In the Know: Ishga

How can I incorporate seaweed into my spa treatments, and what are the benefits?

One of seaweeds’ most prominent health benefits is its ability to help remove toxins from our bodies, as the alginic acid in certain seaweed binds with the toxins to remove them from the body.  

100% natural, safe and highly effective for skincare purposes, seaweed is ideal for even the most sensitive skin and can assist in preventing the breakdown of hyaluronic acid – a protein building block that increases skin elasticity. 

Seaweed can help detox the body, promote circulation and provide the body with a wide range of minerals, vitamins and trace elements that promote health and wellbeing.

From this you can see the obvious benefits of including seaweed-based treatments on your spa menu. For the seaweed purists, you can offer the option of soaking in a bath of fresh, hand-harvested seaweed. Once they get over the fact that they are in a bath of seaweed, it’s a fantastic experience, very detoxifying and wonderful for repairing and moisturising the skin.

Seaweed can also be incorporated into body treatments, through the use of body oils and scrubs that contain seaweed extract. You could combine the oils and scrubs with seaweed gel or fresh seaweed strips, to create more cleansing and restorative body wraps.

Adding seaweed-based spa treatments to your menu is not just about the body; the antioxidant properties of seaweed can also be put to good use in facial treatments. Additionally, there are a number of seaweed supplement. These can be taken either in a capsule or a powder format and can be added to healthy pressed juices to complete the wellness experience.  

Leon Trayling is director of Hebridean Spa, the company behind skincare Ishga, whose products are created around the use of Scottish seaweed. Also the spa director Blythswood Square hotel in Glasgow, his career also includes nine years with the Marriott hotel group and serving as spa and recreation manager of Scotland's Loch Lomond Golf Club