*Inside* Atlantic Kelp and Magnesium

*Inside* Atlantic Kelp and Magnesium
Once, many moons ago, we created the Moroccan Rose body care range and it became synonymous with REN Clean Skincare. Did we think we would have another major body success? Not sure. But that’s exactly what Atlantic Kelp and Magnesium is. Humblebrag - it’s won plenty of awards, not just for formula but for packaging innovation. But the fact is, if it weren’t for the ocean - this product (and many of our facial products) wouldn’t exist as you know it…

Some of the ingredients, plus the packaging we use, comes from the ocean to make this skin-nourishing, reviving and energizing formula. So, for World Oceans Day 2020, we thought we would explain how this coveted formula gets from the sea to your skin.

Skin-loving sea kelp.



Sea Kelp, aka seaweed, aka brown algae, has been long-reported to have many skin benefits. We mean long reported. Droves in Ireland have been bathing in baths of seaweed since the 12th century to this day, and when you look inside this sea-dwelling plant, you can see why.



Packed with vitamins, minerals, proteins and amino acids, kelp has the ability to brighten, energize, re-mineralize and moisturize skin, keeping it in healthy condition. And it’s these very properties that are the reason we’ve packed it into everyday body washes, hand washes, lotions - the lot, to protect skin from frequent washing.


The sourcing story.



There are over 50,000 (whoa) strains of kelp that grow in our oceans. We use Laminaria Digitata, which is native to the nutrient-dense, cold-water ocean that is the North Atlantic. We only work with suppliers that we can put our Clean to Skin, Clean to Planet, trust in, and in this case, our Kelp is sourced by only licensed seaweed harvesters and fishermen who have reached their quota on fishing for the year.



They’re trained to cause the least disruption to the aquatic environment possible, and as Laminaria Digitata grows in an intertidal zone, not only is it constantly replenished with nutrients, but harvesters are able to cut the kelp easily above the holdfast (root-like structure) so it can regrow easily. The kelp is then freshwater cleaned, air dried, chopped and milled then put into testing for our product.


Ocean-reclaimed packaging.



We’re proud to offer our Atlantic Kelp Body and Hand Wash in PCR (post-consumer recycled) packaging, 80% of which is recycled bottles and 20% of which, just like our ingredients, comes from the ocean. Between 8 and 12 million metric tons of plastic enter our oceans annually, a rate with which would see more plastic than fish by 2050.



By partnering with TerraCycle, we are able to remove plastic from ocean sources, which is usually quite degraded (it could have been there some time) before sorting, shredding, washing, blending it and creating a pelletized format - which is what makes up any type of recycled plastic. As ocean plastic is usually more fragile, it’s blended with other forms of recycled plastic to make sure your pack is strong and capable of holding your beloved formula.


A more sustainable future.



We're working to expand more of the Atlantic Kelp and Magnesium range into ocean-reclaimed plastic. But, if you're interested in more sustainability info - why not check out Infinity Recycling - our industry first pack that opens up the possibility of indefinite recycling... And ps. Please Reuse or Recycle and keep our planet Clean.