Cuopom: This Deeply Hydrating Marine Ingredient Is A Dream For All Skin Types

Both companies source ingredients sustainably, which is another great thing about seaweed: there is plenty of it to go around. Some species grow an average of 11 inches a day – others up to 24. In fact, it was seeing this abundance of seaweed on his local beach in Margate, and wondering how he could put it to good use, that prompted Bridges to start Haeckels in the first place. “The average beach in the UK can experience around 900 tonnes of seaweed in a year, while our coastline is around 6,000 to 7,000 tonnes. It’s unique in many ways; the chalk reef and cliffs cultivate seaweeds that are not found anywhere else on the planet,” he says, adding that the Margate species Haeckels uses most (they also harvest sustainably from Hinase in Japan), replenish faster due to the aforementioned chalk reef.

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One Ocean Beauty takes a different approach. It actually never harvests its ingredients, but rather sustainably produces them using Blue Biotechnology. “We use this technology – and a process called fermentation – to reproduce the amazing properties discovered in the ocean, but in a lab environment,” Chaiban explains. “This means that we don’t harm the ocean’s biodiversity and also reduce land and water usage, which generates less waste.”

Interestingly, skincare brands are also deploying seaweed as a sustainable alternative to plastic packaging too. Take Bolt Beauty, which uses a seaweed called carrageenan (it requires no fresh water, land or fertiliser to grow), as biodegradable packaging for its single dose skincare capsules, which house everything from vitamin A to cocktails of antioxidants. Lush also offers seaweed gel-wrapped shower products.

Haeckels Earth Marine Water + AHA 4%