Marine Ingredients (Win!)

We all love the ocean—just not the wear-and-tear that comes with it, like sun damage and flaky, dry skin. But the good news is that the world’s waters are veritable beauty bars packed with healing superfoods for our bodies—and faces—to stay in fighting form. Vibrant blue-green algae and red algae double as antioxidants, which naturally protect the skin by delivering an intense dose of nutrition, amino acids and hydration while also helping boost its defences against environmental stressors. Sea salt has anti-inflammatory properties (among many others), while fish scales, roe and salmon enzymes are rich in vitamins, minerals and amino acids that amp up collagen and smooth wrinkles. In other words, if it smells fishy, your skin will likely thank you for it. —Amanda Ross (with files from Noa Nichol)

Protect your skin with this high-performance Superfruit Facial Cream by Indie Lee ($137 at Kiss and Makeup). This reparative blend includes pomegranate, acai berry and acerola fruit extracts that work together with algae to condition and protect your complexion from environmental stressors. Enter to win this product by visiting us on Instagram.

La Prairie has long pioneered the use of caviar extract as a powerful antioxidant in its uber-luxe skin-care line. Last September, the Swiss brand launched its premium Skin Caviar Eye Lift ($625 at Holt Renfrew) to help reduce puffiness, tighten lids and smooth those finely etched lines.

Laura Mercier’s Rouge Essentiel Silky Crème lipstick ($44 at Nordstrom) fuses high-impact colour with Mediterranean sea algae extract for a weightless lipstick that moisturizes and smooths lips. The silky formula lasts up to six hours without bleeding, feathering, drying, fading or settling into those fine lines.

Crowd-sourced Volition Beauty’s Oceanene Youth-Boost ($50) is a gossamer-light yet powerful gel moisturizer that mixes up marine algae with anti-aging bio-actives for hydrated, brightened and even-looking skin—all without sulfates, parabens or synthetic fragrances.

You’ll find a balance of honey, propolis and the rare royal jelly in the L’Elixir des Glaciers Masque Majesteux ($580) by Valmont. But underpinning all these luxe ingredients is the Swiss skin-care brand’s patented Triple DNA courtesy of B.C. sockeye salmon, which is hailed for its cellular regenerative properties.

Veriphy’s Self Absorbed facial moisturizer ($85 at Shoppers Drug Mart) harnesses the power of PhytoSpherix (its proprietary method of extracting glycogen from plants) and hyaluronic acid to naturally fuel cells for plumper skin and fewer fine lines and wrinkles. Algae, green tea and licorice root nourish while simultaneously brightening with all clean ingredients. That means no mineral oil, phthalates or silicones—beauty for the skin and for the environment.

Stockholm-based Sachajuan‘s Ocean Mist Volume shampoo ($18) and conditioner ($19, both at at Kiss and Makeup) features the company’s patented technology that delivers a mix of nutrients and proteins extracted from cold-water algae that gives hair structure, volume and strength.

Aimed at reducing the appearance of dark circles, dermatologist-driven Neostrata’s brightening eye cream ($48 at London Drugs) from its Enlighten line incorporates antioxidants, peptides and algae extracts to firm up that delicate under-eye skin as well as add moisture for a smoother, brighter appearance.

Sourced off the coast of the Great Bear Rainforest, West Coast-based Sealuxe’s seaweed is organic and edible—and a vital component in the anti-aging process (it combats cellular damaging and photo-aging). The Seaweed Coffee scrub ($26) is a bio-dynamic, cruelty free and sustainable way to sooth and smooth your skin—all over.

Cult skin-care favourite Crème de la Mer moisturizer in a limited-edition Blue Heart jar ($630 at Sephora) has a local connection, hand-harvesting the giant sea kelp that stars in its cell-renewing Miracle Broth from the pristine waters off the coast of Vancouver Island.

Collagen makes up a 15th of our total body weight, with a full 75 per cent of our skin composed of the stuff. Featuring organic coconut milk powder and TruMarine collagen (sourced from wild fish scales), Coconut Creamer Collagen by withinUs ($46 at Project Skin MD) helps keep your skin elastic (as well as regenerates joints, tendons, ligaments and skeletal muscles)—and makes your coffee and morning shakes taste better, too!

The blue-green algae (Blue Majik, which is a proprietary extract of spirulina) in Graydon‘s Face Foam cleanser ($33) is rich in vitamins, minerals and protein-building amino acids, all of which help to slow down visible signs of aging and improve skin firmness and texture.