Once again, Nature can provide us with ingredients for our skincare products and this time we look at our Oceans for inspiration. Already we use Dead Sea Salt for bathing or exfoliation or Deep Sea Mud in face masks or body wraps but now we look at a very well known marine plant.
Plant-based skincare products continue to grow in popularity and the benefits of using them are immense. Now we are seeing different ingredients grow in popularity and these 'extra' ingredients can far out weigh their chemical based alternative. One in particular has been around for awhile now but we are only just realising just how great this is in our skincare and the benefits of seaweed are enormous.
Seaweed grows in abundance in our oceans, rivers and lakes so is hugely sustainable, but with over 50,000 different species out there which ones are beneficial to our skin.
When we look at seaweed in depth we can soon see how special it is for our skin - and I don't mean we have to slap a piece of slimy green/brown/red seaweed across our face!
The three main ones used are, Kelp, Bladderwrack and Red Algae. Seaweed is packed with vitamins K, B, A and E which helps to improve skin tone, texture and elasticity, vitamin C which is a natural antioxidant which promotes collagen production so helps to plump the skin and smooth fine lines, giving the skin a much younger effect. Seaweed is a powerful humectant drawing moisture from the air and locking it into the skin cells keeping it well hydrated and moisturised. With all these wonderful benefits seaweed skincare products can be hydrating, moisturising, anti-aging, soothing, calming, reducing fine lines and the apprearance of wrinkles and age spots and have a profound effect on skin complaints like acne and psoriasis.
What Products can Seaweed Benefit :
So now you have read about the benefits of seaweed in skincare you can see why it can be a great ingredient to add to the following.
Add it to your Cleansing Milk or Cleansing Wash to deep clean your skin, improve skin tone and cell renewal.
By adding seaweed to cold press soap again you will be improving skin tone and cell renewal as well as hydrating and moisturising the body.
Moisturisers and body lotions are 'leave on' products so by adding seaweed to them we can elevate our creams to a wonderful anti aging, hydrating, moisturising, calming, soothing, collagen packed product for our face and body. Adding wonderful minerals and vitamins to our skin.
Seaweed Face Mask brilliantly cleanse and tone our skin leaving it hydrated and moisturised.
Seaweed Body Wraps - again as above it will benefit your skin by hydrating and moisturising.
Seaweed for Shampoo and Shampoo Bars is hugely beneficial to your hair - as it's mineral rich making your hair stronger and less likely to break. Ideal for all types of hair, colour and type. The Vit C will help regulate oil production and help fight any bacteria on your scalp causing redness and itchyness. It's moisturising and hydrating properties will leave hair soft, shiny and tanglefree.
How do you use Seaweed to Benefit your Skincare
So, how do you use seaweed in skincare products?
If you buy dried seaweed powder it becomes easy to incorporate into any of your products :
Cold press soap it can be added at the batter stage of soapmaking to add colour and rich nutrients or you can mix it in the water part of the lye.
Cleansers, Moisturisers and Body Lotion seaweed can be added at the water phase.
Masks and Body Wraps the seaweed can easily be mixed thoroughly and evenly into the other ingredients.
Balms the seaweed powder can be thoroughly mixed into melted oils.
Liquid Shampoo can have the dried seaweed added to the water stage.
Shampoo Bars the dried seaweed can be added at the cooling stage when you add your essential oils and preservative.
Try the Oceans magical ingredient on your skin and see if you can feel a difference.
If you would like any help with introducing seaweed to your skincare products please join us for a Skincare Making Course and learn how to make your own.