When it comes to treating skin conditions – especially acne – I’ve found that natural ingredients tend to be the most effective at clearing up skin problems without creating new ones. Whether it’s drinking herbal teas or using essential oils, natural products often provide abundant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, without loading the skin with heavy, comedogenic ingredients or harsh abrasives. Today I’m going to talk about sea moss, which is known for its hydrating and antioxidant properties. But does sea moss help with acne? Let’s find out.
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What Is Sea Moss?
Sea moss is a form of red algae, often used as a superfood ingredient for its mineral and vitamin-rich properties. Nowadays, you can find sea moss in skincare ingredients such as moisturizers and serums, where it helps the skin stay hydrated while offering a number of antioxidant benefits. Skin moss offers both health benefits and skincare benefits, making it the perfect all-rounder product for any skincare routine or antioxidant dietary regime.
Sea moss isn’t the only ingredient found in the sea that can help acne – as I previously explained kelp and seaweed boast potent antioxidant benefits, and are great natural alternatives to store-made products.
Sea Moss Skin Benefits
Skin moss offers the following benefits to the skin:
- Ultra-hydrating – by helping the skin retain its moisture, sea moss works as a great natural hydrator and is often used in moisturizing creams and serums
- Protects the skin’s dermis – sea moss is rich in various vitamins and minerals, which help the algae to thrive in extreme underwater conditions. These vitamins and minerals – especially sea moss’ natural sulfur – render sea moss antimicrobial and are great for protecting the skin’s dermis from infection and bacteria
- Regulates and controls oil production – the sulfur present in sea moss can also help to regulate oil production
Sea Moss Health Benefits
When ingested, eaten, taken as a supplement, or mixed into a smoothie, sea moss offers the following health benefits:
- Helps keep the immune system strong and healthy
- Can be used to treat certain types of infection, as well as food poisoning infections such as salmonella
- Helps support healthy digestion
- Can help improve mood, due to being rich in potassium
Best Sea Moss Products for Acne
When it comes to sea moss and skincare products, you need to ensure that you’re buying a product with authentic, high-quality sea moss extract. Some manufacturers are wise to skincare trends and will use the smallest possible extract of sea moss while loading their product full of other acne-inflaming, comedogenic ingredients. As always, make sure to check the label. During my research, I found a couple of products worth mentioning that I highly recommend if you’re looking to try out sea moss for your acne.
Infinite Age Sea Moss Gel
While testing out sea moss products for this article, two stood out to me as being the most effective. The first product that really impressed me was Sea Moss Gel by Infinite Age Co, a skincare and supplement company specializing in natural ingredients. What I found interesting about this gel is that it could be used both topically and taken orally – I first tried it out by ingesting it via a homemade smoothie (recipe below). For the first day or so, I’ll admit that I didn’t see a difference. However, on the third day, I really started to notice a difference both in my skin and in my energy levels: my skin felt less oily, while appearing brighter than it had been before using the gel. I was excited to keep seeing results, and even replaced my morning coffee for a morning cup of sea moss smoothie a couple of times – and you all know how much I love coffee. I started adding a little bit of the gel into my nighttime moisturizer and noticed that my skin felt super hydrated in the morning, without feeling oily. If you have acne-prone skin, I highly recommend this product.
SKIN&CO Truffle Therapy Oil
If you want to go the topical-only route, I found that SKIN&CO’s Truffle Therapy Oil packs a punch when it comes to skin-boosting nutrients. What I loved most about this oil was the matt finish – if you’ve got acne-prone skin like me, you’ll know how uncomfortable serums can be, only adding to the sticky, oily feel of our already-oily skin. This sea moss-infused oil works to deliver a matt finish, which I really loved. While it’s a little on the pricey side, I highly recommend it to my readers who struggle to find a good, hydrating serum for their oily skin.
How To Use Sea Moss For Acne
If you want to access the full benefits of sea moss for acne-prone skin, you’ll want to use a product that sits on the skin – i.e., not a wash-off product such as a mask or cleanser. The best way to use sea moss for acne is to incorporate it into the hydration portion of your skincare routine, preferably via a non-comedogenic serum or moisturizer, such as the serum I suggested above. You can also enjoy the full spectrum of sea moss antioxidants by drinking a sea moss-infused smoothie, which will deliver an immune boost to the entire body.
Sea Moss Smoothie Recipe
If you want to try out the smoothie I made for myself when researching sea moss for this article, I’ve laid out the recipe I used below. I only use acne-friendly, non-inflammatory ingredients in all my smoothies – you can check out my eBook, Unmasking Acne, for a full list of foods ranked and rated according to their acne-inflaming properties.
Sam’s Sea Moss Smoothie:
1 cup coconut milk
¼ cup frozen raspberries
¼ cup frozen blueberries
¼ cup frozen strawberries
3 tablespoons of Infinite Age Sea Moss gel
You can drink this smoothie in the morning or afternoon for a great energy boost – it makes for a super nutritious, acne-friendly breakfast replacement.
Use Sea Moss Topically
If you want to feel the benefits of sea moss on your skin more quickly, applying a sea moss product to your skin directly is the way to go. Sea moss is a gentle, natural ingredient, which means that you can use it daily without the risk of it being abrasive on the skin.
If you already have a moisturizer that you love, I’d recommend adding some sea moss gel to the mix and applying it before bedtime. If you’d prefer to buy a moisturizer ready-made and infused with sea moss, always check the ingredients label for any comedogenic ingredients.
Sea Moss Side Effects
Before rushing off to stock up on sea moss, it’s important to be aware of possible allergies, side effects, and any other possible adverse reactions. You shouldn’t use sea moss gel (either orally or applied topically) if you have an allergy to iodine. You should also always patch-test any product before using it for the first time on your skin – apply a little to the jaw or neckline and wait 48 hours before applying all over the face.
Yes, the green color in sea moss comes from chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is anti-inflammatory, and there is anecdotal evidence that it can help improve your complexion.
