Sea Lettuce or Ulva lactuca is a seaweed, known for its innumerable benefits to skin health and nourishment. A reservoir of vitamins while integrating uncountable antioxidants, chlorophyll, and organic acids like glucuronic acid, Sea Lettuce is like a sparkling gem to skincare that promotes complete nourishment like an allrounder. With growing popularity in recent decades, while the usage of seaweed for beautification was common in ancient Asian and European coastal realms, modern science started exploiting this practice in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Reassembled to a thin lamenting and leafy appearance this green algae unlocks multifarious skin nourishment pros ranging from locking in moisture to strengthening the skin barrier and thus resulting in visibly and flawless luminous skin at a faster pace.  

A Quick Scout On Scientific History

Sea Lettuce is a macroscopic green algae that can grow more than 400 mm or 16” in size. A family of Ulvophyceae taxonomical class and Ulva genus, Sea Lettuce is referred to by many names, underscoring Green Nori as the most common. Visible in multiple blade-like strata it is referred to as lettuce for its resemblance to it in terms of appearance. It is edible by both aquatic species and humans for exceptional nutritional value. However, in adhering to the same phenomenal benefits in skin health, Sea Lettuce is now considered an integral ingredient in skincare products. 

List of Major Compounds in Sea Lettuce Responsible for Skincare

Sea Lettuce is a humongous source of vitamins, amino acids, peptides, and antioxidants. Each of its components serves distinct values for the betterment of skin health. A comprehensive guide on major compounds in Sea Lettuce is comprised below while revealing responsibilities. 

Vitamins: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, and Vitamin B12 (Niacin, Riboflavin) collaboratively impinge better skin health with a lamenting glow. For example, while Vitamin C is a key contributor to collagen synthesis, Vit-B complex helps release oxidative stresses, Vit-E invigorates skin barrier protection, and vice-versa.

Polysaccharides: Ulvans & Sulfated Glycosaminoglycans present in Sea Lettuce perform three distinct responsibilities in a synergy which are stimulating fibroblast to boost collagen, developing a hydrating flimsy skin barrier to prevent moisture loss while enacting faster detoxification. Together these enhance the skin’s elasticity making it more firm and flexible.

Amino Acids: Amino acids are the principal building blocks for synthesizing collagen. Available in three variants in Sea Lettuce i.e. Proline, Glycine, and Lysine, they fuel up collagen production and result in better and faster skin elasticity and visibility. 

Fatty Acids: Sea Lettuce is enriched with fatty acids namely Omega-3, and Omega-6 (Linolenic & Linoleic Acids). These improve inflammatory sensitivity and skin irritation while reinforcing skin barrier properties.

Antioxidants: Sea Lettuce is loaded with uncountable antioxidants. Prominent of these are Chlorophyll, Beta-carotene, and Polyphenols. These not only work as catalyst contributors to diminish inflammation but also safeguard against bacterial attack, thus supporting skin relief. 

Organic Acids: Organic acids in Sea Lettuce like Glucuronic Acid, Alginate, etc. ensure anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial relief while simultaneously functioning on multiple other concerns such as boosting collagen, etc.

Benefits of Sea Lettuce In Skincare

Lok in Moisture & pH Balance

Sea Lettuce is referred to as a reservoir of vitamins and antioxidants which are great humectant agents. These compounds together unveil robust moisture retention capacities that not only heal dry and flakey skin texture but transform it with a supple and dewy glow. Besides this, they also treat multiple skin ailments considering to rough and rifted texture, itchiness, etc. For example, Vitamin C rejuvenates the skin’s natural glow maintaining sufficient moisture supply. Polysaccharides help in preventing transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Magnesium & Potassium regulate necessary hydration and pH balance.

Prevent Premature Aging

When it comes to combatting aging and terrestrial impact on the skin, Sea Lettuce is a second-to-none ingredient. Loaded with key vitamins like C, A, E, and B Complex it offers multidimensional benefits. For instance, while Vit-C helps in moisture replenishment, Vit-A induces faster cell turnover, and Vit-E shields oxidative stresses. As a result, a visible change against superfluous aging marks is noticed with time.

Improve Skin Elasticity & Firmness

Sea Lettuce is considered a catalyst for skin elasticity and natural firmness. Thanks to the synergistic combination of compounds that embed amino acids and polysaccharides, responsible for collagen fabrication and visible jolly skin over time.

Reduce Inflammation & Redness

Sea Lettuce is an appropriate recommendation while rifling for the best source of anti-inflammatory ingredients. Its pool of antioxidants such as chlorophyll, fatty acids like omega 3 and 6, and minerals namely zinc and copper along with Vit-C righteously take necessary undertaking to combat inflammation, burning, sun damage, and redness.

Release Oxidative Stress

Environmental factors along with others such as endocrinal functions significantly undermine skin health further incurs multiple downsides and eventually fume up oxidative stress. Oxidative stress defines an imbalance between free radicals and skin nutrition (antioxidant) that stirs cell damage. Purification or cell detoxification is the pivotal solution to deter this problem. Sea Lettuce has an intriguing potency against oxidative stress. The cumulated proactiveness of magnesium, zinc, and sulfated polysaccharides (Ulvan) hastens cell detoxification which results in faster purification. 

Strengthen Skin Barrier

Essential fatty acids like linoleic acid, ⍺-linolenic acid strengthen the lipid barrier that controls moisture loss while sulfated polysaccharides enhance skin barrier function with sufficient moisture supply. Therefore, the skin gets nourished with reflective radiance with time.

How Is Sea Lettuce  Used In Skincare Products? (200 words)

Face Wash

Sea Lettuce is used in multiple skincare products in multiple ways. Be it for the body or face it can be ubiquitously used for every relevant range. Consenting the same reasoning, our range of face wash has extensively used Sea Lettuce throughout all products. Some top examples are Ideal Bright Face Wash, Young Forever Age-Reversal Face Wash, Vitamin C Face Wash, etc. Each face wash strives for a reflective natural glow while bracing the skin’s natural immunity ten times faster.

Face Scrub

With cleansing Sea Lettuce has also non-abrasive exfoliation qualities that come from in-built enzymes (Polysaccharides) and AHAs which provide a gentle chemical cleansing without arousing a sense of irritation. Two of our top face scrubs that have used Sea Lettuce are Ideal Bright Face Scrub and Vitamin C Face Scrub. 

Face Serum

Face serum itself has an exceptional soothing impact that makes the skin dewy and softer. All credits go to its biome of phenomenal ingredients that source bulges of Vitamin C and antioxidants. Adhering to this fact, Sea Lettuce has been extensively used in all our face serums enlist Ideal Bright Face Serum, Young Forever Face Serum, and Vitamin C Face Serum to promote glass skin with flawless visibility. 

Face Cream

Our face creams are divided into compartments of day and night creams and all of these contain a certain percentage of Sea Lettuce in the formulation. As a consequence of the formulation, the skin is improved with lamenting texture, feasibility, and free of any inflammatory marks. Some of our top products with Sea Lettuce are Ideal Bright Day and Night Cream, Young Forever Day and Night Cream, and so on.