DEEP DIVE
The power of seaweed
Nutritious and nourishing, seaweed offers particular benefits to us as swimmers. Jo Tinsley explores the value of seaweed for swimmers’ hair, skin and bodies
Sophia brings an academic mindset to her product development
Seaweed is a divisive subject amongst sea swimmers; for every friend who loves floating over kelp forests, gazing into multi-coloured rock pools or sitting by the water and watching strands of sea spaghetti swirling in the current, you’ll no doubt know another who balks at the feeling of ‘things that touch’ while wading in for a dip. But you’d have to have been hiding under a rock not to notice the emerging number of cosmetics, shampoos, seasonings and even spa treatments featuring these remarkable and nutrient-rich marine plants – and many of them offer particular benefits to us as swimmers.
THE SCIENCE PART
Sophia Tapper combined her academic background in chemistry with a creative streak to launch seaweed skin and hair care brand Tappermade in 2021. Her product range includes a Swimmer’s Balm, a nourishing and aromatic salve with seaweed-infused oils that locks in moisture after a cold-water dip, and a Leave-In Conditioner spray made specifically to moisturise and detangle post-swim hair.
“Seaweed has fantastic properties for swimmers,” says Sophia. “It’s anti-inflammatory, which soothes irritated skin.
Sophia in her natural environment
Image: Pip Raud Photography
Swimmer’s Balm by Tappermade
It’s also packed with nutrients, A, B, C and E vitamins, as well as zinc and magnesium to nourish and promote healthy skin.”
On top of this, seaweed has incredible antioxidant properties, which protect hair and skin from the damage caused by free radicals. Some limited studies, she tells us, also suggest that seaweed helps to stimulate our skin’s own collagen production, helping the cells’ repair processes and improving the elasticity of skin.