Bladderwrack seaweed for skin: what it is and why we use it

Walk along almost any rocky beach on Ynys Môn at low tide and you'll find  plenty of olive-brown fronds draped over the rocks, dotted with little air pockets that pop underfoot. Bladderwrack is one of the most common seaweeds on British shores, and it's the seaweed at the heart of our skincare.

Here's what it is, what's in it, and why we think it earns its place in the jar.

What is bladderwrack?

Bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus) is a brown seaweed that grows on rocky coastlines right across the North Atlantic, including all around Wales. You might also hear it called black tang, rockweed or sea oak.

The name comes from the air bladders along its fronds which work like small floats, lifting the seaweed towards the light as the tide comes in. Generations of children (and adults) have spent summer holidays popping them.

Twice a day it's thrown about by waves, then left out in the wind and sun when the tide goes out, meaning it has had to  become very good at holding on to water to survive. Which, as it happens, is very useful when it comes to thirsty skin.

What's in bladderwrack?

Brown seaweeds like bladderwrack are naturally rich in:

• Polysaccharides, including alginates and fucoidan. These moisture-loving compounds help the seaweed stay hydrated on the rocks, and they're valued in skincare for helping skin hold on to moisture.
• Marine minerals, such as iodine, magnesium, potassium and calcium.
• Antioxidants, including phlorotannins, a family of polyphenols found in brown seaweeds.
• Carotenoids, including fucoxanthin, the pigment that gives brown seaweed its colour.

If you've ever noticed how slippery seaweed feels in warm water, that's the alginates at work.

Bladderwrack benefits for skin

It helps skin hold on to moisture

Those polysaccharides draw in water and help keep it there. In a bath or a balm, bladderwrack can help leave skin feeling soft, smooth and properly hydrated, rather than tight.

It helps support the skin barrier

Your skin barrier takes a lot. Cold wind on the walk to the beach. Salt water. An afternoon in the garden. A long shift in the kitchen.

Bladderwrack helps lock in moisture and support the skin's natural protective barrier, which makes it especially lovely for hands and any skin that's spent a lot of time outdoors.

It can help soothe dry, tired or changing skin

Skin often becomes drier and more easily irritated with age, and particularly around the menopause. Bladderwrack is commonly used to help skin feel calmer and more comfortable. Our Changing skin collection brings together the products we'd reach for first.

It's a little everyday defence

The natural antioxidants in bladderwrack are valued for helping protect skin from everyday environmental stress. Nothing dramatic. Just a bit of help with the weather.

Bladderwrack in the bath

Bathing in seaweed is the oldest way to use it, and still our favourite. Warm water softens the fronds and releases that silky gel into the bath, so you're soaking in it rather than rubbing it in.

It's an old tradition along the coasts of Wales, Ireland and Scotland. You can read more in The ancient ritual of seaweed bathing, or try it yourself with our guide to having a seaweed bath at home.

For an easy version, a few drops of our Seaweed Bath Elixir turn an ordinary bath into something much better. For the full whole-seaweed experience, our Wild Seaweed Bath-in-a-Box has everything you need.

No wetsuit required.

Bladderwrack in a balm

Our Magic Seaweed Sleep Balm pairs bladderwrack with calming plant oils, made to be the last thing you do before bed. Warm a little between your fingertips and take a moment over it.

It fits neatly into the perfect 30-minute bedtime ritual, if you'd like the long version.

A note on bladderwrack supplements

You'll also see bladderwrack sold as capsules and teas, usually for its iodine. That's a different thing entirely. Everything here is about putting bladderwrack on your skin, not swallowing it.

Because bladderwrack is so high in iodine, it's worth speaking to your GP or pharmacist before taking any seaweed supplement.

Bladderwrack FAQs

Is bladderwrack good for skin? Bladderwrack is commonly used in skincare for dry and tired-feeling skin. Its natural polysaccharides help skin hold on to moisture, and it can help leave skin feeling soft, soothed and hydrated.

Is bladderwrack the same as kelp? No. Both are brown seaweeds, but "kelp" usually means the much larger species that grow below the low-tide line. Bladderwrack lives higher up the shore, is smaller, and is easy to spot by its air bladders.

Is bladderwrack suitable for sensitive skin? It's generally considered gentle, but as with any new product, try a small patch first. If you have a known allergy to seaweed or iodine, check with your GP before using it.

Is bladderwrack vegan? Yes. Seaweed is an alga, not an animal product, and our whole range is vegan friendly.

Also read

• How to have a seaweed bath at home
• The ancient ritual of seaweed bathing
• The perfect 30-minute bedtime ritual
• Why sea salt?
• Why sea buckthorn?

 

SEAWEED IMAGE: Jim Marsden