Sea Kelp has been a fundamental ingredient at Skin Actives since our foundation. You could say it’s as integral as the foundation we built the business on. It’s in so many of our products and when people ask us for advice, we point to it so often.

But what is Sea Kelp Coral? What does it do for your skin, and why is it so dang good?

What is Sea Kelp Coral?

Well, in many ways Skin Actives Scientific’s Sea Kelp Coral is just what it says on the side of the jar. Primarily this ingredient comes from sea kelp, a specific type of algae that grows in the northern hemisphere. 

Our sea kelp is derived from brown algae.

This is important because brown algae are made of different biochemicals, including pigments and polysaccharides that make its cell walls. For us, that is great, because a different biochemical structure means different properties and that can be good for our health and our skin.

But Sea Kelp Coral isn’t just raw algae in a jar! That doesn’t sound very appealing. 

At Skin Actives the brown algae is just the beginning. This is a plant material rich in biochemical components that are already beneficial to our skin. Then, we cultivate beneficial bacteria in this stock, which enriches the mix with prebiotics that will benefit the skin in other ways: by supplying even more vitamins and building blocks that our skin will use to make collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. At this point we go one step further and add more algae antioxidants to the mix!

 The result is a viscous gel that makes your skin and hair feel refreshed and vital!

Benefits of Sea Kelp Coral for Your Skin and Hair

We’ve already established that Sea Kelp Coral is extremely nutrient dense and can be used for its antioxidant and collagen enhancing properties. That said, it does a lot more, that’s what makes it so great!

The antioxidant activity in Sea Kelp Coral doesn’t just fight reactive oxygen species (ROS*), it also helps reduce the appearance of redness and irritation. 

The fucoidan found in Sea Kelp Coral will promote and support the synthesis of collagen and fight free radicals when applied to the skin.

All this adds to decreasing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Which we all have as a concern, even if we know that we shouldn’t!

Do It Yourself Sea Kelp Skin Care Recipes

Here are some easy to make blends you can create at home!

1. Conditioning Hair Mask  

Letting your hair soak in a rich bath of Sea Kelp Coral will do wonders for it, especially if it is feeling dry and brittle. The application can look a lot like thick hair gel, so do this sometime when you aren’t going out, or shortly before bed. Let the sea kelp soak into your hair and scalp for a feeling of intense rejuvenation. You can use the sea kelp all on it’s own, or add a vial of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) for added hair growth or Methionine sulfoxide reductase (MSR) for greying hair.

2. Soothing Face Mask

Especially in these intense summer months it’s easy to get a little too much sun. Did you know that the aloe vera you buy at the big-box store to ease your sunburn often has alcohol in it as a preservative! That’s crazy, you don’t want to be putting alcohol, no matter how little on already damaged skin. Instead, mix a vial of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in with your sea kelp and let that sit on your face and soak in. Use it just like you would that old aloe vera stand-by. We promise you’ll like ours better!

3. Exfoliating Face mask 

This one is a favorite of our founder, Dr. Hannah Sivak. Here’s her secret recipe:

“Mix the sea kelp coral with a spoonful of plain yogurt (full fat is better) for nutrition and a very mild alpha hydroxy acid exfoliation.  Add some fresh pineapple or kiwi puree for exfoliation. Both kiwi and pineapple contain proteases, and your skin will feel fresh and smooth after you rinse the fruity mask. Papaya will do as well, and remember that if you are allergic to a food, it is likely that your skin will protest as well. Take a short nap and rinse well after, otherwise, the mask will dry as a film that will stretch your skin.”

4. Super Nourishing Body Lotion 

If you want to get that nutrition blend all over your body, but you don’t want to break the bank on a gallon of sea kelp, try cutting it with some of our Body Lotion. Blend the two together in a clean, sanitized bowl. Whip it until the consistency is nice and even. Then you’ll have a smooth, silky carrier for all those great nutrients!

Ecological Concerns

Incidentally, the algae we use for our bioferment is Laminaria digitata grown in the sublittoral zone of the northern Atlantic Ocean. It is harvested in the State of Maine following regulations for sustainable harvesting, and is designated as USDA Organic. As you can see in the New York Times article, by using our sea kelp bioferment you will be helping the environment because kelp is a great sink for carbon dioxide. It is also a good nest for cute otters that thrive in sea kelp “forests”.

You can try Skin Actives Sea Kelp Coral in 4 oz or 8 oz sizes. Its 10% off for a limited time on our webstore. As always, we offer free shipping on all standard US orders.