The Benefits of Seaweed for Skin
The beautifully clear waters surrounding the Isles of Scilly have been a huge pull to rooting me on St. Martin’s, making a home and growing a family on this unique archipelago twenty-eight miles off the coast of Cornwall.
For me, sea swimming has been a way to find some time for myself as a busy mother of two, to reconnect with nature, to create some headspace and come home to my heart. It’s where Phoenix & Providence began, with a desire to bottle the post sea swim skin glow.
Why does your skin feel so soft after swimming in the sea?
Ocean water has a high mineral content, such as magnesium, calcium, selenium and zinc, which makes it a wonderful treatment for skin. Salt water gives the skin a natural detox, as it not only cleans the pores, it helps absorb toxins and excess oil.
The antibacterial and antimicrobial qualities of salt can help a variety of skin conditions and inflammations, such as eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis.
Our Rejuvenate Seaweed Bath Salts can be a lovely way to enjoy the benefits of bathing in salt water at home, and a tad warmer than a dip in the ocean! Our Ennor Seaweed & Salt Body Scrub also helps to purify skin, simultaneously exfoliating and moisturising leaving you with a natural glow.
Why use seaweed in skincare?
Seaweed has long been used in beauty treatments, from the age-old Irish tradition of bathing in seaweed, to the modern-day seaweed spa body wraps. Understanding how beneficial seaweed can be for all skin types led to this ingredient being at the core of Phoenix & Providence skincare.
The ingredients used in our skincare are natural, organic, and kind to the environment, all seaweed is harvested by hand and the products made with love, sharing the island ethos of intentional living.
Benefits of Seaweed For Your Skin
Rich in Nutrients: Seaweed is an excellent source of essential nutrients that can have a profound impact on our skin. Packed with vitamins A, B, C, and E, as well as minerals like zinc, magnesium, and selenium, seaweed nourishes the skin and promotes overall skin health. These nutrients work together to combat free radicals, which contribute to premature aging, and help to maintain a youthful, radiant complexion.
Product Recommendation: Nurture Face Oil
Hydration and Moisturisation: One of the key benefits of seaweed for the skin is its exceptional hydrating and moisturizing properties. The natural humectants present in seaweed draw in moisture from the environment and lock it into the skin, improving its moisture retention capacity. This hydration boost helps to plump up the skin, minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and restore a healthy, dewy glow.
Product Recommendation: Nurture Face Oil
Soothing & Calming: For those with sensitive or irritated skin, seaweed can provide a soothing and calming effect. It contains natural anti-inflammatory compounds that help to alleviate redness, irritation, and inflammation.
Product Recommendation: Soothe Hand & Body Balm
Detoxifications & Cleansing: Seaweed possesses natural detoxifying properties, making it an excellent ingredient for deep cleansing the skin. It helps to draw out impurities, unclog pores, and remove toxins, leaving the skin refreshed and revitalized. Regular use of seaweed-based products can assist in reducing breakouts, controlling excess oil production, and promoting a clearer complexion
Product Recommendation: Innis Seaweed & Clay Face Mask
Improved Skin Elasticity: Collagen and elastin are essential proteins that maintain the skin's elasticity and firmness. As we age, their production naturally declines, leading to sagging and loss of skin tone. Seaweed is rich in peptides and amino acids that support collagen synthesis and help to improve the skin's elasticity. Regular use of seaweed-infused products can contribute to a firmer, more youthful appearance.
Product Recommendation: Nourish Body Oil
For an in- depth scientific study of the benefits of seaweed for skin please refer to these articles:
Potential Use of Seaweed Bioactive Compounds in Skincare—A Review.
Anti-Photoaging and Potential Skin Health Benefits of Seaweeds.
Seaweed Skincare Rituals for Different Skin Types
Our skincare is formulated for all skin types, genders and ages. The wonderful thing about using seaweed is an ingredient is that it is beneficial for every skin type. You can find out more below about how seaweed can help specific skin types.
You can find our simple Daily Skincare Ritual here, or for a skincare, self-care treat discover our Weekly Skincare Ritual here.
Seaweed Skincare Benefits for Dry Skin
Seaweed contains an abundance of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and amino acids. These elements work in harmony to replenish moisture levels and restore the skin's natural balance. Seaweed also contains various compounds such as fucoidan and phlorotannins, which possess soothing and anti-inflammatory properties. These elements help calm irritated skin, reduce redness, and alleviate itchiness.
Seaweed Skincare Ritual for Dry Skin:
CLEANSE- Balance Cleansing Oil
Our gentle Balance Cleansing Oil turns to a light cleansing milk on contact with water, washing away impurities, SPF and make up, without stripping the skin. Balance is infused with anti-inflammatory seaweed to help soothe strengthen your skin barrier.
MOISTURISE- Nurture Face Oil
Created from a unique blend of seaweed infused cold pressed organic oils, our Nurture Face Oil is packed with essential vitamins and fatty acids that promote collagen production, brightening, plumping, soothing the skin, and smoothing fine lines.
SOOTHING SKIN TREAT- Soothe Balm
Our Soothe Balm is packed with vitamin rich seaweed that helps to soften skin and calm irritation. Massage a little balm into your face and leave on for an overnight treatment when your skin is feeling dry or irritated.
Seaweed Skincare Benefits For Rosacea and Sensitive Skin
The Bladderwrack seaweed we use in Phoenix & Providence skincare contains natural anti-inflammatory compounds such as fucoidan, which can help calm irritated skin. Rich in minerals such as zinc, magnesium and selenium, seaweed can help soothe redness and repair skin. Seaweed is also a rich in iodine known to help skin cell regeneration.
Seaweed has natural detoxifying properties that can help remove impurities and balance the skin's oil production. This is particularly beneficial for individuals with rosacea-prone skin, as imbalances in sebum production can contribute to flare-ups and exacerbate symptoms. The minerals and amino acids found in seaweed work to purify the skin, regulate sebum production, and promote a clearer, more even-toned complexion.
‘I cannot recommend highly enough all P & P products. I have to be careful what I use on my skin following extensive and aggressive cancer treatments. Phoenix & Providence is the best and the gentlest I have used. Seaweed has such healing properties and it shows. My skin is lovely and soft and supple, I would not use anything else now!’
Hal Small
Seaweed Skincare Ritual for Sensitive and Rosacea Prone Skin:
CLEANSE- Balance Cleansing Oil
Free from essential oils and fragrance, our Balance Cleansing Oil gently cleanses the skin. The oil turns to a light cleansing milk on contact with water, washing away impurities, SPF and make up. Balance is infused with anti-inflammatory seaweed to help soothe strengthen your skin barrier, and naturally anti-bacterial hemp extract, your skin will be left feeling soft and clean.
MOISTURISE- Nurture Face Oil
Light, unscented, and gentle, our seaweed infused Nurture Face Oil is packed with essential vitamins and fatty acids that promote collagen production, brightening, plumping, soothing the skin, and smoothing fine lines.
PROTECT- Soothe Balm
Our Soothe Balm is packed with vitamin rich seaweed that helps to soften skin and calm irritation. It is important to keep your sensitive skincare ritual simple, but if you find your skin needs a little extra boost, use Soothe for an occasional overnight treatment.
Seaweed Skincare Benefits for Acne Prone Skin and Hormonal Skin Flareups
The oily T-zone often associated with combination skin can lead to clogged pores and blemishes. Seaweed contains essential vitamins, including vitamin A and niacinamide, which help regulate sebum production.
Exfoliation is an essential step in any skincare routine, especially for acne-prone skin. Seaweed offers a gentle exfoliation method by releasing natural enzymes that remove dead skin cells and unclog pores. This process helps prevent the formation of acne and promotes a clearer, more radiant complexion.
Seaweed Skincare Ritual for Acne Prone and Combination Skin:
CLEANSE- Balance Cleansing Oil
Restore balance without stripping the skin, our organic oil-to-milk cleanser is deep cleansing, removing impurities, excess sebum, SPF and make up. Naturally anti-bacterial, seaweed and hemp extract unclog pores and prevent breakouts.
MOISTURISE- Nurture Face Oil
Created from a unique blend of seaweed infused cold pressed organic oils, our Nurture Face Oil is packed with essential vitamins and fatty acids that promote collagen production, brightening, plumping, soothing the skin, and smoothing fine lines.
Specifically beneficial for acne and maintaining sebum control, Nurture is a non-comedogenic light face oil, quick to absorb into the skin without leaving behind any residue.
If you are still unsure about using oils on oily skin, please do read our face oil Q and A journal post, to find out how your skin can benefit.
DEEPLY CLEANSING SKIN TREAT- Innis Seaweed and Clay Face Mask
A combination of seaweed and green clay detox and balance, naturally drawing toxins and extracting impurities from your skin. Antioxidant rich rosehip extract gently exfoliates skin, whilst anti-inflammatory hemp extract decongests pores, leaving you with a smooth and bright complexion.
A Holistic Approach to Skincare
Phoenix & Providence has been created for softer skin and a clearer mind, to take time for yourself, creating a sense of ritual with products that inspire presence and inner peace.
‘Best way to end the week and take some quality me time, is a dry skin massage using the heavenly Nourish Body Oil before soaking in a bath infused with relaxing scents and seaweed from the P & P salts, that transport me to the peace and tranquillity of St. Martin’s...’
Noosh
Head here for inspiration for how to create your own spa moment at home, with our spa quality skincare.
Seaweed Foraging on the Isles of Scilly
The seaweed used in Phoenix & Providence skincare is foraged from the shores of my island home, just one hundred metres from where the products are made.
Different Varieties of Seaweed
The beautifully clear waters of the Isles of Scilly are home to rich and diverse marine life and one of the only places in the UK you can find seagrass beds. As well as providing a habitat for secretive seahorses and snake-lock anemones, seagrass can absorb and hold up to thirty five times more carbon than the equivalent area of rainforest.
Alongside marine life and seagrass you can find an abundance of seaweed. Many different varieties can be found around the islands from the long strands of sugar kelp growing in deep waters, to the delicate fronds of feather weed and the favoured edible varieties of sea lettuce and purple laver. The variety of seaweed I harvest is Bladderwrack. Bladderwrack is in plentiful supply at low tide meaning it can be sustainably sourced without any concern of over harvesting.
Method of Seaweed Harvesting
I harvest the seaweed using scissors, trimming the plant to allow regrowth, and transport the bladderwrack home using my trusty wheelbarrow. As I use this method of harvesting seaweed on the Isles of Scilly the Marine Management Organisation confirmed I do not need a license. Only if I use mechanical means of harvesting the seaweed, such as with a quad and trailer, would a seaweed harvesting license be required.
Drying Seaweed
The bladderwrack seaweed is dried on my purpose-built seaweed drying racks. The drying process can take anywhere from a couple of days to a week depending on the weather conditions. I have learnt that it is important to remove the seaweed from the racks at the optimum point of dehydration having been caught out by the morning dew on more than one occasion!
Seaweed Infusions
The dried seaweed is infused for a full lunar cycle in cold pressed organic oils. This method was inspired by the age old practice of herbal maceration. Herbs are dried and infused in a carrier oil for a period of time, allowing the oil to soak up the herb’s constituents. The active constituents in plants are the chemicals that have a medicinal effect on the body.
In the case of my seaweed infusions the cold pressed oils are soaking up all the beneficial properties of the seaweed. Seaweed is packed with vitamins K, B, A, and E, that help improve skin tone, texture, and elasticity. High in Vitamin C, these natural antioxidants promote collagen production which help plump skin and smooth fine lines. Packed full of humectants seaweed is also beneficial as it helps skin hydrate and retain moisture.
After one month the seaweed is drained from the oil, leaving behind a beautifully nutrient rich ingredient base for all Phoenix & Providence skincare.
