Beyond The Sea: The Science Behind Our Organic Marine Botanical Face Serum

Written by Clinical Herbalist Donna Cleary for Spiral Herbal Remedies, September 8, 2026

Beyond The Sea was inspired by La Mer — the legendary luxury serum whose seaweed-based formula has made it one of the most coveted and most expensive skincare products in the world for decades. I found the original recipe, studied the science behind why it works, and spent years developing an organic version using the same marine botanical foundation — without the synthetic additives, without the fillers, and without the $400 price tag. This is that version.

Most face serums — including La Mer — are primarily water, with a small percentage of active ingredients suspended in it. Beyond The Sea contains no water at all. Every drop is pure botanical — nine plants working together in a formula that delivers what no single-ingredient product can.

This is the science behind why it works.

Wakame and Hyaluronic Acid: What the Research Shows

Hyaluronic acid is the molecule your skin depends on for plumpness, moisture retention, and that dewy, healthy appearance that diminishes with age and sun exposure. Your body produces it naturally — but an enzyme called hyaluronidase breaks it down.

A 2023 study published in the National Institutes of Health database examined sulfated polysaccharides derived from marine algae — the same class of compounds found in wakame seaweed. The researchers found that these sulfated polysaccharides effectively inhibited hyaluronidase activity, helping protect the body's natural hyaluronic acid from being broken down. Read the full study here.

In plain terms: the compounds in wakame may help your skin hold onto its own natural moisture longer. Well-hydrated skin, maintained by healthy hyaluronic acid levels, creates the optimal environment for your body to utilize and support its own collagen. Instead of adding hyaluronic acid, as so many serums do, Beyond The Sea may help you hold onto your own.

Seaweed and Photoaging: What Emerging Research Shows

Sun exposure accelerates skin aging — breaking down collagen, generating oxidative stress, and altering skin texture over time. A 2021 peer-reviewed study published in the NIH database examined seaweed-derived bioactive compounds, including those in wakame, specifically as anti-photoaging agents, finding significant opportunities for their application in skincare. The researchers identified seaweed compounds as a promising area of active scientific investigation for protecting skin from the cumulative effects of light exposure. Read the full study here.

This is why Beyond The Sea works as well after a long day outside as it does on a quiet morning — and why wakame has been prized in Asian skincare for centuries, long before researchers understood the mechanism. Traditional knowledge and modern science arrived at the same place from different directions.

Green Tea: What the Research Actually Shows

Green tea is one of the most studied plants in skincare research — and the findings are worth knowing about. At my visit to the dermatologist, he talked about how his colleagues had jumped into the skin product realm specifically because of the research on Green Tea.

A 2026 review published in the NIH database pulled together 21 peer-reviewed studies, including six clinical trials on real people, all looking at what green tea and its key compound EGCG actually do to human skin when applied topically. Read the full review here.

Here is what they found, in plain terms:

• It protects skin from environmental damage. Sun exposure, pollution, and daily stress generate free radicals that break down your skin over time. EGCG cut that free radical activity by 50–60% in laboratory studies. Clinical trials showed it reduced UV-induced redness on real people after 3–6 weeks of use.

• It helps skin hold onto moisture. One controlled trial measured how much water skin loses through the day. Green tea polyphenols reduced that water loss measurably — skin stayed hydrated longer.

• It supports skin firmness. There is an enzyme in your body that breaks down elastin — the protein that keeps skin bouncy and firm. EGCG inhibited that enzyme by up to 39% in studies. Less breakdown means skin that holds its structure longer.

• It visibly reduced wrinkles in clinical trials. Participants using green tea extract topically saw up to 63% improvement in wrinkles over the course of the study.

• It supports an even skin tone. EGCG reduced melanin — the pigment responsible for dark spots — by up to 70% in laboratory studies.

***At a recent visit to my dermatologist, he mentioned that colleagues of his had moved into the skincare space specifically because of the emerging research on green tea. When dermatologists follow the science into botanicals, that tells you something.

This is why Beyond The Sea includes green tea. Not because it is a trendy ingredient, but because the research behind it is some of the strongest in botanical skincare.

The Full Botanical Lineup

Wakame and green tea have the clinical research behind them — published in the NIH database. The other seven botanicals have something older: centuries of use across cultures that understood plant medicine long before science had the tools to explain why they worked.

• Wakame: Marine botanical traditionally prized in Asian skincare for centuries. Rich in sulfated polysaccharides studied for their ability to support the skin's natural moisture retention.

• Green Tea: Among the most studied plant antioxidants in botanical research. Supports skin exposed to environmental stressors through its rich polyphenol and EGCG profile.

• Moringa: Traditionally valued for its exceptional concentration of vitamins A and E. Known in herbal tradition for its antioxidant properties and ability to nourish and protect skin tissue.

• Calendula: One of the most beloved skin-soothing botanicals in herbal tradition across cultures. Calms and eases reactive, flushed, or irritated skin.

• Plantain: A cornerstone of European herbal tradition for skin health. Traditionally used to soothe and calm reactive skin and support healthy skin tissue.

• Chickweed: One of the great cooling botanicals in European herbal tradition. Traditionally valued for easing skin irritation and supporting comfortable, settled skin.

• Licorice Root: Traditionally valued across cultures for its brightening properties. Supports an even, radiant complexion with consistent daily use.

• Wild Carrot Seed: Traditionally prized for its skin-rejuvenating properties. A botanical with centuries of use in European herbal tradition for skin vitality and renewal.

• Organic Olive Oil: One of the oldest botanical carriers in the world, used in herbal tradition for millennia to deliver plant compounds gently and effectively into skin tissue.

Donna's Daily Ritual:

This is what I use on my own face every day. People tell me daily that I look decades younger than my age of 66. I'll let the plants take the credit.

• Morning: three to four drops of Beyond The Sea massaged into clean skin. That's it. Nine botanicals, no water, no synthetic anything — and my skin shows up for the day.

  For the dark spots on the sides of my face, I follow with a small amount of Lighten Up | Organic Skin Brightening Oil for Dark Spots, Scars & Uneven Skin, applied directly to those areas. Six botanicals — meadowsweet, skullcap, calendula, rosehip, plantain, and red grape — work together to support skin cell turnover, calm irritation, and encourage a bright, even complexion.

• At night: I use Lose The Itch Plantain Salve as my overnight moisturizer. Most people reach for it when something is itchy or irritated — and it is extraordinary for that. But consistent nightly use is also where its skin cell renewal properties build. I wake up with skin that feels genuinely restored.

  
  

Three products. Ten minutes. Nine years of formulating goes into all of them.

Why Water-Free Matters

Walk into any pharmacy or department store and pick up a serum. Read the label. The first ingredient listed will almost certainly be water.

Water is a filler. It takes up space in the bottle, and the moment you apply it to your skin it starts to evaporate. That initial feeling of moisture? It's gone.

This is true of La Mer. It is true of most luxury serums at any price point.

Beyond The Sea is different at its foundation. Its base is a luxurious organic Mediterranean olive oil that absorbs quickly into your skin. Even oil-prone skin benefits, since the body will naturally stop overproducing oil once it no longer needs to.

Three to four drops is all it takes — a little goes a long way. And what you put on your face stays on your face. Your skin feels moisturized and revitalized by nine active botanicals, not for the first few minutes, but all day.

You are not paying for water. You are paying for a luxurious botanical serum that stays.

How to Use

Apply three to four drops to clean skin morning and evening. Massage gently until absorbed. Use daily — consistent use is where the long-term botanical benefits build.

It works as a standalone serum, under makeup, and as the first layer of a multi-step routine. For the body, pair with Botanica Bliss or Nectar of Nervana.

Formulated by a Clinical Herbalist and Registered Nurse

Beyond The Sea was formulated by Donna Cleary — Clinical Herbalist, former Registered Nurse with 13 years at a Harvard teaching hospital, and heir to a hereditary Irish herbalism tradition documented to 1100 AD. Every botanical was chosen for a purpose. Every batch is handcrafted in small quantities at the Brooklyn apothecary.

This is not mass production. It is precision botanical skincare built on centuries of herbal knowledge and emerging modern research.

Shop Beyond The Sea at Spiral Herbal Remedies.

Disclaimer: The statements made regarding these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This article is for educational and informational purposes only. Always consult your healthcare provider regarding any skin concern or condition.

People tell me regularly that I look decades younger than my age of 66. I'll let the plants take the credit.