Have you ever experienced that moment when someone asks you the most blatantly obvious question, leaving you momentarily dumbfounded and questioning if you're somehow on a different planet than they are? It's almost as if you're trapped in an episode of a hidden camera show, waiting for the big reveal.

A recent encounter of mine perfectly exemplified this feeling. Just last week, I found myself in a conversation where someone genuinely inquired why Tanya Droege, the founder of Sealuxe Organics, was playfully pretending to eat seaweed she found in a tree. To give you some context, this was a fun response to her partner Dave's hilarious video a few weeks prior, in which he snatched seaweed off a rock with his mouth while kayaking. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend searching for it on Sealuxe’s Instagram account — it's pure comedic gold.

So, back to the question: "Why does Sealuxe's social media feature so much seaweed?" I couldn't help but let out an incredulous trailing response, as I struggled to comprehend the absurdity of the inquiry.

"Because it's a fundamental ingredient in all of their products," I finally replied.

At this point, you might be wondering, "Well, isn't it obvious? Why else would they use seaweed? And does the company's name, Sealuxe, have anything to do with it?" And that's precisely where the conversation took us—a realm of astonishment and enlightenment. So I educated this dear person about the wonders of incorporating seaweed into skincare products.

Believe it or not, the idea of harnessing the power of ocean plants in skincare has been around for centuries. It was discovered long ago that seaweed possesses mineral levels similar to human blood plasma, making it one of the most bioavailable ingredients for skincare. When you use skincare products infused with seaweed, your skin cells readily absorb its high concentrations of essential minerals such as magnesium, potassium, and calcium. These minerals, in turn, play a pivotal role in stimulating collagen production, which leads to healthier, more vibrant skin (a note on collagen – check out our upcoming blog series explaining collagen in more detail!). Also, seaweed contains trace elements like zinc, copper, and iodine, which are instrumental in combating chronic dryness and promoting overall skin health.

Beyond its efficacy, seaweed is a truly remarkable ingredient for another reason—it's entirely natural and sustainable, granted it is harvested responsibly. In Canada, for example, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans regulates seaweed harvest to ensure its ecological balance is maintained. Similar regulations exist in the United States and Europe. This approach is crucial because seaweed forms an essential part of the ocean's intricate food chain, with various fish relying on these plants for nesting and sustenance. To preserve its vitality, seaweed must be carefully harvested by cutting it instead of yanking it from the seabed, as such forceful extraction would kill it. That's precisely why Sealuxe sources its seaweed from contracted harvesters—ensuring the integrity of the ingredient while promoting sustainable practices (don’t worry – we’re not actually harvesting it with our mouths!).

So, there you have it—a journey from bewildering inquiries about seaweed to an enlightening exploration of its skincare benefits and environmental significance. Who would have thought that something as seemingly simple as seaweed could hold such amazing powers for our skin and our planet?