There’s no denying the ocean heals. Its salty water is rich in antimicrobial properties that help reduce acne, highly absorbable magnesium that’s linked to improved skin elasticity, hormone-regulating iodine and inflammation-reducing zinc. Just being near the ocean can help improve health—studies show that airborne minerals are good for the respiratory and immune systems.
Cult skincare brand La Mer has long banked on the sea’s super ingredients, like seaweed, algae and kelp, to deliver plump, glowing complexions. Now, as science discovers more about the ocean’s restorative properties, an increasing number of brands are following suit. In Southwest Florida, where our proximity to the Gulf makes it easy to indulge in the sea’s benefits, local skincare pros bottle up the ocean’s antiaging properties into miniature fountains of youth.
A gentle cleanser for sensitive skin is FACE FOUNDRIÉ’s Calm + Collected Chamomile Cleanser. The silky gel—found in the spa’s Naples and Estero loca tions—is rich in algae peptides, which can contribute to smooth skin by locking in moisture. The cleanser can also help boost collagen production thanks to its brown algae extract.
For lasting hydration, Punta Gorda’s ästhetik’s Ocean Moisturizer makes good use of antioxidant-rich blue-green a lgae to promote cell turnover and hydrate the skin. Founder Alexis Pfropper suffered from eczema and noticed she’d always find relief from simply being around the ocean on family vacations to Florida. She developed the antiaging moisturizer using Irish Moss, a seaweed known as ‘collagen of the sea,’ and exfoliating seawater extract, among a host of plant-derived minerals and antioxidants.
Another moisturizer, Naples-based OZ Naturals’ Wake Up Cream pairs algae extracts and giant sea kelp with vitamin C to reduce inflammation and purify and brighten skin. Fort Myers’ Beauty Ritual’s HydraSilk Collagen Cream doubles down on the antiaging effect with hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and plankton extract, which is said to boost the skin’s barrier against UV and other stressors.
An independent, out-of-town lotion that’ s a local favorite, Elina Organics’ Oceanic Acne Defense Lotion (found at Visage Beauty Bar in Naples and Marco Island), employs sustainably harvested marine sponges. The sponges’ needle-like, skeletal spicules exfoliate the skin with a mildly abrasive action that can boost cell turnover, improve hyperpigmentation, and reduce the look of wrinkles and acne scars. Sponges are also rich in antimicrobial and antiviral properties to keep breakouts at bay. Cosmetic chemist Elina Fedotova sources them from the Atlantic Ocean and manufactures her products by hand.
Wrap a day of beachside relaxation with a full-body, at-home treatment. Naples-based Kris Organics’ Dead Sea Bath Soak employs salt from the lowest land-based elevation on Earth. The exfoliating mineral is said to detoxify and smooth skin while stimulating blood flow and easing achy joints and muscles. How’s that for a shore thing?