I Tried 13 OSEA Skincare Bestsellers. Here’s What I’d Re-Buy.

OSEA is the skincare brand for mermaids and mermans who want to make the switch to cleaner skincare without sacrificing effectiveness or luxurious vibes. 🌊

I’ve actually been using OSEA’s products for years now… It was one of the first non-toxic skincare brand I tried back in the day!

In my OSEA review, I’m giving you my thoughts on the specific products I’ve been using over the past year. We’ll also talk about whether or not OSEA is truly the ‘non-toxic’ brand it advertises itself to be.

If you’ve tried OSEA in the past, let me know in the comments which products are your favorite (or least favorite!).

This guide contains product recommendations and we may receive compensation if you purchase through certain links. This review is not sponsored, but the products were gifted. As always, we only make recommendations that are genuine!

---

By the way, if you decide to make a purchase from OSEA after reading this review, you can use the code THEFILTERY10 for 10% off your first order.

Is OSEA Non-Toxic?

With greenwashing running rampant these days, you might be wondering whether OSEA (aka “OSEA Malibu”) is actually a “clean” brand.

The short answer is: yes, for the most part. There are just a few “iffy” ingredients that I’ll talk about in just a sec.

I actually love OSEA’s back story. It was started by mother-daughter team and inspired by their grandmother/great-grandmother, Elsa, who experienced healing from the ocean. This is part of what inspired them to start a seaweed-infused skincare line. They first launched back in 1996!

Although their products are not 100% natural, they do use primarily natural ingredients. All of their products are free from things like:

• Phthalates
• Parabens
• Synthetic fragrances
• Formaldehyde releasers
• Nanoparticles
• PEGs
• SLS and SLES
• and more

What About the “Iffy” Ingredients?

There are just a few ‘iffy’ ingredients I’ve found. They’re not super concerning to me, but of course you’ll want to make the decision for yourself.

• Undisclosed natural fragrance: A few (not all) of their products contain “Natural Fragrance,” which means they don’t disclose all of the actual ingredients. This a little annoying to be honest. I usually recommend staying away from undisclosed fragrance when you can, but I’m more likely to make an exception here because of the fact that it’s all-natural. (As I said before, all of their products are free from synthetic fragrances.)
• Copolymers: I have found a couple of ‘copolymer’ ingredients in a few of their products. The problem is that some of these ingredients exist in a sort of “gray area” in that we don’t really know if they are microplastics or not. I have started trying to decrease my usage of these types of ingredients until we know more. (NOT all polymers/copolymers are plastic. But we’ll go down that rabbit hole another day.)
• Potential heavy metal contamination via seaweed: Seaweed is one of the star ingredients in OSEA’s formulations. Although they do not add heavy metals to their products intentionally, seaweed can be contaminated with heavy metals because of pollution. (This is true of all plants; it’s literally unavoidable.) OSEA did tell me they test their products for heavy metals to make sure they are as low as possible.

All things considered, these ingredients are definitely not at the top of my “avoid” list. If you have allergies or sensitivities to specific natural ingredients, then you may want to avoid the products with “natural fragrance” in them. But other than that, I overall feel safe and confident using this brand in general.

I’ve noted below which of the products I reviewed have these ingredients so you can decide for yourself if you want to buy them or not.

OSEA Pros & Cons in a Nutshell:

Where You Can Buy OSEA

In addition to their main website (use the code THEFILTERY10 for 10% off), here are the different retailers where you can find OSEA products:

---

Here Are the Products I Tried and What I Thought About Them

If you’re wondering which are the best OSEA products, here are my thoughts on which ones I would re-buy, and which ones I wouldn’t:

Ocean Cleanser

This cleanser is good for a lot of different skin types. There’s nothing super fancy about it—it’s just a nice face wash that gets the job done. It can remove makeup, oil, and ultimately leaves my face feeling fresh.

It’s got bentonite clay in it, which helps to unclog pores. But then it also has undaria seaweed and a blend of plant oils, which contain vitamins and minerals meant to help mineralize the skin.

Would I re-buy it? Yes.

Hyaluronic Body Serum

I love how this serum feels. I definitely noticed a difference in how my skin felt the first time I used it. Hours after I put it on, my skin was noticeably softer than usual.

It’s “powered by 5 molecular weights of hyaluronic acid,” which helps with hydrating the skin and also helps with anti-aging to make skin look plumper and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

The texture has a bit of a ‘gel-like’ feel to it, but it’s lightweight and dries pretty quickly. So, you can put it on after your morning shower and not worry about it getting your clothes oily or anything like that. They say you can layer it with an actual lotion, but I personally just use it as a lotion replacement.

It’s fragrance-free and really doesn’t smell like much at all. The only ingredient I don’t love is Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer. This is a common ingredient used in skincare, but it’s one of those weird borderline ingredients that may or may not qualify as a type of microplastic.

Would I re-buy it? Ugh. Honestly, I probably wouldn’t re-buy it until I can find out for sure whether or not Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer is a microplastic. (I would just buy the Dream Body Serum instead!)

Anti-Aging Body Balm

This one definitely has a very luxurious vibe to it. It’s like a cross between a lotion and a serum. I would put it in the ‘midweight’ category—it’s not very thick but it’s not super lightweight either. I prefer to use it in the evenings because it does feel a little greasy after putting it on.

The two “star” ingredients they use for the anti-aging benefits are alaria esculenta seaweed, which they say helps to improve elasticity and firmness, and passion fruit seed oil, which they say helps the skin to hold more water for a more youthful-looking appearance. I definitely like the way it makes my skin feel!

It doesn’t have any added fragrance, but it does have a bit of a light and pleasant scent to it. It’s kind of citrus-y.

There aren’t any potentially concerning ingredients here!

Would I re-buy it? Yes.

Salts of the Earth Body Scrub

This body scrub has a luxurious feel to it that’s really nice.

It’s definitely on the softer side for a body scrub. The exfoliating salts dissolve with water as you use it, so it actually turns from a scrub into more of an oil as you rub it into your skin. So it definitely won’t be too harsh on your skin. If anything, it won’t be exfoliating enough if you’re expecting something similar to a coffee scrub, or like that Apricot Face Scrub my fellow millennials and I used to use all the time! (But, if you wanted more exfoliating power, you could use it on dry skin first and then add water.)

It definitely leaves my skin feeling softer after I use it. The oil it leaves afterward can even serve as a replacement for after-shower lotion.

It does have a slight smell to it, which is kind of hard to describe. It doesn’t smell bad at all, but it’s not like “oh my gosh, this smells so good” either. The “Of the Earth” in the name seems fitting; it just smells a little like earth and sea.

There are no concerning ingredients in this one (unless you have a sensitivity to linalool).

Would I re-buy it? Hmmm, yes, but probably only as a treat. It’s not something I would add to my everyday skincare routine.

Body Polish

This one has the signature scent that includes “natural fragrance” as well, so be aware of that if you want to try it.

Even though they are similar products, I like this one better than the scrub (above). A few reasons:

• I like the texture better. It’s soft but exfoliating at the same time, and it’s got a kind of jelly texture that I just like.
• It uses both physical and chemical exfoliants (whereas the scrub is only physical). I like this because I use it on my armpits a lot. It’s got AHAs, which help with cell turnover and de-stinking! So it actually kind of does triple duty: exfoliation, cleansing, and moisturizing.

Would I re-buy it? Yes, I personally would buy this one over the scrub. I like the texture better and I think it’s more effective for actually cleaning my skin.

Atmosphere Protection^® Cream

This is a lightweight face moisturizer that’s meant to be worn during the day. In fact, they advertise it as having been “clinically shown to instantly create a barrier against environmental pollutants,” which I think is kind of cool. The protection supposedly comes from elfdock, which is a plant in the sunflower family.

I definitely like the feel of this moisturizer—it is fast-absorbing and lightweight enough to put on in the morning, but still leaves my skin feeling thoroughly moisturized.

It doesn’t have any added fragrance, but it has a light smell. It’s floral-y (it has rose and geranium). It does remind me of my grandma, but not in a bad way! 😆

This does contain honeysuckle extract, which some folks choose to avoid for fear of potential endocrine-disrupting capabilities. (Without getting too into it here, I personally have mixed thoughts on this. The concern is that honeysuckle contains parahydroxybenzoic acid, which is chemically similar to parabens. While I think this is a very legitimate concern that needs to be studied more thoroughly, the current evidence we have is contradictory.)

Would I re-buy it? Yes, it’s a great everyday moisturizer. I like to have something on hand that I can use morning or night.

Hyaluronic Sea Serum

In my opinion, this serum is the product that gives off the strongest “sea” vibes. It has a gel texture to it that reminds me a little bit of seaweed, and it smells kind of like it too. (It’s fragrance-free, so the scent it just from the ingredients. It doesn’t smell bad—just kind of earthy. But I could see how some people might not like it.)

In addition to hyaluronic acid, which helps to hydrate skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, the formulation also includes japanese miru seaweed and betaine or hydration, and volcanic marine ferment for smoothing fine lines.

I do like the way this feels on my skin. Like most serums of this kind, I wear it underneath my moisturizer. It’s lightweight enough that you can wear it morning or night.

Would I re-buy it? Yes.

Undaria Algae Body Butter

This might be my favorite OSEA product. It saved my skin in last winter’s dryness.

It is luscious and super moisturizing, but it also soaks in really fast. (So you can put it on before getting dressed without having to worry about feeling greasy.)

This is one of the products that contains undisclosed “natural fragrance,” which is annoying. I think consumers deserve to know what’s in the products they buy and I don’t like it when brands hide ingredients. But as I said before, it’s all-natural, so it’s not as concerning.

If you have any specific sensitivities to natural fragrances, definitely reach out to them and ask. In my experience, their customer service has always been helpful.

That being said… I am pretty sensitive to strong fragrances and I actually love the scent of this body butter. It’s pleasant, but light enough that it doesn’t bother me. Honestly, it’s nice to be able to enjoy a scented product!

Would I re-buy it? Despite the fact that I realllyyyy wish they would fully disclose their fragrance ingredients, I would make an exception and re-buy this body butter. That’s how much I like it!

Undaria Algae Body Oil

I like to put this on after the shower. Even though it is an oil (so there’s naturally a certain amount of grease involved), it’s overall pretty lightweight. It doesn’t feel super greasy and it absorbs relatively quickly.

Like a lot of the other products, it uses ingredients that are meant to help skin appear firmer and smoother. The undaria seaweed is meant to replenishes your skin’s moisture barrier, and white lupin flower helps to improve your skin’s elasticity.

This is another one that does contain undisclosed fragrance. As I said with the body butter, all of their fragrance ingredients are natural and they don’t use any synthetics. But I still with they would list them all out!

It does smell really good though. 😅 It’s kind of hard to describe, but to me it’s their ‘signature’ OSEA smell. They say it as notes of grapefruit, lime, cypress, mango, and mandarin.

Would I re-buy it? Maybe. But I’d probably buy the body butter first.

Undaria Algae^™ Body Lotion

This lotion is very similar to the body butter and body oil, but in a much lighter form. It’s not a thick lotion; it’s actually a bit watery. So out of the three of them, this one is the best for putting on in the morning or just when you don’t want to feel greasy at all.

The scent is the same as the body butter and body oil as well, although it seems like it’s not quite as strong as the other two. (And like the others, it does contain undisclosed ‘natural fragrance.’)

Dream Collection (Dream Bio-Retinol Body Serum, Night Serum, and Night Cream)

I recently quit melatonin cold turkey. (I’d just been taking it too frequently for too long.)

Which meant that if I wanted to be able to fall asleep before 3am, I needed to start actually doing all of the things I know I’m supposed to do to help my circadian rhythm, but am not great at being consistent with…

You know the things: Go outside in the morning. Stop caffeine by noon. Wear my orange glasses in the evenings. Stop looking at screens at a reasonable hour. Drink my (plastic-free) sleepy time tea.

And just by coincidence, OSEA sent me their brand new Dream Collection to try at the exact same time I was upping my pre-sleep routine.

And I’m so glad they did because it has been a really nice little addition to my nighttime rituals.

Basically, they launched three new products: Dream Bio-Retinol Body Serum, Dream Night Serum, and Dream Night Cream.

I really like all three of them. They all contain lavender, which we all know helps with relaxation. The Body Serum also has magnesium, which further helps promote restfulness. (One of my friends swears by magnesium lotion for sleep.)

Plus, all three products also have other ingredients that help with overall skin health and anti-aging like bioretinol, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, king of bitters and more.

The Body Serum seriously makes my skin feel so soft. And unlike the Hyaluronic Body Serum (mentioned above), this one does not contain “Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer.” So if I were going to buy a body serum from OSEA, I would buy this Dream one instead.

All three of these ingredients do contain “natural fragrance” and the Dream Night Serum contains phenoxyethanol.

Would I re-buy them? Yeah, I think I would! I like the way the products make my skin feel and I appreciate the pro-sleep and pro-aging ingredients. 🪻

Travel Set

I love these minis. They are also packaged in glass (except for the lids and the body scrub jar), which I appreciate because I feel like so much travel stuff is all-plastic.

The Cleanser and the Atmosphere Protection Cream are essential for traveling. And at 1 oz or less, they’re all TSA compliant.

Would I re-buy it? I’m not going to re-buy the set, but I am definitely keeping the mini bottles and I’m just going to refill them from the larger bottles so I can keep using them for travel. (I already have refilled them a couple of times, actually!)

Body Wash

Here’s another one that includes OSEA’s signature “natural fragrance” scent. So again: if you want to avoid all undisclosed fragrance, then you’ll want to skip this one.

I would rate the “suds-y-ness” as moderate. It’s got some bubble to it, but it’s nothing crazy.

My husband’s review is: “Smells good, needs more foam.” As expected. 😆 He loves his soap to foam!

It does come in a plastic bottle, which is kind of annoying. (But I also get why brands do this with shower products… They don’t want to be liable for broken glass. Maybe they can make a refillable aluminum option for the future!)

It also contains phenoxyethanol, if that’s something you try to avoid.

Would I re-buy it? Not likely. I would probably just go with my Plaine Products refillable body wash instead. That one smells really good too, it’s lower plastic, and it’s a little more sudsy as well (which my husband really cares about!)

That being said, I do still think this body wash is worth a try, especially if you’re a big fan of OSEA’s signature scent.

Is OSEA Worth It?

I’ll be honest: I think there’s a reason OSEA has become so popular. Their products are luxurious but still affordable and relatively easy to find in stores. They are formulated for effectiveness and feel great on my skin. And of course, their ingredients are mostly all-natural and clean.

So yes, I do think OSEA is worth a try! If you don’t want to spend a TON of money but want to try multiple products, I’d recommend grabbing one of their Bestsellers Minis Sets.

I still want to try more of their products. Specifically, the Vagus Nerve Trio is at the top of my list! I will add more products to this review as I try them.

And don’t forget: If you decide to give OSEA a try, use the code THEFILTERY10 to get a 10% discount on your purchase.

🍋 Join Thousands of Subscribers Reducing Toxic Chemicals

If you found this guide helpful, sign up for my (free) weekly newsletter. You’ll get product picks, the latest news about toxic chemicals, and other exclusive content I don’t share anywhere else.

Sign up

We won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.