Au natural seems to be the way to go these days. The makers of organic food and makeup lines are promoting their products as the must-haves if you want to live longer and look good doing it. Kelp and seaweed-based products are front runners in this race showing up on shelves, in spas and online. These deep sea ingredients are certainly not new, but are they beneficial in our makeup or another trend whose side effects or lack of effects have yet to be seen?

Popular in everything from creams to spa wraps, cellulite soap to shaving cream, seaweed is one of the beauty industry’s best kept secrets.  

Seaweed , like Pacific seaweed that comes from the tips of the giant kelp plant, is touted for its rich array of vital nutrients and the treatment of oily skin. It is said that cosmetic products rich in seaweeds tighten and tone, stimulate and improve blood and lymph circulation, deep clean, and increase the skin’s moisture levels and elasticity. Seaweed is also used to oxygenate and detoxify the skin to reduce the appearance of cellulite. Seaweed enhanced cosmetics are also used as exfoliants to slough off dead skin cells. Seaweeds are rich in micro-nutrients such as iron, zinc, copper, cobalt, manganese and boron that aid in the skin’s ability to absorb and maintain the minerals that promote a healthy, glowing appearance.

Kelp , a type of seaweed high in silicon, is believed to keep skin from wrinkling and sagging. Seaweeds such as kelp and agar are used as thickeners in many cosmetics and hair products, especially conditioner. Kelp`s ability to balance and strengthen overall body function helps to promote healthy growth of hair, skin, and nails. As a system cleanser, kelp`s rich supply of nutrients is believed to have a buffering ability that neutralizes waste in body fluids aiding in daily discharge. The algin in kelp is said to absorb toxins from the digestive system, which improves digestion, stimulates kidney function, increase circulation and purifies the blood. Kelp is also used to absorb and remove drugs, chemicals and heavy metals from the body. Herbalists report that kelp`s active ingredient, sodium alginate, binds these toxins in the gastrointestinal tract, preventing their absorption into the body.

If these benefits are attractive to you and your daily health and beauty regime, be sure to look for products that use cold processed seaweed and kelp. Cold processing maintains the natural properties of the plants while chemically altered or dehydrated kelp and seaweed are denatured and much less effective.

It is important to note that the skin is often referred to as the body’s largest organ. What goes on the skin goes into your system. There are many warnings about the ingestion of kelp and seaweed due to their high iodine content and allergens.

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