Ah delicious! Yep… we’re back. As promised, we here at Project Beauty Blog have continued our exploration into the use of foodstuffs in cosmetics and since I am currently reclining by the sea (Jealousy will get you nowhere, so please cease and desist. Tee-hee.) I thought we would cover the glorious array of seaweeds that are gently washing upon the shore as I type this.

The first thing you should know is this: seaweed = algae. The very same fishy-food hot topic that the clean energy community has been all buzzy about due to it’s other super-power: it’s use in producing biofuel efficiently. And no amount of wishing that thought away is going to make it any more palatable. The next time you’re sitting down at your favorite sushi joint, simply pretend that this conversation never happened, but until then we’re going to dive into the algae primordial information ooze and swim around a bit.



Beauty and the sea have long been linked. Venus, mermaids, the Beach Boys homage to California Girls are prime examples of this, as is the reputation for other-worldly beauty shared by many coastal cultures such as Japan, Iceland, Hawaii and Wales (all who largely incorporate seaweed into their diets.) Add to that the long-known and vast nutritional benefits of incorporating this marine green into the diet, such as its direct link to increased longevity, enhanced immune functioning, revitalization of the cardiovascular, endocrine, digestive, and nervous systems, and relief from minor aches and pains – and the thought that leafy-green sea life might also provide a benefit from the outside in doesn’t seem so far fetched. The cosmetic application of algae is already a multi-million dollar business… and growing.

Seaweed is widely-known as the oldest plant in the world and is genetically blessed with all sorts of cell protection and reserve substances, so it seems a natural progression for the cosmetics world to translate it’s super-powers into skin creams, renewal serum and anti-aging potions. Algae substances have been the advertising highlight of numerous successful anti-aging and beautifying brands that claim everything from UV-protection to hydration, and skin regeneration to skin lightening.

Oh, and did we mention weight-loss, cellulite reduction and digestive health and balance. By providing optimum nourishment to the thyroid, helping to regulate metabolism, and increasing the effectiveness of the digestive system, seaweed helps you get in shape and stay that way. (No, you still have to exercise and not gorge yourself on hotdogs and sauerkraut balls – you all knew I’d sneak them into the article somehow!)



One specific marine-derived (read: microalgae) anti-aging ingredient used in the latest and greatest skin creams, eye creams and anti-aging serums is alguronic acid. Discovered by accident (Oops.) by biotech company Solazyme while conducting research on sources for renewable energy, alguronic acid is the compound that preserves microalgae in its fermentation vessels. And since algae endures similar environmental insults (How dare you, sir!) that our skin does (pollution, sun damage and perhaps over-imbibing in the vino – I joke! I kid!) it seems like an appropriate leap to assume that the very same alguronic acid might protect our own skin cells and help reverse evidence of aging by reversing the loss of firmness and elasticity, lighten age spots and increase cellular regeneration.

Yes, yes. We all know what assuming makes of you and I, but according to recent research, alguronic acid claim that the compound increases elastin production by 32% and cellular regeneration by 55%. There is also evidence that alguronic acid is significantly more effective than hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, retinol, vitamin E and other anti-aging ingredients in increasing skin elastin production, inhibiting melanin production, and protecting against UV-triggered cell damage. And that sounds like an awesome miracle that I would like to apply directly to my face. One small step for mermaid, one giant step for human-kind.