When you hear the wordseaweed, your mind likely wanders to deliciousAsian-inspired dishes or thesunny beach trip you’re planning to take. But at Kat Burki Skincare, we infuse seaweed into our products because it’s a nutrient dense skincare ingredient that works holistically.

Many historians say that Aphrodite – the goddess of love and beauty – was believed to have loved seaweed baths. In fact, seaweed was a hot commodity in the ancient world because it’s filled to the brim with key nutrients known to fortify and rejuvenate the skin. 

But what is it exactly, and are there many skin benefits of seaweed? Today, we’ll dive into the ingredient, Whole Nutrition Skincare, and why we use its nutritious goodness in our best-selling Form Control™ Marine Collagen Gel and Form Control™ Neck Contour and Exfoliating Pen.

What Is Seaweed? Is Seaweed Good for Your Skin?

Seaweed refers to species of marine algae and plants that grow in our oceans, rivers, and lakes. Seaweed is so abundantly available that it can be cultivatedsustainably with ease, making it an incredible skincare ingredient for you and the planet.Lydia Sarfati, a pioneer in the seaweed industry since 1970, notes that the composition of seaweed is what makes it such a skincare showstopper.

"Seaweed is a very powerful concentration of seawater, and it can uptake minerals by absorption and active transport," she says. "Because of these processes, some seaweeds have a dense concentration of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, proteins, and lipids, which all pose benefits for the skin. And since there are so many different species of seaweed, it can be useful for all types of skincare and cosmetic products."

Seaweed is good for your skin because it’s chock full of key active ingredients like:

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin B12 (Niacin)
• Potassium
• Iron
• Choline

Seaweed has another important component that sets it apart from other ingredients: It includespolysaccharides (a carbohydrate that consists of sugar molecules bonded together), which can support up to 1,000 times their weight in water. Next time you’re on the beach, you can see this action up close by taking a dry piece of seaweed and dropping it in warm water; after a minute, you’ll notice that it grows much greater in size than when it was dried. 

What’s the Difference Between Seaweed and Land Plants?

At Kat Burki, we formulate all of our products with nutritional biochemistry in mind, which means that we don’t concentrate on a single-star ingredient. Instead, we focus on howall of the ingredients work together to increase skincare efficacy and nourish the skin. 

Your skin, like any other organ in your body, needs specific nutrients to function properly. Similar to how a piece of fruit offers you a range of nutrients that serves your body, all KB products are formulated to do the same – Kat calls it Whole Nutrition Skincare. 

Compared to land plants (thinkfruits andvegetables), seaweed is a nutritional powerhouse that has:

• A richer, more profound source of vitamins, minerals, and salts
• Higher levels of vitamins A, E, C, and folic acid
• All the essential amino acids
• Higher-quality B-complex vitamins
• Large amounts of natural iodine
• More unsaturated fats

Fun Fact: It’s rare to be allergic to seaweed. In fact, most people with sensitive skin find seaweed to be soothing and calming. With all the beneficial compounds present in seaweed, it can even help boost your immune system.

The Skin Benefits of Seaweed

Seaweed is ultra-nutritious for your skin and its microbiome, which when out of balance, can causeinflammation. It can target everything from hydration andhyperpigmentation to fine lines and wrinkles. Plus, it’s known to provide your skin with a detox, making it a great ingredient to do someself-care TLC with. 

Here’s a more in-depth look at the skin benefits of seaweed:

Seaweed in Skincare Can Hydrate Your Skin

Seaweed contains naturalhumectant properties, which means that it can attract and retain moisture from your environment. This helps to keep your skin ultra-hydrated by preventing water loss and helping it to maintain its moisture levels. Using seaweed in skincare can also provide your skin with nutrients like vitamins A, C, E, and K to promote a healthy, hydrated complexion.

Some seaweed containshyaluronic acid, which you’ve probably seen on a label or two before. It’s a naturally occurring substance that can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, making it a must-have hydrating ingredient. Sometimes, dry, dehydrated skin can be accompanied by inflammation, which seaweed can also soothe and calm for a balanced moisture level.

Seaweed in Skincare Can Detoxify and Volumize Your Skin

Seaweed can help draw out impurities and toxins from your skin by absorbing excess dirt, oil, and pollutants that gather on your skin’s surface. This is because seaweed is rich in minerals like magnesium, calcium, and iodine that can provide a good-for-you detox. Seaweed also haspeptides andamino acids that boost yourcollagen production to provide your skin with structure and volume.

Seaweed in Skincare Can Fill and Lift Fine Lines and Wrinkles

As we mentioned above, seaweed can stimulate your skin’s collagen production, which decreases as you get older. By promoting collagen synthesis, seaweed in skincare can help improve your skin’s elasticity and firmness, while filling and lifting fine lines and wrinkles. Mix that with seaweed’s impressive hydrating qualities and you’re in for a radiant, smooth look 24/7.

Experience the Skin Benefits of Seaweed With the Kat Burki Form Control™ Marine Collagen Gel and Neck Contour and Exfoliating Pen

At Kat Burki, we know the power of nutritious skincare ingredients like seaweed (we useWakame) that can enrich and rejuvenate your skin holistically. OurForm Control™ Marine Collagen Gel is formulated with Wakame seaweed to hydrate, calm, lift, and shape your face’s least defined areas, while theForm Control™ Neck Contour and Exfoliating Pen features marine collagen and sea moss to help your skin retain moisture and balance your skin barrier.

The Form Control™ Marine Collagen Gel: 

• Lifts your face's least defined areas for firmer skin
• Fills in fine lines and wrinkles
• Plumps your skin
• Helps contour your face for a more defined appearance

One reviewer of the Form Control™ Marine Collagen Gel exclaims: “I have been blessed with good skin. That being said, even good skin can't defy age. I started using this product about 6 months ago and it has definitely been a game changer. I’m 58 years old and my skin has never looked better. My problem area, nasolabial creases, have literally disappeared. Huge fan of this product!” -Ruth Z.

The Form Control™ Neck Contour and Exfoliating Pen:

• Smooths with targeted exfoliation
• Contours by reducing puffiness and increasing firmness
• Brightens and reduces the appearance of dark spots

A happy 5-star review of the Form Control™ Neck Contour and Exfoliating Pen says: “My neck looks better! I love the way it disappears into my skin.” -Elaine S.