The nearest most of us get to seaweed is munching on an avo roll. Yet this abundant alga, one of the most useful and sustainable natural resources, deserves a much bigger platform.

A rich source of vitamins, minerals, thyroid-regulating iodine and fatty acids, seaweed’s myriad benefits have been celebrated for years, but it’s as an ingredient in skincare where it’s really made a mark. Seaweed’s been used in beauty preparations for thousands of years (the ancient Chinese used it to treat burns and scars) and wraps are still used today to treat skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema.

Part of the reason lies in the fact its cells are strikingly similar to skin, so much so that experiments are underway to use seaweed to engineer artificial skin. Alginic acid, found in the cell walls of brown seaweed, has been shown to help heal wounds, while recent studies have shown other ingredients can help correct pigmentation caused by the sun, support the production of collagen, reduce redness and help keep skin hydrated.

Little wonder you’re as likely to find it in your beauty products as on your plate. To get your fix, check out the excellent seaweed ranges from The Body Shop, Crabtree & Evelyn and REN. Few brands, though, have harnessed the power of the sea quite like high street natural beauty champions Lush, which has infused it into everything from bath bombs to mud masks. Then again, it’s based in Poole and harvests much of the seaweed itself, so you might say kelp is at hand.