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In partnership with OSEA. Editor’s Note: We only select and work with partners that meet our quality standards, so you can rest assured we only endorse products we believe in.
For years, I’ve spent thousands (yes, thousands) of dollars on skincare stacks that have included multi-step routines promising to make my face younger, brighter, tighter, and dewier. All the while, I was using a Whole Foods-purchased body lotion that was basically an afterthought. I knew I needed to moisturize, but the thought of having a separate skincare routine for the skin covering my 5’11” frame felt somewhat…laborious, if not a waste a time.
So when I was told that I would be trying three—count ‘em, three—layerable products from OSEA’s Body Care line, I was extremely curious what differences I would notice. Would it be worth it? Would my skin actually benefit more from an invested routine over a one-and-done application? Knowing that OSEA was the pioneer of bringing seaweed to the forefront of self-care, my expectations were high tide.
Run by mother-daughter duo Jenefer and Melissa Palmer, OSEA is on a mission to promote clean, clinically proven skincare for the whole body. Melissa shared, “We want people to develop a personalized skincare routine for their body, just like we do for our face. The skin goes far beyond the face, and it’s important to give your entire body the attention and support it deserves.”
With this in mind, I went into my Body Care bonanza with every intention of transforming my post-shower/bath time routine into an actual ritual that would visibly firm and transform my skin (and my central nervous system).
We like
- All three Body Care products can be used synergistically, or leveraged separately, depending on your skin’s hydration needs.
- The Undaria Algae Oil improves skin elasticity & moisture in just 10 minutes.*
- The Hyaluronic Body Serum instantly boosts hydration by 161% & improves skin’s natural moisture barrier.*
- OSEA prides itself on using totally clean ingredients that naturally support the skin without compromising one’s health (or the environment).
- Since these products are so nourishing and luxe, they make you want to ritualize any post-shower/bath routine.
*Based on a third-party clinical study after 1 use.
We don't like
- Running anywhere from $48-$54 per 5oz., OSEA’s Body Care products are on the higher end of the skincare spectrum, making this purchase more of an investment. However, depending on how you use each individual product, it can last for quite a while, making it worth it in my book.
Under the Sea With OSEA
OSEA’s history is as rich and deep as the ocean itself. Melissa revealed, “My family’s relationship with the sea can be traced back to over 100 years ago. In the 1920’s my great grandmother Elsa, a chiropractor, injured herself and became bedridden. One night a message came to her in a dream: “The ocean will heal you. At sunrise she insisted her husband take her to the beach to swim. Almost immediately she saw small improvements and continued swimming daily. She was healed within a few months.”
Inspired by her grandmother’s healing journey, Jenefer founded OSEA in 1996 in the hopes of sharing the profound powers of the ocean with the masses.
For 28 years, OSEA has stayed true to its mission to celebrate and honor the sea, infusing all of their products with naturally-derived, seaweed-forward ingredients, chosen for their efficacy, with the most rigorous industry standards in mind. Some might even call them the “Clean Beauty OGs.”
From the top down, bottom up, Jenefer and Melissa prioritize the planet above all else, committed to protecting the planet throughout their production. They are Climate Neutral Certified, Ocean Positive Verified, and are working to minimize their use of virgin plastic by transitioning their pumps + lids to PCR or alternative materials. They’ve also partnered with TerraCycle® to provide a recycling program for skincare packaging at their Venice Skincare Studio where you can get a $40 facial treatment credit for every 6 empty products you return.
Results You Can Sea(weed)
There is no question that sea-based ingredients are having an Erewhon-inspired moment. All of a sudden, everyone knows what kelp, sea moss, and dulse are—screaming from the wellness rooftops about the all-encompassing health benefits that come from the algae family. While the influencer-ness of it all can make it seem fad-like, OSEA has actually been “in on it” for almost three decades.
Seaweed is an abundant, sustainable resource known for its vast skin benefits. Melissa told us, “The wonders of seaweed are endless! Seaweed provides so many skincare benefits because it is a superfood that is rich in vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants and essential fatty acids. Seaweed consists of a myriad of species that provide a range of skin benefits: visibly firming, brightening, moisturizing, exfoliating and more!”
Based on #science, seaweed is kind of a do-it-all’er as it relates to skin. It can…
- Help replenish the skin’s moisture barrier, and keep it looking healthy
- Help improve the appearance of skin elasticity and visibly firm skin
- Provide gentle exfoliation while unclogging pores and removing dirt
- Reduce the appearance of shine, and promote visibly balanced skin
- Give the skin extra hydration by drawing moisture into skin cells
- Visibly enhance skin radiance, and improve overall complexion
Going Skin Deep
Melissa advised that each of the three products could work well when used separately or could easily be layered together (the same way you would layer your skincare), depending on what my skin needed. That is to say I would start with the Serum, then move onto the Body Balm, and finish with the Body Oil in an ideal world.
TBQH, I found each product perfectly sufficient on their own. Given that it’s getting a bit warmer and sunnier here in LA, my need for intense moisture is not as great as it normally is in the winter, so I didn’t feel the need to layer on a body serum, followed by a balm, followed by an oil.
Here’s how things went.
OSEA’s Body Serum is a skin-loving powerhouse, using 5 molecular weights of hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, vegan peptides, nutrient-rich seaweed, and aloe, making it the ultimate summer hydrator and skin essential. And it has been clinically proven to instantly boost skin’s hydration by 161%.*
My Experience: I had absolutely no idea what to expect from a serum designed specifically for my body, and I have to say…I was pleasantly surprised.
OSEA’s Body Serum was super lightweight, but also deeply hydrating, leaving my skin with a luminous glow that was not sticky, oily, or sitting on top of the skin. By the time I had finished my nightly routine, the Serum was completely absorbed into my skin, and left me feeling super hydrated from the outside-in into the next day.
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Since OSEA is the seaweed specialist, it’s no wonder that they’re leveraging multiple kinds of seaweeds to produce different results for our respective skin. The Anti-Aging Body Balm is no exception. With Alaria seaweed, this Balm improves the appearance of skin elasticity and makes skin feel firmer all over. It also contains antioxidant-heavy ingredients like passion fruit, coconut, acai, and babassu oils for deeper, all-day hydration.
My Experience: Unlike the Serum, which was super lightweight, the Body Balm provided an even deeper hydration focus, combining the weight of a serum and a body lotion in one. My skin loved this Balm. I felt like a sparkling pearl! It is definitely a little bit heavier in texture, but made my skin feel incredibly resilient and revived.
Skin Tip: Because it contains naturally-derived oils, it would start on the thicker side and slowly thin out as I rubbed it deeper into the skin (which was a very fun experience). That is all to say, you really only need 2-3 pumps at a time since the product smooths out so much. Any more than that, and you’ll find yourself trying to rub everything in for the remainder of your bath routine.
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Not all body oils are created equal, but OSEA’s Undaria Algae Body Oil is the gold standard. Undaria Seaweed is known for replenishing the skin’s natural moisture barrier so as to keep skin looking healthy. It changes color based on the unique seaweed harvest, and then the seaweed is put in barrels of healing oils so as to infuse the oils with rich vitamins and minerals. It has been clinically proven to improve skin elasticity & moisture in just 10 minutes.*
My Experience: This Body Oil was the impetus for changing my routine into a ritual. As the most sensual product among all three, I found myself wanting to “make it a moment” during my night time wind-down. I essentially would create my own in-home spa experience, taking a bath beforehand or using exfoliating gloves so as to prime the skin to absorb all of the best this Body Oil had to offer.
Most body oils have left my skin super dry the next day, but not this one—no, no! OSEA’s Body Oil left me feeling rich AF, and I think it actually helped me fall asleep because my nervous system was so relaxed.
*Based on a third-party clinical study after 1 use.
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Get Wet or Dry Trying
It can seem absolutely radical to have to spend this much time and money on yourself…and I get it! It is! While I was extremely lucky to try out OSEA’s Body Care blessings, I acknowledge that they aren’t cheap, running anywhere between $48 and $54 for 5oz.
However, one thing that Melissa helped me understand was that we have this whole “anti-aging” thing all wrong. Currently, we’re all so focused (and when I say “we’re all,” I mean “everyone in LA”) on preserving youth by upkeeping the same 100-step routines every day. Whether it’s supplements, diet, or products, we’re all turning our self-care routines into full-time jobs (that don’t pay us).
Rather than thinking about “aging” of the skin, Melissa believes it’s more important to support your skin as it changes, constantly evolving your routine and trying new things to meet your skin where it is at that moment. From there, you can create a skincare program based on your individual needs. She recommends adjusting our products based on seasonal changes and protecting our skin from the inside out.
For me, as it relates to my skin's future, it’s less about using everything I have in my bathroom “product cart” every single day. It’s about knowing that I have an arsenal of secret skin weapons that I can turn to at any time to provide my body’s biggest organ with what it needs to keep me safe day in, day out. I feel pretty comfortable with OSEA’s Body Care products being a key part of that protective toolkit.
You’ve got to sea it to believe it.
Use Code TQE10 For 10% Off On Your Next OSEA Purchase!
