Review: Osea Skincare

In my continuing search for the very best in skincare during our Middle Years and indeed at every age, I came across the LA-based OSEA at the super trendy natural store Credo in Boston earlier this year. After treating myself to their Mud Cleanser and Salt scrub, I was hooked!

Natural Non-Toxic skincare

A few weeks ago while on a family holiday (road trip probably more apt with the hours spent on the 101!) in San francisco and Los Angeles, I was treated to an OSEA facial at their newly opened boutique salon on Abbott Kinney Blvd just off happening Venice Beach. I'm now a committed Osea-phile!

OSEA was founded over 20 years ago by Jenefer Palmer with the intention of creating a natural skincare line free of toxic, synthetic ingredients (at a time when very few were on the market, unless of course you wanted to make your own). Melissa Palmer, Jenefer's daughter, now holds the Osea torch and with the rise in all-things natural and vegan, business is booming.

Everything about the range resonates, from their hero sustainably harvested, certified USDA organic seaweed (most of which is hand harvested in Patagonia), to their cruelty-free, plant-derived vegan ingredients and cold pressed essential oils - my skin lapped it up. OSEA, being an acronym for Ocean Sun Earth Atmosphere, ticks all the boxes, no exception and stands by their ethos. So much so that back in 2002, it was the first company to sign the Compact for Safe Cosmetics, an initiative started by the Environmental Working Group that pledged to phase out the use of toxic chemicals in all beauty products. The initiative now has over 1,000 members.

Benefits of Seaweed

We now know just how great marine algae is for our skin, being amongst the most abundant sources of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants and essential fatty acids. In fact my latest book GLOW has an entire section dedicated to skin and nutritional benefits of this wonderfood that include reducing the appearance of sun damage and blemishes, brightening, hydrating, remineralizing and firming skin.

Osea CraniaI Wave Facial

The Cranial Wave facial was just what my sun-soaked skin so desperately needed, despite wearing a hat and applying sun screen every couple of hours, I was in the sun much of the day scooting along LA's fab beach boardwalks (the electric scooters are the business!) and my skin was feeling every moment of the burn. Inspired by the techniques used in craniosacral therapy, features deep pore cleansing, a skin-specific restorative mask, and a deeply relaxing cranial touch massage. This nutrient-rich treatment is activated with an anti-inflammatory LED Light Therapy.

All of the products I have tried are great but to highlight a few that might be worth investing in for starters:

White Algae Mask

This hydrating blend of white marine algae, white tea, hyaluronic acid, peptides nourishes the skin, locking in the goodness, leaving skin smoother and brighter. I am try to use it weekly, letting it soak in overnight.

Salts of the Earth Scrub

This deliciously smelling blend of mineral-rich Dead Sea and Himalayan pink salts, seaweed, Bolivian Rose, shea butter, passion fruit and sweet lavender essential oil is the perfect kick start to the day leaving dull skin clean and refreshed.

Ocean Cleansing Mudd

This exfoliating, oil-balancing cleanser is ideally suited to oily and blemished skin, but I love it and my skin tingled with freshness from the peppermint oil. A rebalancing blend of algae, cypress oil, tea tree, peppermint and rosemary leave skin feeling clean, refreshed and clarified. It’s a gently exfoliating and it makes acne disappear.