With the addition of two new brands of skin care to the Beauty Collective site; Phytomer and Vie Collection, we wanted to share with you why WE chose marine skin care and why you should too!
A mind-blowing fact is that seawater and blood have a nearly identical chemical makeup including mineral and trace element levels. And the concentration of each mineral present is very similar. Seawater is so close to the body’s internal environment that if white blood cells were removed from the body and placed in a sterile diluted seawater solution, they could maintain normal cell function.
We all know the human body needs replenishment of minerals, such as zinc, phosphorous, calcium and magnesium on a daily basis and because seawater contains the body’s ideal balance of minerals, it is the perfect medium to restore these levels. So we, humans have an incredible affinity with the ocean.
Not only can seawater provide a great way to supplement minerals in human cells, it also provides the perfect growing environment for algae. As marine plants grow in the sea, they absorb the very same nutrients that are needed by the human body. So it’s no wonder researchers have studied the relationship between human skin and various seaweed species, and have found ways to use marine extracts to improve multiple skin conditions.
This is especially true for seaweed that grows in areas with large tide changes, such as the Brittany region of France where Phytomer and Vie Collection are created. At different times of the day, these seaweeds are protected by seawater, but during low tide, they are exposed to UV rays, pollution, wind and bacteria—the same aggressors our skin is exposed to! In order to defend themselves against these aggressors, the seaweed develops “skin like” qualities to maintain hydration levels, protecting itself from UV-induced free radicals and withstanding cold temperatures, to name just a few.
Perfectly preserved algae or seaweed can be used to create high-quality, potent ingredients. State-of-the-art manufacturing methods can isolate and extract specific molecules from seaweed. These molecules can then be concentrated into an ideal potency to help balance various skin conditions. For instance, a peptide extracted from Chlorella vulgaris, a single-cell green algae, stimulates the product of four types of dermal collagen and elastin. Another seaweed, Laminaria digitata, retains water in its plant tissue—much like your skin holds water—and even during low tide, it stays plump and moisturized.
The future of marine ingredients
Now there is a new buzzword in the skin care industry: biotechnology. Marine biotechnology uses micro-algae as “factories” to produce cosmetic ingredients that provide powerful results. For example, one of the latest discoveries is a special type of sugar that is produced for skin care using this science. Fifteen minutes after applying a product containing this sugar, wrinkles are visibly smoother and skin is lifted. After one month of daily use, the sugar improves the production of collagen and elastin in the skin to help restore a youthful appearance.
Because of all these incredible factors and the fact we can now create ingredients so sustainably, marine skin care is truly the future of the professional skin care industry, and what’s more, is it is totally organic!
