Carrageenan is a polysaccharide that is extracted from red seaweed or Irish moss. It was discovered in 1810 but the Irish who found its medicinal properties soon after their discovery. Carrageenan is often used as a binder or thickener when used in foods, but in skincare it has many important uses. Carrageenan by itself in skincare helps ingredients meld properly and keeps them from separating. For a lot of skincare it also assists with the smooth jelly type texture than many washes and moisturizers utilize. That’s not the only reason carrageenan is an important addition to your skin care though! Many don’t know that carrageenan is also an incredible humectant. Because of the specific properties, carrageenan gum makes an incredible humectant that forms a thin moisture locking layer that helps keep skin hydrated while protecting against environmental factors like pollutants, smoke and UV rays that harm the skin by rapidly oxidizing it. On top of these benefits it is 100% plant based which makes it an even more desirable addition to our lineup.