Fucus-gel

Rocky Atlantic shores are covered at low tide by olive-brown seaweed with small air bladders. This is Fucus, and it is one of the oldest marine ingredients in European cosmetics. Fucus-gel is a liquid active built on this heritage, designed for products across face, body and hair.

About the source

Fucus is a genus of brown algae that includes bladderwrack. Brown algae are rich in polysaccharides, minerals and other compounds that have made them popular in thalasso and marine cosmetics. The exact INCI, species and composition of Fucus-gel are confirmed on the supplier CoA for each lot, and that document is the basis for the ingredient list.

Specifications from the supplier specification

Liquid, soluble in glycerin and water, pH 7. Applications: masks, creams, serums, lotions, tonics, caring cosmetics, shampoos and shower gels. This list is broad enough to build an entire marine line around one ingredient.

Face care

Hydrating mask

A gel mask with a fresh, sea-inspired feel, used once or twice a week.

Serum and tonic

A light serum and a toning lotion that keep the skin feeling hydrated and fresh.

Cream

A daily cream for normal and combination skin with a marine identity.

Body and hair

Shower gel

A gentle shower gel that keeps the skin feeling comfortable after rinsing.

Shampoo

A mild shampoo with a marine story for everyday use.

Body lotion

A light lotion to follow the shower gel, completing a simple body ritual.

Formulating guidance

Add the active during cool-down into the water phase, or predissolve it in glycerin. The listed pH of 7 is close to neutral, so check the finished pH after addition, especially in acidic formulas. Pair it with IO Body Care Slimming-Look Active Liquid in body products and with niacinamide in face care. For extra hydration add hyaluronic gel. More marine and botanical actives are listed under actives.

Odor and color

Seaweed ingredients can carry a characteristic marine odor and a light amber tint. In rinse-off products this is easily covered. In clear serums and tonics, compare samples against a reference and choose fragrance or packaging accordingly.

Claims

Use cosmetic wording: hydrated, fresh, soft skin; clean, light hair. A marine story works best when it is honest and simple.

Spa use

Spas can use the mask and body lotion in professional protocols, with retail sizes for home use afterwards.

Testing

Run stability at room temperature and 40 °C. In surfactant systems check viscosity and clarity, since added electrolytes from algae can change thickening behavior.

Range planning

A marine line can start with three products: a gel mask, a shower gel and a body lotion. All three share Fucus-gel and a common fragrance, so the customer recognizes the line at once. A shampoo and a tonic can be added in a second wave once the first products sell through. Using the same active across face, body and hair keeps purchasing simple and makes the brand story easy to tell in a short paragraph on each label.

Original recipe: marine gel mask, 100 g

Purified water 84.30 g, glycerin 5.00 g, Fucus-gel 5.00 g as an example level per CoA, sodium hyaluronate 0.20 g, xanthan gum 0.50 g, hydroxyethylcellulose 0.50 g, panthenol 2.00 g, allantoin 0.20 g, preservative 1.00 g, fragrance 0.20 g, polysorbate 20 0.60 g, citric acid solution 0.50 g. Disperse gums and hyaluronate in glycerin, add water and hydrate. Add the active, panthenol and allantoin below 40 °C, then preservative and the fragrance premixed with polysorbate 20. Adjust pH to about 5.5.

Record the lot number in your batch log so every production run can be traced back to its certificate of analysis. Retain a small sample of each lot for at least the shelf life of the finished product, since it makes later quality questions much easier to answer.

Storage

Store the bottle closed, in a cool place out of direct light.