Sea Moss Recipes for Skin & Hair | Starwest Botanicals

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Learning to Love Sea Moss

I’ll be honest… the first time I tried to work with dried sea moss I was a little freaked out. As an Ayurvedic Practitioner, I don’t come across many sea plants in my herbal repertoire, but I am always curious about natural skin care, so I thought I’d give it a try. Upon first impression, I found the smell to be surprisingly strong, and much different than the rose, hibiscus and lavender that I often use in masks and teas. I would describe the scent of sea moss as a salty, earthy, damp, pungent aroma, reminiscent of the seaweed washed up on shore after a storm. It definitely evokes a grounding feeling.

After doing a bit of research, I found that one of the best ways to mellow the potent odor of sea moss is to wash it, let it soak overnight and rinse it multiple times the next day. This works especially well with cut and sifted sea moss and was a totally game changer for me. The process completely restored my enthusiasm for experimenting with the perfect sea moss face mask and hair mask.

Sea moss has commonly been used in food preparation for its thickening, stabilizing. It is often used in vegan desserts to create a gel-like quality. This begs the questions: What potential benefits does sea moss offer to the skin and hair? Could it counter dryness and dullness? Could it promote cellular regeneration? Let’s take a deeper look.

Sea Moss Skin & Hair Benefits

Nutrient-Rich

Sea moss, also known as red algae, is a vegan, gluten-free source of many vitamins and minerals (most notably Vitamin B2, vitamin A, iodine, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and zinc). Algae, like sea moss, tend to have higher mineral content than land-based plants due to their excellent bio absorption and bioaccumulation skills.

Bioactivity of Sea Moss

As demand for natural and organic skin care is on the rise, sea moss is actively being researched for its promising potential as a source of bioactive compounds. In this case, bioactive compound is referring to a naturally occurring chemical substance derived from plants and foods that has a direct effect on living tissues, including the skin. Common examples of bioactive compounds include things like lycopene, resveratrol, lignan, tannins, indoles, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, polyphenols, and carotenoids. Bioactive peptides, which are generated from food proteins, are also becoming very common in natural skincare products.

Potential Bioactive Peptide Benefits of Sea Moss

Bioactive peptides are gaining popularity for their transformative role as a key ingredient in innovative and effective skincare products. The proteins in seaweed are also important as a source of peptides and amino acid extracts. Mycosporine-like amino acids, found in marine algae, are water-soluble compounds that may have antioxidant and skin protective action.

Two Organic Sea Moss Face Mask

When this algae is dried, rinsed, soaked in water, rinsed again for good measure and then blended, it results in a smooth sea moss gel packed with vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants. This gel brings moisture and bioactive compounds directly to your skin.

How to Make Sea Moss Gel at Home

  1. Rinse Starwest Organic Dried Sea Moss: To remove naturally occurring unwanted particles, rinse sea moss several times (for up to five minutes) until you have removed all the excess salt and sand. The odor should begin to become less potent during this process. After rinsing, make sure to strain the water thoroughly.
  2. Soak in Pure Filtered Water Overnight: Place the sea moss in a bowl with plenty of water. Allow it to soak for 4-12 hours.
  3. Blend to Create a Gel: After soaking, strain and rinse a few more times. In a blender, combine your sea moss with about twice as much filtered water, adding more as needed to reach desired consistency.
  4. Store in the Refrigerator for up to 1 Month: To preserve freshness, store your sea moss gel in a clean glass jar in the fridge.

Glow Enhancing Sea Moss Face Mask

1 tsp Organic Sea Moss Gel

1 tsp Chickpea Flour

A pinch of Organic Turmeric

½ tsp Organic Honey

Instructions: Combine all ingredients to make a slightly gritty gel-like paste. Apply and leave on until almost completely dry, but not quite. Gently remove using a warm washcloth. Moisturize. If extra mask remains, store it in a glass container with a lid and keep in the fridge for up to one week.

Purifying + Clarifying Sea Moss Face Mask

1 tsp Organic Sea Moss Gel

1 tsp Bentonite Clay

2-3 tsp Water

3 drops lavender essential oil (optional)

Instructions: Combine all ingredients to make a gel-like paste. Apply and leave on until almost completely dry, but not quite. Gently remove using a warm washcloth. Moisturize. If extra mask remains, store it in a glass container with a lid and keep in the fridge for up to one week. Note: This mask can also be used as a spot treatment.

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Organic Sea Moss Hair Mask

Simple Sea Moss Mask for Overall Hair Health

When used on the scalp with other hair-healthy natural ingredients, sea moss gel may bring deep benefits. Sea moss is believed to nourish, hydrate and strengthen the hair follicle, which has implications for regeneration and growth.

1 tsp Organic Sea Moss Gel

1-2 tsp Organic Fenugreek Powder

2 Tbsp Coconut Milk (no additives)

How to Make Sea Moss Hair Mask

  • See instructions above to make Sea Moss Gel.
  • Add coconut milk to a small dish.
  • Stir in fenugreek and sea moss gel until they both dissolve.
  • Apply to your damp hair and scalp.
  • Leave for 30 minutes before washing your hair with shampoo.
  • This hair mask can be done weekly.

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Sourcing High-Quality Sea Moss

Bring Sea Moss Into Your Healthy Routine with Starwest Botanicals

With the natural health care world buzzing about this up-and-coming superfood, it’s an opportune time to add it to your wellness routine. Whatever health benefit you are aiming for such as heart health, immune system support, workout recovery, or boosting gut health, Irish sea moss could play an integral part.

Here at Starwest Botanicals, we provide only USDA Certified Organic powdered Irish sea moss in bulk, so you can wholeheartedly trust the quality of the product you’ll receive. Start shopping with confidence and peace of mind today. Are you looking to add Organic Sea Moss to your business? Apply for a wholesale account here to save 40% off retail prices. 

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Bio

Molly McConnell is a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner who is committed to cultivating collective wellness. Guided by curiosity, embodied listening, and the rhythms of nature, Molly’s approach to Ayurveda is intentional and intersectional. As the cofounder ofCultivate Balance, she supports purpose-oriented people to come home to their bodies and restore resilience through nourishment, ritual, and routine. For a more immersive experience,Connect with Molly 1:1 or check outThe Reset for Resilience.

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