These 14 Products Are Proof You Should Use Marine Skincare

Perhaps it’s the fact that over half of Who What Wear’s Beauty Team lives within a few miles of a body of water, or we’re finally smelling spring and summer coming our way on the breeze, but we’re certain marine-infused skincare has been on the rise over the past couple of months. Brands like Elemis, Oak Essentials, and Mara have drawn inspiration for their products from churning ocean waves, tangled seaweed forests, and algae that can be found just below the surface.

While the idea of using ocean additives in skincare is far from a new thing, the ways in which these ingredients are used has transformed majorly throughout time, and we’re finally taking a deep dive into what makes them such a game-changer. To learn more about why marine skincare is having a moment right now, and the best ways to tap into the trend, we reached out to a dermatologist and the CEO and co-founder of one of the skincare brands that have been making major waves in the beauty space. Scroll on to learn what you’ve been missing about the skincare trend mermaids, sirens, and intrepid sailors can vouch for.

Gabriella with glowing skin and medium knotless braids

What is marine skincare?

When it comes to understanding how adding marine ingredients into your skincare routine can support everything from cellular turnover to luminosity, its helpful to understand how it can be used. Connie Yang, MD, FAAD and Dermstore medical Advisory Board member, explains marine skincare refers to ingredients sourced from the ocean as well as marine organisms included in formulations for their skin-supporting properties. “Some of the most common examples include algae and seaweed extracts, marine collagen, sea minerals, plankton extracts, and ingredients derived from marine fermentation,” says Yang. Many of these marine ingredients are rich in antioxidants, amino acids, and trace minerals that can help support overall skin health.

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Elemis, an award-winning British luxury skincare brand that champions marine skincare. Its C.E.O. and co-founder, Noella Gabriel says marine science is at the heart of its brand, as it seeks to use, “the resilience of ocean-derived ingredients, particularly algae, and translate that into visibly, clinically proven results.” She adds the marine organism thrive in challenging environments, and have the ability to adapt to constant environmental stressors. The natural adaptability of marine actives is what makes them so effective in supporting hydration, firmness, and overall skin vitality.

According to Gabriel, algae serves as the cornerstone of Elemis’ approach, with each species offering benefits. “Padina Pavonica, our signature Mediterranean brown algae and the hero of the Pro-Collagen range, is rich in moisture-binding components that help maintain hydration while improving the appearance of firmness and elasticity,” she adds. Likewise, Laminaria Digitata, a mineral-rich kelp, deeply hydrates and conditions the skin. Red algae (including Porphyridium and Chondrus Crispus), help support the skin barrier while boosting hydration.

Elemis’ launch of Pro-Collagen Future Restore Serum ($99) marked the continued evolution of the brand’s expertise with the help of advanced biotechnology, since its formula had an exclusive marine algae complex with advanced cultivation methods. The same innovation mindset was also used for Pro-Collagen Hydrating Cleansing Mousse ($60), which she says has heritage Padina Pavonica Ferment, “enhanced by biotechnology to boost its antioxidant properties while delivering intense hydration.” The brand’s effort to select and combine different algae species has delivered multi-dimensional benefits with a single formula.

Are there benefits to marine ingredients?

We’ve named some marine ingredients that are worthy of your attention, but the main thing to know about them is that they are naturally rich in antioxidants and minerals that help hydrate skin and support the skin barrier. “Certain algae and seaweed extracts can also have soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, which makes them great ingredients for sensitive skin,” continues Yang. “I see these ingredients as supportive ingredients that can help improve hydration, reinforce the skin barrier, and provide antioxidant protection against environmental stressors.”