A story about finding comfort
We know from experience that sensitive, reactive skin can impact sleep, confidence, and daily life. When your skin barrier is compromised, it really affects your quality of life – and in turn, how you show up for loved ones. Repairing a compromised skin barrier is a journey, and most folks looking for relief from skin discomfort aren’t looking for miracle cures. They’re just looking for something that helps them feel more comfortable day-to-day.
One of our customers, Ronda, gratefully shared her skin journey with us – after struggling with a persistent rash on her hands, the combination of our Barrier Hydration Lotion and our Extra-Strength Repair Cream brought her relief. Because skin barrier issues can impact every aspect of life, they’re often complex and personal, and our team is so appreciative when customers share their stories.
Supporting the skin barrier with seaweed-based Skincare
Skin discomfort can be exhausting, and symptoms often interfere with everyday life. Ronda shared that the persistent rash on her hands began approximately a year ago. Her symptoms were disrupting her everyday life, causing itching, burning, oozing, and sun-triggered flareups. Ronda shared that it was diagnosed as contact dermatitis, and when she was prescribed cortisone medication, it didn’t fully resolve the issues. Ronda’s words?
"The only thing that has given me some relief from the itching and the burning feeling is 7 Fathoms.”
Ronda shared that, after using our SeaWise™ Barrier Hydration Lotion, and our SeaWise™ Extra-Strength Repair Cream, she could eventually “carry on with [her] day and get some sleep at night.” She found the products especially helpful during periods of irritation and sensitivity, and the Extra-Strength cream especially became an important part of her routine. This doesn’t surprise us – the blend of Laminaria Digitata and Bladderwrack extracts in our cream is often effective at soothing discomfort, and supporting skin through environmental stress. We found it especially interesting that she experienced a worse skin reaction when exposed to sun – UV interaction is a part of our ongoing research work surrounding our extracts, particularly with Bladderwrack.
Why we’re studying seaweed and UV interaction
When Ronda mentioned that sunlight made her skin feel worse, it got us thinking about the broader conversations we’ve been having around environmental stress and skin barrier health. We’ve been conducting ongoing exploratory research about how seaweed bioactives interact with UV light in partnership with Holland College researchers. Using Spectrophotometric testing – a type of testing that measures how much light a substance absorbs at different wavelengths – they analysed how the extracts interacted with ultraviolet light across the UV spectrum.
Of course, UV absorption and UV blocking are two very different mechanisms. Some compounds absorb UV energy rather than allowing it to pass through unchanged, while others protect through scattering or reflection.
Seaweeds contain a range of bioactive compounds including marine polyphenols and antioxidants that help the seaweed withstand harsh coastal conditions including intense sunlight, weather, and oxidative stress. Along the rugged North Atlantic coast of Grates Cove – where we sustainably harvest our seaweed – those environmental pressures are part of the ecosystem that shapes the seaweeds we work with. One area we’re actively exploring with researchers is how marine bioactives may help support skin exposed to environmental stressors. Preliminary findings suggest that Bladderwrack – which we use to formulate our Extra-Strength Repair Cream – showed especially strong UV absorption activity. Hybrid extracts including Laminaria Digitata also showed strong performance. While these early findings apply to our extracts – not our finished products – this research will help inform our future formulations and new products that combine the complementary strengths of these North Atlantic seaweeds
Excessive UV exposure can contribute to dryness, irritation, and general skin barrier disruption. These early exploratory findings do not suggest that seaweed functions as an SPF or a sunscreen, but they do point to the presence of naturally protective compounds. That may have potential relevance in formulations designed to support skin barrier health.
Supporting the skin while searching for answers
Skin discomfort is often ongoing and deeply individual, and supportive skincare is not about replacing medical care – Ronda plans to continue seeking medical answers through a skin specialist. What matters most is that it’s helped her feel more comfortable in her day-to-day life. Sometimes the most meaningful feedback that we receive from customers is about how they can continue their everyday routines with a little less discomfort.
Customer experiences help guide future research and product development, and reinforce just how important our work is. We’re always so pleased to hear that our gentle, barrier-focused seaweed skincare helps people in their everyday lives.
