While seaweed might be something you prefer to avoid during a beach day, that’s not the case in the beauty aisle. It’s reportedly becoming one of the most in-demand ingredients in skin care. According to new data from Strategic Revenue Insights Inc., bioactive seaweed in personal care is projected to grow from $12.65 billion in 2024 to $29.58 billion by 2033—meaning you’ll likely be seeing it on a lot more product labels in the very near future.
These numbers aren’t exactly surprising. Seaweed is naturally rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and hydrating polysaccharides, which help boost moisture, strengthen the skin barrier and support overall skin health. And, much like how different LED wavelengths target specific concerns, various seaweed types offer their own benefits. Brown seaweed is often used to support firmness and calm visible inflammation; red seaweed is known for pulling moisture into the skin and leaving it softer and more supple; and green seaweed frequently appears in products that help with clarity, balance and detoxification.
It also helps that seaweed checks a major box for today’s shoppers: sustainability. According to the report, it grows quickly, requires no fertilizers or pesticides and doesn’t rely on freshwater sources, which keeps its environmental footprint surprisingly small. And now that brands have upgraded extraction tech, they can pull out more of the “good stuff” without degrading it. Translation: the seaweed used in formulas today is far more potent than early-2000s iterations.
So what’s next? The report points to even broader adoption across categories—such as hair products, scalp treatments and even oral care—alongside the skin-care launches already crowding shelves. While we wait for the next wave to land, here are a few long-standing favorites worth trying if you're ready to dive into the trend.
