a best seller for a reason: It works like a dream. This fast-absorbing treatment is clinically proven to increase hydration and smooth the appearance of fine lines while it draws water-based moisture to the skin like a magnet. In fact, after one use, 100% of individuals showed an immediate increase in hydration!* It also minimizes the appearance of all lines, including fine lines, wrinkles, crow’s feet, laugh lines, and yes, even frown lines.** So how exactly does this magic work? Two molecular weights of hyaluronic acid, seaweed, and snow mushroom, work together to optimize moisture levels in the skin, keeping it soft all day. Also nice: The silky gel texture leaves skin looking plump, bouncy and dewy.
For the other ~91% of your skin, there’s our Japanese Miru seaweed-infused Hyaluronic Body Serum. It delivers all of the hydrating properties of our facial serum but is formulated specifically for the skin on your body. This lightweight, fast-absorbing serum is clinically proven to instantly boost hydration and improve the skin’s natural moisture barrier for visibly healthy, smooth skin everywhere. Packed with 5 molecular weights of hyaluronic acid, aloe, vegan peptides and nutrient-dense seaweed, this full-body treatment delivers 24 hours of multi-surface hydration.*** Even better, it’s dermatologist-tested, works for every skin type (including sensitive) and is completely fragrance free, so it won’t compete with perfume. Our formula feels like a silky-smooth lightweight gel without a sticky or tacky afterfeel. It’s a bit thicker than Hyaluronic Sea Serum, but applied to either damp or dry skin, it absorbs instantly. The results? Soft, smooth, ultra-hydrated skin.
*Based on a third-party clinical study after 1 use
**Based on a third-party clinical study after 2 weeks
***Based on a third-party clinical study after 1 use
Brown Seaweed
Mineralizes and moisturizes for healthier-looking skin. Brown seaweed is naturally abundant in polysaccharides, antioxidants, macro elements and trace elements. This is one of our more versatile seaweeds, with benefits ranging from improvements in skin luminosity and hydration to visibly firming and improving skin elasticity, as well as reducing the appearance of oily shine. In short, depending on the product, brown seaweed has something to offer everyone.
For anti-aging benefits, start with our bestselling Anti-Aging Body Balm, featuring Alaria esculenta, a brown seaweed that improves the appearance of skin elasticity and firms the look of skin. This silky, youth-restoring elixir sinks right in, transforming dry skin to supple and radiant. In fact, in a third-party study, 81% of participants agreed that skin felt tighter, lifted and more toned after just four weeks.* Red seaweed, coconut oil, passion fruit, omega fatty acids, minerals and antioxidants are all packed into one softening, smoothing, (and heavenly) liquid balm. Inhale a bit of the addictive, floral jasmine-and-geranium floral scent and you’ll wonder just how you ever lived without it.
If you have oily, combination or blemish-prone skin, dive into red algae skincare with our award-winning Blemish Balm with Plant-Based Salicylic Acid. This lightweight lotion uses plant-based salicylic acid, derived from natural wintergreen, to clear up acne, blackheads, whiteheads and prevent future breakouts. Enhanced with a beautiful blend of thyme and camelina oil to shrink the appearance of pores and promote healthy looking skin. Apply in the morning or night, for balanced, powerful hydration without a greasy residue.
*Based on a third-party consumer-perception study
Results You Can Sea®
Ready to take the plunge? Sea the difference for yourself with our complete seaweed skincare collection for your smoothest, most radiant skin yet. Still not sure which seaweed-infused product is right for you? Take our Skin Quiz to find your perfect ritual. Your skin will thank you.
