Does seawater benefit our skin?
Wondering if salty seawater is good for your skin? Sea water has many advantages, but also some disadvantages. In this blog, we’ll explore how seawater affects our skin, which minerals are present in it, the benefits of swimming in the sea, how to properly care for your skin after swimming and why UV protection is key.
Minerals in seawater
Seawater is rich in various minerals that have many benefits for our skin:
- Magnesium: helps maintain the health of the skin barrier, improves hydration, is anti-inflammatory and supports collagen synthesis.
- Sodium: helps cleanse the skin and is antiseptic.
- Calcium: contributes to skin cell renewal and prevents skin dryness.
Potassium: helps retain moisture in the skin and improves its elasticity.
Benefits of seawater for the skin
Seawater has many benefits for our skin:
- Natural exfoliation: salt in seawater acts as a natural exfoliant, removing dead skin cells and opening pores. There are few natural ways to exfoliate, so make the most of it.
- Anti-inflammatory effect: minerals such as magnesium have anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce redness and inflammation.
- Improving the skin barrier: minerals help strengthen the skin barrier, increasing its ability to retain moisture.
- Skin hydration: swimming in seawater can help increase your skin’s hydration levels by opening pores and balancing natural oil levels.
- Fighting acne: salt water draws excess oil from the skin, drying out troublesome pimples.
Disadvantages of seawater for the skin
Despite its many benefits, seawater also has some drawbacks:
- Skin drying: salt can dry out the skin, which can lead to a tightening and peeling sensation.
- Pollution: Seawater, especially near coastal towns, can contain contaminants such as municipal waste and chemicals from shipping, which can harm the skin.
Magnesium and skin
Magnesium is one of the key minerals in seawater and plays an important role in maintaining healthy skin. It helps:
- Hydration of the skin: magnesium improves the lipid balance in the skin, preventing moisture loss.
- Anti-inflammatory properties: magnesium reduces inflammation and redness, which is especially beneficial for people with sensitive skin.
- Collagen synthesis: magnesium supports the production of collagen, which is essential for skin firmness and elasticity.
Skin care after bathing in seawater
After swimming in seawater, it is important to take proper care of your skin to avoid dryness and other problems. The 2 golden tips are:
- Rinse the salt from the skin immediately: after swimming in the sea, shower immediately to remove salt and any contaminants from your skin. If you can’t shower, at least rinse the salt from your face (always carry a bottle of water).
- Use moisturizing products: good skin care is important, so after bathing and showering, apply a good quality moisturizer containing ingredients such as panthenol, glycerol, hyaluronic acid or ceramides to restore moisture to your skin.
The NANU products we recommend for summer, which are full of great moisturisers, are: Refresh Mist with Rosa Damascena and Green Tea, Moisturizing Serum with Hyaluronic Acid, Peptides and Papaya and a light cream in the form of Intensive Moisturiuing Fluid. All three products will maximize your skin’s hydration and leave it silky, healthy and beautiful.
And for those who want to add a touch of the sea to their daily routine, our 3-in-1 Advanced Corrective Serum is the perfect choice as it contains enriched seawater. Some of you may already know that our corrective serum is extremely active – the main ingredients are retinol and resveratrol, but perhaps less well-known is that it also contains a truly cutting-edge marine active designed to reduce sagging under-eye skin caused mainly by aging and pollution. The ingredient is added to the product to improve the firmness of the under-eye area, reduce the volume of sagging bags and smooth under-eye lines, as well as to tone the skin and give it a youthful appearance.
UV protection
It is important to protect yourself from UV radiation before swimming in seawater. A cream with a high sun protection factor (SPF) protects your skin from harmful UV rays. When choosing a cream, pay attention to the ingredients, as some UV filters can be harmful to the environment, especially the ocean, and also to our health.
Avoid creams containing oxybenzone and octinoxate, as these chemicals harm coral reefs and marine ecosystems. Instead, choose creams with mineral filters such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
Seawater has many benefits for our skin, mainly due to its richness in minerals such as magnesium. Swimming in the sea combines physical exercise with the therapeutic effects of seawater, which has a positive effect on both the body and the skin. However, it is important to be cautious about skin drying and possible contaminants in the seawater. With the right after-swim care, you can reap all the benefits of seawater and maintain healthy, glowing skin.
Reference
- Smith, L. (2020).
The Benefits of Seawater for Skin. Dermatology Times. - Jones, A. (2019).
Mineral Content in Seawater and Its Effects on Skin. Journal of Marine Science. - Wilson, R. (2021).
How Magnesium Benefits Skin Health. Healthline. - Anderson, P. (2022).
Environmental Impacts on Coastal Waters. Marine Pollution Bulletin. - Clark, M. (2020).
Best Practices for Skincare After Swimming in the Ocean. Allure.
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