We asked our experts which marine ingredients they think pack the biggest punch when it comes to skincare benefits. Here’s what they had to say:
“Laminaria digitata is a brown seaweed found in the very low intertidal and shallow subtidal marine environments in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This seaweed is often called horsetail kelp and is a natural source of 12 vitamins, including B12, C, E, K, and beta carotene, 18 amino acids, and as many as 42 trace elements. It is renowned for its ability to moisturize the skin.”—Lydia Sarfati, founder and CEO, Repêchage
“Our favorite marine ingredient for the skin is our proprietary Smart Collagen+ Complex. This is an intelligent collagen booster that combines advanced plant peptides and globally sourced algae ingredients to activate the body’s own production of high quality, denser collagen. The result? Superior wrinkle reduction.”—Boldijarre Koronczay, president, Eminence Organic Skin Care
“Osea’s superfood seaweed trio of Gigartina, Undaria, and Macrocystis algae contain some of the world’s most bioavailable nutrients, meaning they are readily absorbed to restore skin to its greatest vitality.”—Jenefer Palmer, founder, Osea
“Marine exopolysaccharide is secreted by a planktonic microorganism, which reboots three major skin functions: the physical barrier function, the chemical barrier, and the skin’s hydra memory, for an overall perfecting action.”—Karen Asquith, national director of education, G.M. Collin
“Another special ingredient, oligomer, meaning ‘little sea,’ is a freeze-dried seawater concentrate. It was the first product and ingredient that gave birth to Phytomer in 1971. This partially desalinated, preserved seawater concentrates all the nutrients found in the ocean, in particular 104 trace elements and minerals essential for the healthy balance and vitality of the body.”—Lenette Casper, president, Phytomer Group Brands
“I like Undaria pinnatifida, also known as wakame or mekabu, a popular seaweed in Japan and East Asia. We use a bioferment of this ingredient in our new Well-Being line. In clinical studies, wakame bioferment induces changes in oxygen consumption to fibroblasts, increasing oxygen consumption and cellular respiration by up to 26.8 percent. Study results indicate wakame bioferment combats the loss of strength, resiliency, and function associated with aging skin.”—Michael Bruggeman, founder and CEO, Organic Male OM4
“There are many marine ingredients out there. However, using a complex combination of carrageenan, kelp, and brown algae helps promote epidermal thickening, and these ingredients are enriched with antioxidants, minerals, and amino acids for anti-aging benefits.”—Susanna DiSotto, director of marketing, Satin Smooth
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