Seaflora Wild Organic Seaweed Skincare

Press Release Feb 2012

2012-02-24T15:43:00.000-08:00

PRESS RELEASE February 2012

The Seaweed Lady Announces 2012 Seaweed Harvest and

Celebrates 10 Years working in the Spa Industry withthe

Opening of New Seaflora Seaweed Centre of Sooke,British Columbia.

“The healingbenefits of seaweeds have been known and practiced for centuries”, says Diane Bernard, the first woman entrepreneur of Seaweeds and founder of Seaflora, Wild Organic Seaweed Skincare, theleading seaweed company in the world, and the first to achieve USDA organiccertifications for their seaweeds.. “The Seaweed Lady” asshe is known, points to freshwildgrowing seaweeds flourishing in an under-sea garden off Vancouver Island,British Columbia, Canada. and says,”Nutirtionfor the Skin! They’re packed full of bio-available vitamins including theB-complex, A, C, E, plus important trace minerals and elements like iodine,sodium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and natural astringents.”

March, 2012 is the opening of her companies 10^th seaweed harvest season andfrom her new Seaweed Centre – the onlyseaweed institute of its kind in North America - she continues to offer her famous “Wild Seaweed Tours”; and now features thalassotherapy classes,seminars to the public, media and health industry professionals where she educates about the health benefits of wild pacific seaweed.

Seaflorawild organic seaweed skincareconsists of 30 plus high-end skin care products for face and body available coast to coast in Canada and the USA. Seaflora’s exclusive clientele features internationallyknown resorts as Cavallo Point, California; Chi Spa, Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver; Drift Spa, Blackrock, Vancouver Island;Ancient Cedars, Wickaninnish Inn, Tofino; Grail Springs, Ontario; 4-Seasons,Whistler and the Ritz Carleton Hotel, Toronto

“The Seaweed Lady” is recognized for developing uniqueprocessing methods to capture the vitamin and mineral profile of wild seaweedto be applied topically to the skin. Her specialty remains working with spaswho want effective seaweedskincare treatments that incorporate wild seaweeds as the principal ingredientand not the standard industrialized seaweed extract.

Located on the west coast of Canada, Vancouver Island is a hot spot for marine diversity. Where some see icky stuff, (dare we say slime?), Diane Bernard sees arich, healthy, exotic green resource that provides nutrient and mineral rich health andwellness treatments and products.

“There are more than 700 species of seaweedson this coast,” says the seaweed specialist, while treading along the lushcoastline in Sooke, British Columbia. “Here are some of the most diverseseaweed beds in the world and our wild seaweeds are grander, bigger and cleaner, too.” Not only are her seaweeds the healthiest plants on the planet, herSeaweed beds contain the fastest growing seaweed – “Macrocystis pyrifera, or Giant Kelp grows 45 metres in single year,that can be 2 feet per day!”

To find out more about the Seaweed Lady, theSeaflora Seaweed Centre, the Wild Seaweed Tours and Seaflora’s seaweedtreatments and products, contact us directly.

Let us know how we can “kelp”.

Diane Bernard

Seaweed Lady

Seaflora wild organic seaweed skincare

877.713.7464

Info@sea-flora.com

www.sea-flora.com

More Magazine: Sea Change

2012-01-12T11:18:00.000-08:00

-published in More Magazine, Canada's Magazine Celebrating Women Over 40-
By Joanne Blain

Diane Bernard used to be a corporate research officer. Today, she’s

known as the Seaweed Lady. How one woman traded in a career in

an office building for one in the ocean beds of Vancouver Island

Diane Bernard scans the waters off Vancouver Island’s rocky shore with the practised eye of someone who has lived beside the ocean for most of her life. Her eyes are sea green, not quite as intense as the emerald colour of the sea lettuce she’s munching on as she talks. She’s describing why she left the high-stress world of mediation and arbitration, where her role was to bridge the frequently fractious divide between management and unions, to become “the seaweed lady.”

“I was turning 50, and I thought I could do more of the same and do it well. But it meant travelling to Vancouver and Toronto and taking me farther away from this,” she says, sweeping a hand over the waves lapping the shore of Whiffen Spit in Sooke, about 40 kilometres west of Victoria. “And I started thinking, finally my children have grown up, here I have been preaching about staying local and staying in a community, and I was going to run. I didn’t want to be sitting in boardrooms— I wanted to be here.”So she decided to stay put.....

Swapping business suits for gumboots is a sea change that would be difficult for most people to fathom. But it was a natural for Bernard, a third generation seaweed aficionado. In her grandparents’ generation, people used seaweed to stuff mattresses and insulate buildings. Before fishing boats had on-board refrigeration, the fishermen on the Gulf of St. Lawrence’s îles de la Madeleine, where Bernard grew up, used it to keep lobsters cool while they were out at sea. Her uncles chewed dulse, a type of dried seaweed, instead of tobacco. It was the perfect raw material because it was available, plentiful and free. “In those days, it was about survival — you used what you had,” Bernard says.

But even with that family history, seaweed didn’t immediately spring to mind when her husband, George, a water quality researcher with B.C.’s environment ministry, encouraged her to take a year off work at age 49 to decide if she wanted to start her own business. She considered everything from working with wood products to growing edible flowers, but nothing seemed to hold water.

“Then I’d come out here,” Bernard says, meaning the stony beach near her waterfront home in Sooke, “and think, What the hell am I going to do? and I’d be picking up seaweed and eating it. I knew it, I’m not afraid of it, and I had been exposed to it my whole life, but I never really thought about it in a value-added or commercial way.” But as other ideas fell by the wayside, seaweed kept drifting back into her mind....

It was a chef who introduced her to an existing line of seaweed-based spa products, but her first reaction was anything but enthusiastic. Although the label claimed the products contained seaweed, they were white and perfumed — about as far from the look and smell of the ocean as you could get. If they did contain any seaweed, she says, it was the kind of commercially processed powder that has been used in the past as filler in everything from car polish to gunpowder.

“It’s a very harsh process that renders it down to something as white as flour,” Bernard says. She compares the difference between the powder and fresh seaweed to that between refined cake flour and whole grains — they start with the same ingredient, but processing strips away all the health benefits. She had no idea where to start, but Bernard thought she could do better.

She called 50 spas across the country, asking if they might buy a line of organic seaweed-based products. If they showed any interest, she invited them to come and see where the raw ingredients would be harvested.

“I had 44 spa directors visit me here in Sooke over the course of a year,” Bernard says, a note of incredulity in her voice. “I put them in boots and we went out into the water.” They were gung-ho, but they left her with a list of requirements — the products couldn’t smell fishy, they couldn’t run when applied to a client’s face or body, and they had to look authentic. Instead of sweetsmelling white creams, they wanted to see chunks of seaweed in the products, so customers knew they were getting something fresh from the sea.

Armed with that info, Bernard embarked on 18 months of trial and error. She worked with chemists to come up with formulas that would keep all the beneficial qualities of seaweed, which is rich in vitamins and essential fatty acids, without chemical preservatives. She tried different methods of processing raw seaweed, from freezing to cold-pressing, drying and grinding.

In 2002, Seaflora produced its first products, which Bernard started selling by word of mouth on Vancouver Island.... Today, the Seaflora line incorporates 26 products, ranging from facial cleansers to body wraps, in sophisticated green and white packaging. They’re used and sold at destination and day spas across Canada and the U.S. Over the next few years, Bernard wants to expand the line to about 40 products and export to the United Kingdom, Taiwan and beyond.

Bernard, who has been everything from a probation officer to a local politician to an economic development adviser, has made peace with her new nomenclature. “It’s okay to be the seaweed lady,” she says. “I used to cringe a little bit, but not now.”

She has become an evangelist for seaweed, ready to pounce on anyone who thinks Seaflora will leave them smelling like the piles of dead algae left on the beach when the tide goes out. “That’s the compost pile of the ocean garden,” she says. “We would never judge a vegetable or flower garden by the look, smell or texture of a compost pile. But we do that with the ocean.” Some Seaflora products, such as the scrubs and body wraps, do have a distinctly briny aroma that Bernard admits people either love or could live without. She’s gotten over the sense of proprietary outrage she felt when she first realized that. “It evokes wonderful memories for people. But it’s not everybody’s cup of tea, and that’s okay.”

“Seaweeds are very simple and elegant in their form, in their growth and their reproduction,” continues Bernard. They are algae rather than land plants because they have no roots; they anchor themselves to stones and rocks with holdfasts and sway in the currents, drawing in nutrients through their fronds. And when they’re fresh, they smell nothing like a compost heap. She picks up a piece of rockweed, remarkable for its leaf-like fronds tipped with bulging pods, and pinches a pod until it exudes a clear gel that feels silky and smells not even remotely fishy.

Seven years ago, she started offering tours of the seaweed beds in Sooke to educate the public about what she considers to be a largely ignored natural resource. About 700 varieties of seaweed grow in the waters off B.C.’s coast, and the range of colours and textures is astonishing — from the rubbery chocolate brown of laminaria to the glossy red of iridaea, which has the texture of pebbled leather.

The biggest challenge she’s faced has been trusting others to run parts of the business — she recently hired a production coordinator — while she focuses on the big picture. Letting go means giving up some control, but it’s the only way to move past the cottage industry stage, Bernard adds. “If you’re going to create a business, it has to function when you’re not there.”

Letting go is also something she had to do as a parent. Daughter Leah, 23, has been studying agriculture and food security at the University of Copenhagen, while son Adam, 25, is in Thailand working as a scuba diving instructor. She’s delighted that they’re finding their own paths, although she’s looking forward to having them both a bit closer to home. Leah has recently moved back to Vancouver to complete her studies, while Adam wants to see the world for a few more years before heading home to finish his education.

If they show interest in joining the family business, Bernard will be there for them, both as a mom and as a prospective employer. But right now her focus is on her new baby, Seaflora. “I have given my kids a lot, and I love them dearly. But you know what? The next

10 years are mine, and that’s okay.”

Time Colonist Article: -From Sea to Spa-

2011-12-09T10:40:00.000-08:00

From The Sea to The Spa
Published in the Times Colonist

Written by: Grania Litwin

Something happens to Diane Bernard when she talks about seaweed.

Her cheeks glow, her arms swish around like kelp in a gentle swell and her green eyes sparkle.

“There are more than 700 species of seaweeds on this coast,” said the gum-booted enthusiast, while hiking along Whiffen Spit, in Sooke. “We knock the socks off the rest of the world. Places like Japan and Brittany have only 400 varieties.”

Seaweed is the fastest growing plant on the planet – “Bull kelp grows 35 metres a year; that’s monster growth” – and it’s packed with 60 trace minerals, anti-oxidants, vitamins A, C, E, and B-complex, iodine, sodium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, beta-carotene and natural astringents.

Bernard, 58 is crazy about the green stuff and she harvests more than a tonne a year. Where some see yukky slime, she sees a rich green resource that not only provides culinary seasoning, but nutrient-rich skin products and local jobs.

In the late 1990’s Bernard – who has a master’s degree in criminology – switched from rounding up scofflaws to scooping up marine algae. She started supplying gourmet chefs at places like Sooke Harbour House, C restaurant In Vancouver and Government House.

Sea Spray Splash Toner, accompanied by Wild Rockweed

Her license allows her to harvest 10 kinds of seaweed along a 30 kilometre stretch from Sooke to Port Renfrew. She cuts it 500 metres out, at low tide or from a boat.

But one day “something clicked”. She though if it’s so good for your insides, maybe it’s good outside, too. After five years of testing by the US Food and Drug Administration, she now produces the world’s first certified organic seaweed skincare line –Seaflora.

University environmental sciences professor Nancy Turner is not surprised seaweed has turned up in skin care. “It’s among the most nutritious foods in the world…one species I’m familiar with has a nutrient profile that’s off the chart. The entrance to Sooke Harbour is particularly rich in marine algae, and it’s clean because water comes in from the open Pacific.”

Bernard’s 30 products – including masques, moisturizers, serums and body wraps – are making a splash. They are now sold coast to coast, in Europe and Asia, and locally at spas like Ucluelet’s Black Rock Resort, Brentwood Bay Lodge, Sapphire in Victoria and Shangri-La in Vancouver. She has eight full-time staff.

Her emerald harvest is nothing like what’s left behind by the tide. “That’s low-grade stuff, good for gardens – not your face,” joked the certified scuba diver. “It’s dead, rotting, falling apart and ooey gooey. Judging healthy kelp by that standard is like judging a a garden by its compost.”

Her seaweed comes from the living ocean, where it’s vigorously growing, oxygenated and churned by pounding waves in the “high energy zone.”

It is cut while alive and gently processed. “There’s wonderful new research about rockweed helping burn victims and scar tissue,” said Bernard, who hails from Acadian stock on the Magdalen Islands, north east of P.E.I. Her father was a cod and lobster fisherman, her husband is a marine biologist.

Unlike other seaweed products, hers are not bleached, furnace-dried or perfumed. They’re pale green, grey, beige –and smell like the sea.

Spa expert Kathryn Stolle – who directed Ocean Point Spa for six years, is president of Total Spa Concepts and writing a book about spas – said Bernard’s products are second to none.

“She uses 100 percent seaweed, not extracts like other brands that might only contain 25 percent. She started small, held to her vision, has a passion for quality and created a line that’s recognized throughout the spa industry.”

Bernard, who has 100 pairs of gumboots, loves taking people for low-tide tours and works with hotels like the Fairmont Empress. She will soon open a Thalasso-therapy centre (from the Greek word for sea) to offer seminars.

Health Benefits of Seaweeds

2011-12-01T09:53:00.001-08:00

SEA TO SPA

Health Benefits of Seaweed…Better than Land Plants…And Here’s Why

In coastal communities around the world, seaweed folklore is mythical in its magnitude of health benefits for the mind, body and soul. Seaflora has researched the myths of seaweeds, and found that Pacific Northwest Seaweeds are as healthy as they are mystical. Seaweed’s health giving properties are continuously being reported in scientific research articles, and supported by the testimony at Seaflora. While there may still be myths, and claims of the potential of marine algae, our seaweeds here in the Pacific Northwest are by far one of the most important plants to contribute to the general healthcare of our bodies.

Seaweeds look and feel different from land plants, appearing ethereal with their exotic shapes, colours, and textures. Contrary to the image of seaweed washed up on the shore, fresh wild seaweed are refreshing, cleansing, nutritious. Living seaweed smells like the ocean breeze and, feels more like fabric. (No kidding). Seaweeds are unique life forms and “macrophytic”, meaning they are plant like organisms that live exclusively in the ocean and are only found along our continental coastlines. Real seaweeds do not grow in tanks, labs or fresh water. Authentic, wild Seaweeds are ancient, simple life forms that pre-date land plants and are some of the first plant forms to evolve on our planet with estimates of their appearing approx. 600 – 800 million years ago.

Unlike land plants, Seaweeds don’t have leaves or bark or stems or flowers. And one more thing…Seaweeds don’t have roots. What…no roots? What does this mean?!

Without a root system, seaweeds cannot grow in soil or sediment. Without roots, seaweeds do not break down nutrients as land plants do. Instead Seaweeds rely on a “holdfast” to anchor them to the rocks. From the ocean bottom they rise up into the water column and directly absorb nutrients from the sea. Seaweeds also are structurally different from land plants in that they do not have a vascular system. Without specialized transportation channels, the cells of seaweeds must transport and produce nutrients individually.

To the eye, seaweeds look different from land plants and this is reflected by the internal cell structure. Seaweed has big, round cells for easier absorption of ocean nutrients and this same cell structure makes it easier for our bodies to absorb and so moisturize, hydrate, nourish, mineralize our body cells. The specialized cell components such as the alginic acid, are part unique carriers that work to transport nutrients into human skin.

Seaweed looks and feels different from land plants and the research is telling us that in terms of their health benefits, Seaweeds have extensive vitamins, nutrients, minerals and in general, significantly higher amounts than land plants.

As Seaweed rises up in mineral rich, ocean water, it directly absorbs more minerals and trace elements than any other plant on the planet. They have a complete spectrum of chelated minerals and higher levels of Vitamins A, B1, B2, B5, B12 and C, pantothenic acid, folic acid, and niacin than all fresh fruits and vegetables. They have higher levels of antioxidants, essential amino acids and are a rich source of plant hormones, lignans and sulfate galactans not found in land plants. Yes, seaweeds have the Vitamin B’s, including B12 rarely found in land plants. And the natural iodine found in seaweed is thousands times higher than land plants.

What does this mean for us? All of the goodness of seaweed is incredibly beneficial for our body and in particular, for the body’s largest organ, the skin. Seaweed can stimulate and improve blood and lymph circulation, revitalize and firm the skin while re-establishing natural moisture levels. It is known to nourish, oxygenate and detoxify the skin. The benefits of seaweed to the skin include cleansing, re-balancing, hydrating, cell regenerating, detoxifying, oxygenating, and re-mineralizing with their unique mineral profile.

Many coastal communities knew this, as evident by the strong cultural ties of Asia to their sea vegetables. Japan in particular has developed extensive uses of seaweeds in their daily diet. Healthy oceans = healthy seaweeds. Our oceans sustain us with healthy seaweeds.

But what if the oceans where seaweeds are harvested are at risk?

Yes, seaweeds absorb goodness from the ocean. But as I teach in our seminars, seaweeds do not differentiate the good, from the bad and the ugly. If oceans waters are not tested to be clean, or if seaweed is harvested from harbours, basins, oil polluted shores, areas of large populations, then seaweeds also absorb excess levels of lead, mercury and arsenic. It’s important to know where your seaweeds are harvested from. That’s why we are diligent about our coastal shoreline and we meet the annual inspection standards of USDA certification for our coastline, seaweeds and harvesting techniques. Join us for one of our wild seaweed tours and experience this for yourself.

What does all this mean for skincare and healthy bodies? Here on the outer coast of Vancouver Island, we enjoy one of the cleanest coastlines that sustains premium quality wild seaweeds and there is no need to alter seaweed. There is no need to extract, bleach, boil, oven-furnace dry these vitamin and nutrient rich plants. No need to strip them of their benefits. No need for genetic manipulation, fertilizers and pesticides. Here at Seaflora, our harvesting beds meet USDA standards and we have developed our own gentle processes to work with the whole plant to retain all their exceptional properties, making Seaflora the richest seaweed skincare in the world.

Read our blog about the fallacies of processed seaweeds and seaweed extracts, then check your marine skincare labels to see that you have all the benefits of wild seaweed. http://seafloracommunity.blogspot.com/2011/11/professional-beauty-buyer-beware-in.html#more

Potent Seaweed Serum

2011-11-17T11:11:00.001-08:00

Style.com Article and NEW Serum Video

Seaflora is pleased to introduce our informational and training videos. We are proud to present the first video, which highlights Potent Seaweed Serum. It includes instructions of the proper application, as well as a comprehensive look at the powerhouse of ingredients.

Click on the Video Below

This video is just the beginning!

Spa professionals wishing to receive more information, contact Corey@sea-flora.com

SEAsonal Promotion - Available until Dec 15th

We are excited to present you with the opportunity to learn about our Potent Seaweed Serum as a remedy for winter stress. Our current promotion highlights the serum, a concentrated dose of seaweeds and antioxidant botanicals. This product has received press from Style.com, a division of Vogue Magazine, describing it as "the Dom Pérignon of Marine Algae."

To find out more about the serum at your spa, please contact us at info@sea-flora.com.

Spa professionals wishing to receive more information, contact Corey@sea-flora.com.

Potent Seaweed Serum Highlighted by Style.com

This serum is gaining recognition for its powerful components, and magnificent results.

Read On

A Seaweed Serum For Summer and Beyond

- Kari Molvar @ Style.com

It has always been our firm belief that the creams, lotions, and concentrates we pat onto our complexion are only as good as the ingredients they’re made with, which is what turned us onto Seaflora. A boutique line of face and body care made with high quality, USDA certified organic seaweed—the Dom Pérignon of marine algae, if you will—the British Columbia-based brand sources over 700 varieties of the slimy green stuff from the Juan De Fuca Strait, one of the most ecologically pristine and nutrient-rich areas of Canada’s west coast. Founder Diane Bernard originally intended to harvest the locale’s prized seaweed for culinary purposes, but once she discovered its myriad health benefits she opted to go the beauty route (lucky for us). Bernard now produces stunningly crafted products like the Potent Seaweed Serum, which as the name implies, is loaded with vitamins, amino acids, beta carotene, and minerals to help firm and renew tissues, increase cellular membranes, and keep skin youthful and dewy. The elixir goes on incredibly light and sinks right in, making it a perfect primer under makeup, or when you want a subtle sheen that won’t turn sticky in the humidity.

Link to Article on Style.com

The Potent Seaweed Serum and other fabulous Seaflora organic seaweed products are available for purchase at Spas across Canada and the US. Retail purchasing information can be found at http://www.sea-flora.com/.

2011-11-02T13:57:00.000-07:00

Professional Beauty Buyer Beware

In the Marine Skincare Industry and in Spa Thalassotherapy Treatments,

Not all Seaweeds Are Organic, Healthy or Anti-Aging

Don’t Be Fooled By Seaweed Extracts!

Health experts are excited about the beneficial nutrients found in seaweed that contribute to an overall organic lifestyle. Seaweed contains nutritious properties for food, as well as healthy ingredients contributing to improved organic skincare, bath and beauty products. Seaweed is the basis of thalassotherapy, and used by professionals for effective results in anti-aging, wrinkle-fighting, skin firming and acne solving issues. And seaweed has the perfect pH to treat normal, dry and oily skin types.

But these exceptional seaweeds properties are not necessarily the same as used in the beauty and spa industries and here’s the scoop…

Here on the outer coast of the Canadian Pacific North West, our seaweeds are giants! They flourish along our coastline trapping and manufacturing vitamins, minerals, proteins, and essential amino acids. Wild seaweeds have been shown to shorten the phase by which body cells replace themselves, which means that when used regularly, they can repair damage to the skin’s barrier, slow the aging process, and slow wrinkle formation.

So why do you need to be “buyer beware” about seaweeds? When you select a skincare product that says seaweed or boasts the healthy benefits of seaweed, isn’t that good enough? Aren’t all seaweeds the same?

The answer is found on the product label.

First, check to see where seaweeds are listed on the ingredient list. Is it listed as one of the first 3 ingredients or is it listed way down on the ingredient list? If it’s a number 25 on an ingredient list of 30 ingredients, you are not getting much, if any significant amount of seaweed in your product.

Second, is it listed as algae? Because, all seaweeds are algae, but not all algae are seaweeds. What???? That’s right. Algae does not necessarily mean an ocean grown seaweed and for the most part, algae refers to fresh water bacteria that is grown in tanks, on land. When you see the word “algae” on a skincare product, chances are it’s grown in fresh water, on land and in a tank. Hardly, what you or your client expect when you buy a product that boasts the healthy benefits of seaweed and all that goes with wild oceans and rugged coastlines.

And third, is it listed as seaweed “extract”? This is important.

Seaweed contains various mucilage, gums and fiber that international industries “extract” to use as a filler for commodity based products such as textiles, paper making, and commercial foods. Chemical companies use seaweed extract in products such as paints, thinners, varnishes, and polishes. Commercial food producers use seaweed extract as a food stabilizer for puddings and toothpaste. Did you know that the number one use of seaweed extract in North America is to make sure our chocolate milk does not separate? It’s also used in pharmaceuticals. The critical factor about seaweed in these uses is its capacity to bind. Seaweeds have a great capacity to hold chemicals, ingredients and compounds together.

And these same “extracts” are sold extensively throughout the beauty industry for cosmetic use.

The seaweed extraction process is brutal to the health giving properties of seaweed. The steps of extraction include boiling, bleaching, oven-furnace drying and filtering and re-filtering again and again. Today’s seaweed extracts look like white flour ---bland, dry, odorless and lifeless. These extraction processes are not designed to protect vitamins, minerals and the healthy compounds we now know seaweed contains. Rather, seaweeds are stripped of all texture and fiber which means their vitamins, minerals and compounds are also stripped. “Seaweed extract” on skincare labels is a red flag as a stripped lifeless ingredient with no nutrients or healthy benefits.

Current research on seaweed is strong and clear about its contributions to our improved health. And seaweed fiber is the key. Here at Outer Coast Seaweeds, we are the licensed harvesters of wild seaweed. We are the original seaweed company to have USDA organic certification for our seaweeds. This is what formulates our premier brand of organic skincare Seaflora- wild organic seaweed skincare. We do not strip our seaweeds. We do not bleach our seaweeds. We use the whole, raw, fresh seaweed!

Seaflora is the only skincare company that keeps the fiber in and maintains the vitamins, minerals, unique compounds and trace elements so that Seaflora skincare can hydrate, moisturize and re-mineralize the face and body. We work with a variety of seaweeds and we work with the whole seaweed to gently prepare them to retain all the exceptional elements contained deep within the plant, making it the richest seaweed skincare in the world.

When you select your next seaweed treatment or skincare product, check the label and 1st, make sure seaweed is listed in the first 3 ingredients; 2^nd, check that it’s not just listed as algae and 3rd, don’t settle for a ‘seaweed extract’.

Go ahead and check out a Seaflora wild organic seaweed skincare product. “Sea” what you get!

Want the real-deal in seaweeds? Visit us at www.sea-flora.com and find out about our seaweed adventures and our wild organic seaweed skincare. “Like us” on facebook to win $150 in retail products of your choice.

In a previous blog, you met our master harvester, Adam. Next month, meet the Seaflora women who work directly with our wild seaweeds to prepare them and to create our fabulous Seaflora wild organic seaweed skincare.

Best,

Diane Bernard

Founder and owner of Seaflora wild organic seaweed skincare

@theSeaweedLady

Certified Organic Seaflora Seaweeds for Moisturizing Benefits

2011-09-30T11:52:00.000-07:00

You may be wondering why it is so important to moisturize your skin and what seaweed have to do with this? Well, even when your skin doesn't feel that bad, everyday life is hard on every skin type and every skin condition, even healthy skin. Facial cleansers, problem skin treatments, irritants, air pollutants all contribute to skin disorders such as acne, psoriasis, rashes, eczema and of course, all of this accelerates the aging process. The research is solid that one of the best moisturizing elements on the planet is wild seaweed. But let's back up a bit and first talk about the importance of moisturizing for all our skin types and conditions

Our Skin is a biological system, vital in protecting our bodies and it's only fair to help protect our skin in return. Our skin carries out a wide range of biochemical reactions to protect us. If there isn't enough moisture, this can prevent the majority of these biochemical reactions from being properly carried out. In fact, without sufficient moisture in our skin, metabolism and tissue repair are greatly affected and this can make your skin more susceptible to skin damage. From mild irritations to serious disorders, skin problems run the gamut from acne and rosacea to eczema and dryness. When we have problem skin, we often use strong and sometimes harsh products. Consistent use of these products can cause dry, flaky skin. Even in our attempt to unclog pores and remove dirt, our facial cleansers may dry out our skin. Dehydrated, dry, flaky skin all contributes to the formation of wrinkles and the aging process.

So all skin types and all skin conditions, including healthy skin need care to remain hydrated. By moisturizing your skin, you will not only protect your skin, you will also decelerate the aging process. By properly moisturizing your skin, you can help increase its rate of reparation and reduce wrinkles and dry, rough skin. A quick search of the internet reveals endless lists of the so-called "best" moisturizers. But what is the healthiest, most effective and non-chemical moisturizing ingredient for all our skin types, skin conditions and skin disorders? What is the single moisturizing element that will accomplish hydration and promote healthy, soft, soothed, moisturized skin?

As I pointed out earlier, the answer is simply ... seaweed. Not farmed seaweed, not seaweed-extracts, but wild harvested seaweed. The research is solid and consistent that healthy, wild seaweed contains the best properties for all skin types. Wild seaweed is a treasure chest of natural chemicals and beneficial ingredients. It has been documented in the research that seaweed is one of the best and most recognized emollients. By its very nature, wild seaweed acts as the ultimate moisturizer by forming a layer on the skin that reduces loss of skin moisture from the outermost layer of our skin. Its hydrating and protective action smooths, soothes and helps tissue renewal that can have a positive effect on moisturizing all skin types and conditions.

Here's a video from the very early days of Seaflora. Visit www.sea-flora.com to see how we have expanded in treatments and product development

At Seaflora, we hand-harvest wild seaweed from the cold Pacific Ocean. It is because of our cold, clean ocean waters, that Seaflora seaweeds draw an incomparable wealth of mineral elements, vitamins and trace elements, essential to maintaining healthy and youthful skin. These elements can improve suppleness and the elasticity of the skin. Seaflora seaweed is packed with essential fatty acids that are part of the lipid layer in your skin, and helps to maintain the suppleness and elasticity of skin. These fats have long been known to be necessary for the body's functioning, their deficiency results in the skin losing moisture and leading to hardening and drying.

What all this means is that wild, certified organic seaweeds help protect our skin from the harsh environmental elements in the air and water and helps to slow the aging process.

Seaflora is the world's seaweed experts, thalassotherapy specialists and seaweed harvesters for the spa industry, worldwide. We have the bragging rights to working with the healthiest plant on the planet. We work exclusively with wild, hand-harvested seaweeds here in the Pacific Northwest. Our USDA certified organic seaweeds are recognized for their ability to revitalize, repair, and moisturize the skin.

Throughout October 2011, select spas in Canada are offering specials on our Seaflora Moisturizers

Seaflora's Sea Kelp Softening Facial Moisturizer is a special blend of nutrient rich sea kelps to moisturize the most compromised skin, giving a feeling of health and vitality. It can be used morning and night and is best suited for dry sensitive skin but is effective for all skin types. Signs of irritation and aging are reduced. Complexion is smoother, softer, hydrated and firmer.

Rich Laminaria Facial Moisturizer is a lush blend of seaweeds with floral extracts and organic oils. This gentle, hydrating moisturizer leaves skin soft, healthy and buoyant. It can be used morning and night and is suitable for normal, and combination to oily skin types. It targets skin conditions associated with anemia, large pores, comedones, mature and premature aged skin. Reduces pore size and complexion is smoother, softer and firmer. Epidermis is enriched and hydrated.

How Do I Moisturize?

Gently cleanse your face to remove dead skin cells, dirt and bacteria. Our Sea Foam Cleansing Concentrate or our Foaming Fucus Cleansing Concentrate work best
After you've completed your face cleansing, place 3 drops of our Sea Spray Splash Toner in your hand and smooth on face to best tone your skin
Now you are ready to moisturize your face
With clean hands, apply Seaflora Moisturizers to damp skin, and apply enough to cover the face as well as the neck. Remember, Seaflora products are concentrated and " less is more" .
Fully apply the Seaflora Moisturizer of your choice on your face and neck in a circular fashion with gentle upward and outward strokes. This action will give your circulation a boost and your skin will look toned and plumper.

For more information about our seaweeds, our thalassotherapy programs and our seaweed skincare visit www.sea-flora.com

Best,

Diane Bernard
Sea-E-O of Seaflora Wild Organic Seaweed Skincare

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Ocean Mud Exfoliant…The Perfect Sphere

2011-08-31T10:05:00.000-07:00

Did you know ocean mud is an important component of the alternative health modality of thalassotherapy? Did you know that Pacific Northwest ocean mud has unique properties that have recognized healing benefits for our bodies?

Powerful ocean movements and waves collect this mineral-rich ocean mud and the ever-pounding wave action smooths and rounds out each and every mud grain until it’s polished as glass and full of trace minerals. This mud absorbs various elements of the clean, cold Pacific North West ocean, making it the “perfect sphere” for the “perfect exfoliant”…for the most sensitive skin.

Seaflora only works within the modality of Thalassotherapy and its components, therapeutic treatments and products. Can you believe it…in addition to our seaweed harvest, we have an annual harvest for this fabulous ocean mud exfoliator. We are licensed and each year head out to collect silky, oozy and squeaky clean, blue-ish grey, ocean mud. Every year, we have our ocean waters independently tested and our seaweeds and ocean mud are USDA and OCIA inspected and certified.

This ocean mud is underwater for most of the year and is only exposed for collecting for just a few short weeks. It happens every summer when we have rare, warm sunny days.

Lots of work yet, lots of fun. Where else can you get muddy and not get in trouble? We become mud monsters. Ocean Mud is everywhere and on everyone. But we come out squeaky clean, silky smooth and exhilarated. Then we get down to the slow, steady work of bringing in our sun dried, ocean drenched mud. By hand, of course! After it’s recovered, we transport it to our facility and gently prepare it to blend with our hand-harvested certified organic Pacific Northwest wild seaweeds. For therapeutic thalassotherapy treatments and programmes, it doesn’t get better than this.

With the excellent quality ocean water of the Pacific Northwest, our ocean mud is granular, light weight and contains mineral elements to efficiently retain moisture and heat. Its composition consists of non-soluble tiny grains of silicates and carbonates with a high level of soluble mineral solution. It acts to hold in heat…excellent for achy joints and tired muscles. And, as a skin exfoliant, it opens the pores, while favouring the passage of minerals in the body.

Ocean mud has more great benefits for our bodies…it cleanses skin and removes any dirt particles, impurities and toxins. When you use gentle circular motions to spread it on your body, you are accelerating and improve blood circulation. You are also removing dead skin cells. This is the best for regenerating new cells, as well as soothing, smoothing and sculpting the skin. Great for treating acneic problems. The warming characteristics of our ocean mud make it good for rheumatic ailments, inflammatory conditions and aching joints. For the body, use gentle massaging strokes starting from the feet and work up.Dry off and feel the smoothness and softness of your ocean mud exfoliated skin.

We use our seaweed and ocean mud exfoliants in a variety of Seaflora treatments: body polishes, body washes, as well as our seaweed mico-derma polishers for the face. Visit our website www.sea-flora.com to learn more about all our ocean mud exfoliating products.

How about ocean mud on the face? Our ocean mud is especially effective for the gentle cells on your face…suitable for all ages and all skin types. My favourite is the Iridaea Exfoliator. It’s great for mature skin, (like mine) that is also normal/combination. This exfoliator is a gentle, active facial microderma polisher blended with wild seaweeds and rose hip seed oil, aloe vera and black willow to keep skin smooth and radiant by polishing away flaky, dry, dead skin cells. It improves tone, elasticity and hydration levels for healthier looking complexion.

All our ocean mud exfoliating products are great for both professional spa use and at-home use. Visit us at www.sea-flora.com for more expertise about working with ocean mud.

Meet Adam, Seaflora’s Master Harvestor

2011-06-24T10:28:00.000-07:00

Tell us about your “ocean” experience?

My whole life is on and around the ocean. My father is a marine biologist, so it all began at a very early age… exploring the beaches, the low tides, the shorelines around my home on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. As a youngster, I spent a lot of time on beaches and boats while my dad was SCUBA (self- contained underwater breathing apparatus) diving with his friends. I would help with dry suits, gloves, hoods, fins and masks; adjust weight-belts and pass along forgotten equipment such as dive knifes and compasses. After high school, I worked and travelled in coastal towns in Australia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Myanmar, England, and even lived on a small island off Thailand. I am comfortable knowing that an ocean is nearby.

I am a licensed SSI (Scuba Schools International) Advanced Open Water Instructor and a PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) Master Scuba Dive Trainer. Between 2006 and 2009, I spent 3.5 fantastic years living on Koh Tao, this tropical paradise in the Gulf of Thailand. My job was to instruct, train and certify divers in programs ranging from the Open Water Course through to Dive Master Training.

I have been diving in some of the most beautiful tropical reefs on earth…The Great Barrier Reef in Australia and Richelieu Rock in the Andaman Sea…and of course, right here in coastal British Columbia. Some of the highlights have been diving with whale sharks, bull sharks, leopard sharks, giant pacific red octopus, wolf eels, moray eels, cuttle fish, napoleon wrasse, sting-rays, barracudas, green and hawksbill turtles and banded sea kraits. My future ocean experiences would include diving in the Philippines and Papua New Guinea as well as the Galapagos Islands and South Africa…to dive with the Great White and Tiger sharks.

Share with us a bit about seaweed harvesting at Seaflora. Where do you harvest seaweeds and what types of seaweeds do you harvest?

Prior to moving to Thailand, I spent several summers working as a seaweed harvester and seaweed tour guide with Seaflora. So, when I returned to Canada in early 2010, I reconnected with Seaflora and was able to work with them, while attending college in Victoria. In my job with Seaflora, I speak with a lot of different people about the seaweeds I harvest, whether at trade shows, during a Seaflora Regional Training Event, on the phone or even out on the coast. It’s always a challenge to convey just how wild and demanding our harvesting environment can be.

We harvest the seaweeds off the West Coast of Vancouver Island in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The Juan de Fuca Strait connects directly to the open Pacific Ocean and also forms part of the international boundary between the United States and Canada. Harvesting from our boat begins before sunrise in the summer season. Because The Strait is exposed to the westerly winds and waves of the Pacific Ocean, The Strait, on average, is rougher than the more protected waters inland. The westerly winds are calmest in the mornings and generally gather strength into the early afternoon. In order to to safely harvest seaweeds along our exposed and rugged coastline, I must get into our designated harvesting areas and out again before the winds begin racing down the Strait. I can plan my boat harvesting day right down to the last detail, but in the end it’s the ocean and the elements that dictate my harvesting schedule…too much wind, too little wind, too much fog, too much swell, you get the drift…

The locations where I harvest are quite remote and surrounded by the thick rainforest of the Pacific Northwest. When harvesting from shore I must always be aware of my surroundings at all times, the rocks are slippery and a misplaced step could result in a sprained ankle or worse. The ocean is very unpredictable and because of the close proximity of our harvesting areas to the open Pacific Ocean there is always the chance of a “rogue” wave crashing over me. When harvesting from shore, I never turn my back on the ocean. The tides can and do come in surprisingly fast.

Seaweed harvesting at Seaflora is - for lack of a better word- wild. While harvesting, I have had black bears stroll past, which is why my backpack has a whistle attached to the outside. I have witnessed pods of Orca’s cruise by our boats. Curious, barking seals are always entertaining. The eagles keep an eye on us and there are always the crows waiting to see what’s in our packs. The Seaflora seaweeds are truly wild growing seaweeds. They are not farmed, not grown in pools and not grown on ropes or nets. And the diversity of this coastline is truly amazing. Dozens of different lush, colourful seaweeds growing as far as the eye can see. You’ve got the textured brown kelps with all their different shapes, the lush reds and these wild bright greens. When Seaflora says “Wild Organic Skincare”, we mean WILD ORGANIC Skincare.

What is sustainable seaweed harvesting?

Seaflora supports sustainable harvesting in a few different ways. All seaweeds utilized in Seaflora Skincare are hand-harvested using a bare hand, a knife or a pair of scissors. We never take the full plant during the harvest. We understand the growth cycles of the seaweeds. For this reason harvesting of the plant occurs at the end of the plants life cycle, allowing for the opportunity to reproduce itself before harvest. Seaflora customizes harvesting techniques for each plant species in order to leave the reproductive portion intact.

For decades, in California, Bull Kelp (Nereocystis) was intensively harvested for commercial use. The entire plant (reproductive portions and all) was harvested without prejudice. This very nearly decimated Nereocystis in that region. In the years following, British Columbia implemented seaweed harvesting regulations to prevent unsustainable harvesting in our pristine ocean.

In order to give the Nereocystis every opportunity to reproduce, I will actually cut the plant 1m (100cm) above the pneumatocyst. Harvesting of seaweeds that reproduce near the base of the plant requires a delicate touch so as not to rip the plant off its growing surface. Similar to a haircut, I use scissors and/or a knife to gently trim the upper portion of the plant, leaving the lower portion to continue growing.

Awareness plays a huge part in the sustainable harvest of seaweeds at Seaflora. Awareness of how are actions may impact the ecosystem in the future. For this reason, I never drop an anchor from our boat when harvesting. Anchors destroy the delicate marine life on the bottom of the ocean. As a scuba instructor I have witnessed anchor destruction first-hand. Instead of anchoring I will tie the boat to large collections of bull kelp.

To me sustainable seaweed harvesting is about respect.

What is most exciting about seaweed harvesting?

Well, what makes seaweed harvesting exciting, is what makes the oceans in general exciting; that is, the unknown. I never know what to expect when I’m harvesting. I can leave our dock on a beautiful flat-calm, early summer morning and return a few short hours later in gale-force winds and seas. Other mornings I will leave in fog so thick you can barely see the hand on the end of your arm and return in brilliant sunshine and blue skies. I do enjoy harvesting in the fog, listening to the eagles, watching the seals and river otters all the while wrapped in a thick silence of mist and condensation.

To learn more about seaweed harvesting, please join us for a Wild Seaweed Tour. To book a tour, email us at adam@sea-flora.com.

Photos courtesy of Corey Wilde.

Ontario Regional Training

2011-05-23T21:12:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone that joined us at our Eastern annual training event in Burlington, ON!

Our Ontario Seaflora Trainer, Talia Greenidge and Toronto representative, Ida Michaels, provided an intensive but fun day of thalassotherapy education. Clients learned about the significance of authentic, organic and whole ocean ingredients to heal and nourish our body, mind and soul.

For distribution or spa location inquiries, please email us at: info@sea-flora.com.

March Madness at Seaflora!

2011-04-28T12:35:00.000-07:00

March was a very busy month for the Seaflora Team with the Esthetique Spa Show in Vancouver, the production of a series of Seaflora webinars and our annual Pacific Northwest training event.

On March 20th and 21^st, we attended the spa show in Vancouver. Seaflora was represented by North American Brand Manager, Corey Wilde; Eastern Seaflora Trainer, Talia Greenidge; Master Harvestor, Adam Butcher; and sales representatives Katja Hynds (British Columbia), Bethany Gattis (Washington/Oregon) and Jolene Brewster (Alberta). Our team was happy to see our largest attendance ever! The fun-filled two days of non-stop product education and training proved to be a great success and an absolute blast! We thank everyone for visiting Seaflora and sharing with us your time and energy. Congratulations to Tammy Au, Owner of Allure Health & Beauty, the winner of our $400 Seaflora Thalassotherapy Contest.

Alberta Sales Representative, Jolene Brewster

On March 22, we shot a series of Seaflora Webinars featuring each of our retail and wholesale products. We thank Cameron Dennison of Strongheart Studios (Tofino, BC), our models Bryan Mao, Erin Barnes, Sahand Saba, Ming Zhong and Erica Vance, our incredible make-up artist, Petrina Dezell and the Seaflora team for their creative energy and dedication. Special thanks to the Sooke Harbour House for hosting our shoot and Dave, owner of the Stick in the Mud for your delicious quiche!

On March 28th we held our annual Pacific Northwest training event at the Vancouver Rowing Club in beautiful Stanley Park. We thank Katja Hynds for her fabulous demonstrations and Victoria Smith of Body Wisdom for volunteering!


Katja Hynds and Victoria Smith

Thank you to all that attended. It is always a pleasure to work with and be surrounded by spa owners and operators, estheticians and other wellness practitioners that are committed to authentic, organic and sustainable thalasso skincare. We are all looking forward to the Esthetique Spa Show this weekend in Toronto!

Choosing Healthy Seaweed....

2011-03-04T10:55:00.000-08:00

When it comes to consuming seaweed, either for culinary purposes or skincare solutions, whole, raw and certified organic seaweeds are best! It is important that seaweed is sustainably harvested from areas in the ocean that are clean and protected to ensure that what you consume does not contain high amounts of heavy metals or environmental toxins. Here are two key tips that are essential for anyone that is ingesting seaweed.

Certified Organic is Best!

Certified organic seaweed harvesters adhere to strict harvesting principles and annual inspection. Firstly, the location from which the seaweed is harvested is inspected to ensure that the ocean is not polluted (i.e. no industrial waste, low population base, no agricultural or sewage run-off). This is verified through both a site visit and further investigated through lab testing of ocean water and seaweed fibre analysis. For instance, water samples must meet drinking water level standards. Secondly, collection logs are recorded and reviewed to confirm that seaweed is not over-harvested and to promote sustainable harvesting. When harvesting kelp, a foot should be left from the bulb so that the seaweed can continue to grow. Moreover, porphyra (more popularly known as Nori or Red Laver) should be selectively harvested, as once it is harvested from a rock it will not grow again until next season. Inspectors also visit all sites where seaweeds are stored to ensure the integrity of the seaweed. Only following a successful inspection, can a harvestor be granted certification.

At Seaflora, our seaweed is harvested off Vancouver Island, just outside of Sooke, BC from the Juan De Fuca straight. Our harvest area is pristine due to very low population, no agricultural or sewage run-off and no industrial development. Across the strait is Washington State’s Olympic National Park. Our seaweed are certified organic by the Organic Crop Inspection Agency (OCIA) under both USDA and COR. The only other certified organic seaweed company in North America is the Maine Coast Sea Vegetables who harvest seaweed for culinary purposes.

If you are applying or injesting seaweed that is not certified organic you may want to contact the company distributing it and ask them: Where is your seaweed harvested from (or is it even harvested from the ocean because lots of seaweed is farmed indoors)? And, are you harvesting sustainably?

Whole, Raw Seaweeds are Best!

Keep the Fiber in…don’t be fooled by seaweed extracts! Seaweed contains mucilage, gums and fiber that international industries ‘extract’ to use as a filler for products such as textiles, paper making, commercial foods and chemical products such as paints, thinners, varnishes, polishes and pharmaceuticals. The critical factor about seaweed in these uses is its capacity to bind; that is, to hold chemicals, ingredients and compounds together.

Laminaria Digitata Seaweed and Extract

These extraction processes are not designed to protect vitamins, minerals and the healthy compounds that we now know seaweed contains. Today’s seaweed extracts are stripped of all fibre which means their vitamins, minerals and compounds are also stripped. If the name of a seaweed is followed by ‘extract’ on a skincare label or health food product that is generally the red flag that it has been stripped substantially reducing its nutrients.

Benefits of Seaweed

· Rich source of vitamins, minerals, and cell salts

· High levels of Vitamins A, B1, B2, B5, B12, and C, pantothenic acid, folic acid, and niacin than fresh fruits and land vegetables.

· High quality complex B vitamins, including vitamin B12

· Natural iodine in amounts thousands times higher than land plants.

· Contains unique compounds of laminarin, alginate and fucoidan

· High levels of antioxidants and essential amino acids

· Rich source of plant hormones, and lignans and sulfate galactans

For more information, visit our website www.sea-flora.com

D r i f t A w a y @ the Black Rock Resort’s Drift Spa, Ulcluelet, Vancouver Island

2011-02-02T14:32:00.000-08:00

Tucked away on the West Coast of Vancouver Island is Ucluelet (pronounced /juːˈkluːlɨt/) meaning the “people of the safe harbor” in the indigenous Nuu-chah-nulth (Nootka) language. Rugged and naturally rejuvenating, Ucluelet is now luxurious as well. In January 2009, The Black Rock Resort opened and transformed Ucluelet from Tofino’s “little sister” into another “must see” on Vancouver Island.

The Drift Spa at Black Rock was voted one of America’s top spas by Spas of America. The spa sets a new standard for serenity, sophistication and luxury on Vancouver Island.

At the Drift Spa, location is just one of the many allures. We stopped into the Drift to talk with Judy Bewick, Spa Manager about sustainability at the Drift.

Seaflora: Why organic skincare? Drift Spa exclusively uses Seaflora, as the healing power of seaweeds remains our main focus in our marine-based Spa. We understand the science behind the value of seaweeds, and their ‘super’ power in naturally supporting the body on many levels. We are proud to work with a local Vancouver Island company which produces organic marine based skin care.

Seaflora: Choosing organic skincare is one key choice for eco spas. How is the Drift contributing to the “green spa movement”? We are in the process of converting our outdoor hot pools and plunge pool to salt water. Our linens are washed with phosphate free and bio-degradable detergent, with low water consumption machines. In addition, all of our paper products are made with renewable resources. Our body wraps are cellophane/BPA free, and we also use refillable containers in our showers.

Seaflora: Tell us about the Drift’s focus on wellness: Our Drift Spa Team are trained and educated to provide pampering, but also we offer an educational experience, in which our clients will leave with a greater sense and awareness of the power of their bodies. Drift provides a relaxing experience in Nature, combined with ancient healing modalities, that soothe the body, mind and soul, which is today’s natural way for disease prevention.

At the Drift spa visitors can experience a variety of Thalassotherapy facials and body treatments, including customized therapeutic facials. We recommend their signature thalasso Treatments: an hour and a half seaweed massage and soak in a thalasso hydrotherapy tub or a half day “drift away” treatment which includes a soak, body wrap, exfoliation, mini facial and massage.

To book your life balancing retreat at the Black Rock contact reservations or the spa:

877-762-5011│ reservations@blackrockresort.com

To contact the spa directly: (250) 726-4809 │ spa@blackrockresort.com.

Visit their website for more details.

Seaflora at Blanche MacDonald

2011-01-07T11:21:00.000-08:00

Today our Sales Manager, Corey Wilde and Pacific Seaflora Instructor, Katja Hynds visited Blanche MacDonald to educate students at the Esthetics School on the principles of Thalassotherapy with a focus on organics, sustainable spa practices, wellness and detoxification.

Katja Hynds and Corey Wilde

Thalasso (pronounced: thah-lah-sso) is derived from the Greek word meaning 'sea' or 'ocean'. Thalassotherapy is the use of marine elements to cleanse, nourish and hydrate the skin. The active 'thalasso' ingredients of Seaflora are certified organic whole seaweeds, certified organic ocean mud and pacific sea salt. These elements offer us a range of diverse nutrients, like vitamins (A, B1, B2, B5, B12, C, D, E K), minerals (potassium, magnesium, niacin, zinc, calcium) and seaweed nutrients, like laminarian, alginate, fucoidan and amino acids. These natural active ingredients are cleansing, exfoliating, detoxifying, nourishing, hydrating and much, much more.

For thousands of years, the ocean's elements have been a powerful life source to humanity, a key to health, beauty and relaxation for mind, body and soul. The tradition of thalassotherapy continues to thrive today and is embraced worldwide to assist in maintaining healthy, vital skin and help skin suffering from acne, rosacea, eczema and dermatitis.

While Seaflora is founded on the principles of Thalassotherapy, we also offer spas and consumers a sustainable skincare choice. Our skincare has always been “green.” Our thalasso ingredients are certified organic and most of the indigenous ingredients in our products, like mint, fern stem and leaf, pine tree and lavender extracts are purchased from local farmers and harvesters. We advocate environmental sustainability and coastal protection. Seaflora is one eco choice among many for spas, as our spas strive to reduce their environmental footprint and provide holistic options for skincare and wellness.

If you are a spa practitioner and would like to learn more about education, please contact us at:

info@sea-flora.com.

Our new facility: Part 1

2010-11-08T15:12:00.000-08:00

In just a few weeks, the in-house Seaflora Wild Organic Seaweed Skincare staff will make the long awaited move to our new Thalassotherapy Centre. Located in the core of Sooke, Vancouver Island British Columbia, our green building is symbolic of much, much more than just seaweed!

At the heart of the design of our new building is our commitment to sustainability. Here are just some of the highlights of our new facility:

· Designed with south facing exposure to maximize passive solar activity

· Flat roof designed and built for rooftop gardens to increase urban green space and accommodate the use of solar to dry seaweeds

· Core location next to bus stops for access to clean public transportation. Bicycle racks for staff bicycling to work and showers installed for employees who jog or cycle to work

· Window positioning to accommodate free flow of air without air conditioning system

· Water heating system installed in cement floor to facilitate slow release of heat

· Water system designed for conversion to solar in 3 years

· State-of-art storm water drainage systems with filtration

· Designed multi-use building with residential apartments to take advantage of “smart” urban core themes and design

As employees, community members and a company we are always looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint. We look forward to sharing with you photos of the completed facility both inside and out...Stay tuned for more news!

Welcome to the Seaflora Community...

2010-11-03T10:16:00.000-07:00

While most of our followers are aware of our skincare products, many of you may not know much about the team behind Seaflora...until now that is. The goal of our blog is to share with you the "lives" of those of us who are passionate about Seaflora and to do so in a way that is informative, insightful, interesting, comical and always political. Tune in next week to "see" where our seaweed-based skincare products are manufactured and to learn more about the story behind our thalassotherapy centre in Sooke, Vancouver Island, British Columbia.