Some Hollywood actresses make aging look effortless and easy… and Kate Hudson is a great example.
At age 42, her skin looks better today than it did a decade ago.
Kate claims her secret to a glowing complexion is getting enough sleep, drinking plenty of hydrating water – and applying algae extract to her skin every morning.
I always get a kick out of celebrities who claim they’ve “discovered” the latest breakthrough in anti-aging, like algae.
But women have been heading to the ocean to harvest seaweed – which is all that algae is – for thousands of years.
In fact, legend has it that Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of beauty and love, enticed both gods and men after soaking in seaweed baths.
And Cleopatra was said to retreat to her seaside palace just so she could go there to bathe in the ocean and slather herself with seaweed.
But even in the 20th and 21st centuries, using algae to enhance your skin isn’t a new…
At the Sears Institute for Anti-Aging Medicine, we’ve been using it for years to help patients protect their skin and reverse signs of aging.
The research I’ve seen so far shows promise. Here’s what I’ve found…
- Red algae. In one study, volunteers reported that they saw fewer wrinkles and crow’s feet, smoother skin, increased elasticity, and less noticeable age spots.1
- Brown algae. Better known as fucoidan, human testing of brown algae shows significant anti-aging promise. In one study, it reduced wrinkle depth by 9%, improved skin elasticity by 17%, and increased moisture retention up to 30%.2,3
- Green algae. While the research is still new, early studies have shown that antioxidant-rich green algae, or chlorophyta, may protect against DNA deterioration associated with long-term sun damage.4
- Spirulina. A 28-day study found that spirulina extract increased skin moisture levels in mature volunteers, but had little effect in younger patients. It also improved skin texture by reducing surface roughness.5
But, what’s really exciting is that algae extracts provide plant stem cells, which help your skin grow biologically younger at the DNA level.
And that’s something all the products developed by the billion-dollar beauty industry just can’t do.
Big Beauty has never gotten to the root cause of dull, dry, and wrinkly skin. And that is because they don’t understand “skin senescence” — the cellular aging of our largest organ, our skin.
Anti-aging breakthroughs have changed all of that though. First, there was the discovery of stem cells to repair and renew your skin. However, as you get older, your stem cell supply drops drastically due to toxins, sun damage, and pollution.
When you’re young, your skin has plenty of stem cells. They’re more resilient and easily replenish moisture to make new, healthy firm skin. But as we age, there are fewer stem cells because they have to work harder to repair themselves.
Your stem cells need backup. And the new revolution in botanical skincare is just what your stem cells need.
Make Your Own Anti-Aging Algae and Spirulina Face Mask
As I mentioned, we include algae extract in a serum that patients apply at the Sears Institute. But, you can make your own algae facial mask easily at home. Here’s how:
Ingredients:
- 2 Tbsp. freeze-dried marine algae powder
- 2 Tbsp. organic spirulina powder
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil or raw honey, organic
- Distilled water, as needed
Directions:
- Combine the dry ingredients together, then add oil or honey and stir. If it’s still a bit dry, add a bit of distilled water and stir into a paste.
- Apply to clean skin and leave on for 20 minutes.
- Rinse with warm water and a washcloth. Finish with cool water and pat dry.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD, CNS
References:
1. Cosmetic benefits of astaxanthin on humans subjects* Kumi Tominaga, Nobuko Hongo, Mariko Karato and Eiji Yamashita*Vol. 59, No 1/2012 43–47
2. Fitton, et al. “Topical Benefits of Two Fucoidan-Rich Extracts from Marine Macroalgae.” Cosmetics. 2015; 2(2):66-81.
3. Thring, et al. “Anti-collagenase, anti-elastase and anti-oxidant activities of extracts from 21 plants.” BMC Complement Altern Med 9, 27 (2009).
4. Pescheck F, et al. “UVB-induced DNA and photosystem II damage in two intertidal green macroalgae: distinct survival strategies in UV-screening and non-screening Chlorophyta.” J Photochem. Feb 2014, 132:85-93
5. Duz Delsin S and Mercurio D. “Clinical efficacy of dermocosmetic formulations containing spirulina extract on young and mature skin: effects on the skin hydrolipidic barrier and structural properties.” January 2015. CPB. DOI: 10.4172/2167-065X.1000144