Ingredient Focus - Seaweed

Macrocystis Pyriferae, or Kelp as it is more commonly known, is a species of seaweed that grows wild in many oceans around the world. We source our seaweed from Connemara. It is certified organic and is harvested from the unpolluted waters of the Atlantic Sea.

The seaweed is processed in Connemara using a drying method that ensures the nutritional value of the seaweed remains fully intact. Ruth drives to the processing plant to collect the end product herself. She looks forward to this each time as she says, “it’s not just like going into a run-of the-mill establishment. The staff who work there are locals and speak Irish. We have yet to go out there without being offered a cup of tea, a few biscuits and a chat. On the odd occasion that we can’t make the journey the staff have brought the seaweed to us with a heart in hand. When we drive down to the processing unit’s yard ourselves (after our cup of tea) one of the workers puts the freshly powdered seaweed in the boot of the car. 10 meters away from the door of the offices and the production unit is the sea, with the waves, the wind and sand, usually blowing a gale with lots of sea spray. It’s so refreshing.”

Nourishing Face Mask

When we get the seaweed powder home, its so green and smells so fresh, we only add three ingredients before packing it for our customers. Many companies extract the active ingredients out of the seaweed but we like to use ours whole. We know that it’s safer that way but it’s also more ethical as there are no waste by products. We feel that nature has created the perfect skin care ingredient in seaweed, so why change it. The additional ingredients we put into our Nourishing Face Mask add some extra properties. For example: the green tea is toning and the mint and lemon balm add a lovely smell, as well as being cooling and stimulating to the skin.

Let’s look at the seaweed itself and why we use it. What is it made of that makes it such a perfect ingredient for helping our skin to glow with health.

We know it’s nutrient rich but let’s break it down.

The main constituents of kelp include phenolic compounds, mucopolysaccharides, algin, polar lipids, and glycosyl ester diglycerides. Kelp also contains protein, carbohydrates, and essential fatty acids .

Kelp contains approximately 30 minerals. It is a rich source of iodine, calcium, sulfur , and silicon. Other minerals include phosphorus, iron, sodium, potassium, magnesium, chloride, copper, zinc, manganese , barium, boron, chromium , lithium, nickel, silver, titanium, vanadium , aluminum, strontium, bismuth, chlorine, cobalt, gallium, tin, and zirconium. Kelp also contains vitamins C, E, D, K, and B complex. The highest concentrations of these vitamins and minerals are found in the tissues of kelp.

All of this makes kelp stand out as an amazing skin food. But there is one component in seaweed which is not listed in the above. It is more important than all the rest when it comes to beautiful skin. The name of this component is: Hyaluronic acid. All seaweeds are a super source of this nutrient. It’s what gives seaweed it’s unique property of being able to hold on to water so well, it’s what makes seaweed slippery. Using seaweed on our skin makes our skin, not slippery, but it gives it an inner “plump and juicy” feeling and a healthy and moisturised appearance.

White Witch Nourishing Face Mask contains 66% pure Seaweed! It’s so safe and gentle too. It works wonders for skin that is red, dehydrated, damaged and in need of some serious TLC.

Tell me more about the "magic" of White Witch

Creating good skincare products, using organic unprocessed plant-based ingredients and presenting them in plastic-free packaging, is what White Witch does best. And there's more...

Of primary importance is the 'energy' flowing as the products are being created. Not just at the conception stage, when we are researching the ingredients, combining the properties of the plants and focusing on what we want the product to do. We carry that same energy through to the blending stage, and pouring stage and even to the packaging stage. The energy we put in is a big part of the magic of White Witch.

We can't control what happens to our ingredients before they get to us but we like to be sure that nothing was harmed in the process. That's why all of our ingredients are certified organic and ethically sourced. That's also why we switched from using honey and beeswax to all vegan. We want to help the earth, not hurt her. We want to take care of skin and the earth at the same time. Because in a way they are the same. 

We are one! That's the magic!