RELAX
FROM SEA TO SPA
Natural ingredients gathered from beneath the waves provide numerous health and beauty benefits .
BY DEBRA BOKUR
W
. hen it comes to the sea , there ’ s no shortage of mysteries , legends and wildly romantic tales . Many involve stories of nymphs and mermaids of such unspeakable loveliness that they could lure sailors into the briny deep with a simple toss of their hair . While there ’ s no proof to validate such claims , there is plenty of solid science to support the connection between health and beauty and the natural ingredients found in the world ’ s vast oceans .
Wellness therapies that feature marine-based ingredients date back to ancient times , and the use of sea salt , seaweeds and ocean mud continues to be popular in modern-day spas . Sea salt has antiseptic and exfoliating properties , making it a popular choice for scrubs , while long soaks in thermal seawater provide relaxation and relief from sore muscles . Magnesium-rich mud from the Dead Sea has long been used topically to remove impurities and smooth surfaces , and seaweeds once favored by Egyptians and Romans continue to be sought out for skin hydration and to combat the effects of sun exposure .
Dermatologist Dr . Janet H . Prystowsky , who serves as associate clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai in addition to her own private practice in New York City , explains that research into aquatic ingredients is promising .
“ It is true that many chemicals found in marine algae and other marine organisms possess interesting photoprotective properties ,” she says . “ Studying these agents followed by incorporation into skin care products has tremendous potential for helping to minimize photodamage in the skin .”
Prystowsky adds that while ocean-sourced elements
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