The clean beauty brand has been walking the walk and talking the talk in ethically sourced skincare ingredients since 1996, with the mother-daughter family enterprise building a successful business model steeped in transparency from day one, disrupting industry standards.
Photo: Courtesy of OSEA.
OSEA — Ocean Sea Earth Atmosphere — the acronym for the beloved eco-conscious Malibu, California-based brand referencing the environment’s elements, rooted in the family’s belief in the healing powers of nature, where the founder’s grandmother, Elsa, retreated to the sea to treat pain and inspire others to incorporate the ocean’s beneficial resources into their lifestyle.
As a beauty writer and clean skincare aficionado, I’ve tried more brands than I can remember. Some memorable. Others forgettable. Each touting the promise of renewal and restoration. And a healthy-looking complexion. These products often come in attractive packaging or biodegradable containers to minimize their environmental impact. Still, many have fallen short in terms of consistency or messaging in one way or another. The OSEA brand distinguishes itself from the clean beauty pack in terms of authenticity and delivering proven results. I’m living proof.
After three months of using their face and body products, my eczema flare-ups on my face, neck, and chest have subsided by 96%, leaving my skin with a renewed glow that is foreign to me. Sure, I’ve had a few chlorine-induced patches surface, here and there, after prolonged swimming and excessive sweating, but nothing that hasn’t been contained, especially by OSEA’s Hyaluronic Sea Serum and Undaria Algae™ Body Oil (a best-selling cult favorite). It’s as if Poseidon, the Greek God of the Sea, personally blessed these products.
I recently spoke with Jenefer Palmer (founder/mother) and Melissa Palmer (CEO and daughter) to learn about OSEA’s enduring impact in a saturated clean beauty market and why my skin was drawn to these products like a magnetic force.
The OSEA brand has been a mainstay, breaking ground in the clean beauty industry by advocating for product transparency laws and regulations, and urging other companies to follow suit for decades before it became fashionable. What were some challenges OSEA faced when it was first launched?
“At the time, brands were largely free to use any ingredients in their products, leaving consumers with little visibility into potentially harmful components. OSEA chose a different path — one that surprised many in the industry — by prioritizing transparency and formulating only with clean, safe ingredients, and using glass bottles instead of plastic ones. Since the term ‘clean beauty’ didn’t exist yet, it was challenging to gain traction with retailers who didn’t initially understand the concept. We like to say we were green when it was just a color.”
Big corporations like Sephora didn’t embrace clean beauty brands until 2018, when they carried 50 at the time; now, they boast over 133 brands. The lack of ingredient transparency, combined with consumer awareness and education about safe products and a previously unregulated industry, has led to confusion and misleading product labels.
According to Jenefer and Melissa Palmer:
“In 2002, we became the first company to sign the Compact for Safe Cosmetics. A landmark initiative to promote safety and transparency in the beauty industry. To this day, we continue to advocate for ingredient safety and lobby for legislation that ensures access to safe skincare for all.”
The mother-daughter duo innovated their signature seaweed-infused ingredients and continues to experiment with clean ingredients, developing their taglines, “Skincare from the Sea®” and “Sea the Difference®.” They plan to expand into product categories and bring even more innovation to future launches.
“Our goal is to be intentional with everything we create — going beyond traditional skincare to meet the evolving needs of our community. One recent inspiration has been the concept of “skinification” in bodycare: the idea that your body deserves the same level of care and powerful ingredients as your face. This led to the launch of our Hyaluronic Body Serum, designed to deliver advanced hydration and treatment-level results for the skin below the neck.”
Besides OSEA’s signature proprietary seaweed-infused ingredients, is there another element you want to add or experiment with in the skincare line that’s just as effective?
“In addition to seaweed, we’re excited to explore nutrient-rich marine botanicals, as well as continue tapping into the diverse benefits of various seaweed species. Our Hyaluronic Sea Serum, which your skin responded well to, for example, features powerful hydrators like snow mushroom and hyaluronic acid — ingredients we’re eager to work with more in the future. We’re also increasingly interested in developing wellness-centered products that support the nervous system and promote relaxation, drawing a deeper connection between skin health, mindfulness, and overall well-being.”
After nearly thirty years in the clean beauty industry, what are you looking forward to, or what would you like to change?
“We look forward to expanding strategic collaborations, increasing accessibility through wholesale partnerships, and deepening OSEA’s impact in ingredients and environmental advocacy — all while preserving the company’s core value. Of course, we’re looking forward to the brand’s 30th birthday as well. It’s so gratifying to see that more brands and people are riding the clean beauty wave with us.”
And the clean beauty wave continues to surge and gain momentum. By 2033, the clean beauty market is projected to reach 39 billion, a 16.65% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR), according to Yahoo! Finance. Although consumers now prefer brand transparency, greenwashing and misleading marketing claims persist, reinforcing the need for additional laws to be enacted and for enhanced consumer protections to be established.
Every product I’ve tried from OSEA has been transformational for my skin. If you have sensitive skin like me and are in the market for a cleanser and makeup remover combo, try their newest product, Ocean Wave Cleanser. It’s made up of Undaria Seaweed, Camelina Seed Oil, and Bisabolol, ingredients rich in amino acids, Omega 3, to name a few. My skin felt unbelievably soft and hydrated. And the texture of the cleanser, although oil-based, is light and doesn’t leave any residue on the hands. One of the best cleansers I’ve tried! To learn more about or shop, visit OSEA products online or in store at Ulta Beauty.
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