Wellness

Marine ingredients have been used in skincare for centuries, and the benefits of them have been known even longer. In 480BC Euripides, a classical Greek tragedian wrote, “The sea heals all man’s illnesses.”

And in his Treaty of Medicine, Hippocrates outlines the benefits of seawater.

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The ingredients from the depths are known for their intense moisturising and detoxing properties, as well as the high levels of radiance –boosting minerals like potassium, zinc, magnesium and calcium. These minerals occur naturally in our skins, but are depleted by pollution and UV damage.

As nearly 40% of South Africa’s 7781km border is coastline, I thought I’d let you know about the amazing benefits you can get from our seas.

Seaweed and Algae
Seaweed is known for its soothing and protecting properties. This is because the high number of amino acids contained in seaweed help boost collagen production, which helps strengthen cells. It’s is also widely used to treat water retention and cellulite.

Algae, on the other hand is known as being one of the best moisturising ingredients in the natural world, and with new technology and delivery systems, they are now being used for evening-out skin tone and improve clarity.

You’ll find seaweed or algae in these products:
-    Givenchy Le Soin Noir contains unique black-hued algae which encourages your cells to regenerate and protect themselves against free radical damage.
-    !QMS Cellular Marine contains Sea Fennel Stem Cells which support the body's own stem cells, enhances the stimulation of new skin cells and improves the skin's metabolism
-    Chanel Hydramax Serum uses marine extracts to help the skin hold moisture like a sponge, so it stays hydrated.
-    La Mer The Lifting Face Serum has a mesh-like matrix made-up of Blue Algae. It instantly tightens the skin, and improves its appearance over time.
-    Nutriwomen Pure Marine Serum Cream has a host of marine ingredients: Kelp to nourish, hydrate, regenerate and oxygenate; sea algae for detoxification, and sea fennel for purifying and cell regeneration.
-    La Prairie Advanced Marine Biology Day Cream uses marine-derived plant sources with excellent anti-oxidant capabilities to restore the balance of moisture in your skin, and protect it from premature ageing.
-    Gatineau Aquamemory Moisture Replenish Mask contains sea fennel for deeper hydration, and brown algae extract to reinforce the hydration by preventing water loss.

Sea Salts
Phytomer’s Toning Body Scrub marine salt crystals will slough away any dead skin to reveal a silky smooth skin underneath.

While sodium makes-up about 90% of regular sea salt, salts from the Dead Sea are made up of mostly minerals, which are essential for healthy skin. This means that your skin will absorb them easily. The main minerals in Dead Sea Salts are magnesium, which helps cell metabolism; calcium, which protects tissue; sodium, which prevents your cells from shrinking; and potassium, which is vital for energizing cells. The easiest way to get these benefits is to add some AHAVA Essential Dead Sea Treatment Dead Sea Crystals to a bath, and relax.
You’ll also find this mixture of minerals and its benefits in AHAVA’s Essential Dead Sea Treatment Dead Sea Mineral Mud

Coral
Coral is one of the most resilient organisms on the planet as it can survive under such hostile environments. Sea Whip has been added to Clinique’s Turnaround Body Smoothing Cream for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory molecules called pseudopterosins, which not only calm, but also protect the skin against free-radical damage.

Sea Water
Wellness treatments with sea water have been around for millennia, but now skin care brands are harnessing the powers of ‘depsea’ water.

Water from as deep as 320m below the surface are being incorporated into creams and serums because the water from that depth is removed from pollution, sunlight and bacteria, making it very pure and full of nutrients.

The water contains up to 60 minerals, and unlike tap water, depsea water infuses with the cells and strengthens the skin’s barrier function.

But if you don’t live on the coast or it’s a little too cold, it’s far easier to add a sachet of Phytomer’s Seawater Bath Lyophilized to a warm bath. It contains an ingredient called Oligomer® which delivers an optimum dose of trace elements and minerals, fortifies the epidermis and prevents cellular fatigue.

For your face, you could try Polaar’s Icesource Moisturizing Gel-Cream which contains Glacier water. This water is a unique combination of minerals and trace elements that moisturise and strengthen the skin’s natural defenses. It also has microalgae called Thalassiosira Antarctica which, as its name suggests, comes from the South Pole. It is found at the bottom of fjords, and can survive at depths of up to 3700m below sea level. The properties which help it survive transfer into the cream to help your skin better synthesize vitamins and essential fatty acids.

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