Ingredience

Laminaria Saccharina (sušená čepelatka cukrová)

Laminaria Saccharina

Dried sugar kelp not only serves as a natural decoration for our products but becomes soft to the touch and soothing to the skin once rehydrated with water.

What is sugar kelp and what are its benefits in cosmetics?

Sugar kelp is a long, narrow, greenish-brown seaweed, often called ‘gelatinous lasagna’ because of its shape. It's sweet in taste and packed with vitamins and minerals. Used dried to top some of our products, the algae is a great reminder of the abundance of and generosity of the sea. Learn more about the benefits of seaweed for the skin and hair in this article.

Where do we purchase this seaweed?

Lush UK* purchases various seaweeds from Carraig Fhada, a small business on the Atlantic coast of Ireland. They harvest seaweed by hand on the five hectares of submerged land they own, including a place called Long Rock, ‘Carraig Fhada’ in Gaelic.

Most of the harvest occurs during the summer when seaweeds are at their best and when the climate is gentler. It takes place a little further out in the water than the shore, meaning workers rely heavily on good tides. Once cut, the seaweeds are taken to Carraig Fhada's facilities to be dried. It’s a straightforward but effective set-up: in a partially enclosed shelter, they are first spread out on a metal racking to allow for a natural and wind-powdered initial drying phase. Then, they’re taken inside and put in multiple drying rooms with fans and dehumidifiers.

*With seven manufacturing sites across the globe, this information may vary depending on where your Lush products were made.