Straight from the land of the lobster, Marin Skincare is believed to be the first brand utilizing lobster glycoproteins in beauty.
As upcycling and zero-waste continue to grow and become important in beauty product manufacturing, we are starting to see new ingredients emerge on the market. Based in Maine (US), Marin Skincare is claiming to be the first brand to utilize an ingredient derived from lobster industry sidestream in skincare. This powerhouse ingredient addresses various skin issues from dryness to eczema and redness; and it's said to alleviate bug bites, sunburn, frostbite, poison ivy and so much more.
Glycoproteins from Crustaceans
Marin Skincare was founded and developed by two bioengineers: Co-Founders Amber Boutiette and Patrick Breeding. While in graduate school at the University of Maine for Biomedical Engineering, Boutiette and Breeding met Dr. Bob Bayer, a lobster scientist researching a glycoprotein found in lobsters that allows lobsters to fight off disease, heal wounds, and even regenerate limbs. Glycoproteins are a natural byproduct of lobster processing and an incredibly versatile personal care ingredient, helping hydrate, soother, and repair the skin barrier. Glycoproteins function as an all-in-one ingredient by stimulating fibroblast (dermal skin cell) proliferation and hyaluronic acid production, helping maintain fibroblast viability, and upregulating collagen synthesis.
Dr. Bayer discovered that in the same way the glycoprotein helps lobster regenerate limbs, it could actually help repair the human skin barrier. Boutiette then decided to patch test the glycoprotein-rich formula on her own skin. After patch-testing to make sure it was safe and non-irritating, she began using the prototype cream on her entire body, face, and eyelids. What she noticed was the dry, rough, flaky patches were clearing up; and in a month her skin had completely changed.
Lobster Lotion for Skin Soothing and Hydration
The Soothing Hydration Cream, the brand's hero product, was born from the founders' own struggles. When it came to issues like eczema, psoriasis, or overall dry, upset, damaged skin, drugstore creams didn't cut it for Boutiette and Breeding. Steroid creams burned; and nothing seemed to work, the founders told me.
Boutiette and Breeding were determined to bring natural and effective relief to anyone suffering from dry, damaged, eczema-prone skin. The Soothing Hydration Cream (4oz; $34.99) has been clinically tested in a user perception survey, with 97% of participants reporting significantly healthier skin after 4 weeks of use and 90.9% noting skin that was less itchy, flaky, red, and dry. In a 4-week 33-participant clinical study investigating of the efficacy of the glycoprotein-based Soothing Hydration Cream in mitigating signs of atopic dermatitis, 78.8% of participants reported experiencing instant relief from symptoms of eczema, 90.9% of participants reported their skin was less itchy, flaky, red and dry by week 4, and 97% of participants reported their skin looked and felt significantly healthier with 4 weeks of daily use.
Formulated steroid- and irritant-free and enriched with marine glycoproteins (INCI: Hemocyanin), the cream--known to many as the “lobster lotion”--is, according to Boutiette and Breeding, loved daily by tens of thousands across all ages and skin types and clinically proven for dry, damaged, upset patches on face, hands and body. The founders describe the product application experience this way: the rich cream soaks deeply into the skin, leaving a gentle but breathable barrier with no greasy after feel; and they emphasize that it was developed with sensitive, eczema-prone skin in mind.
Sustainably Upcycled Skincare Ingredients
To collect the lobster glycoproteins, Marin Skincare has partnered with Luke's Lobster, a Maine-based seafood venture founded in 2009 that's dedicated to traceable, sustainably sourced lobster. The glycoproteins are a natural byproduct of their food processing and, through upcycling are helping make the lobster business more sustainable.
As Boutiette and Breeding explain it, this upcycling moves both beauty and lobster fishing closer to circularity and puts dollars back into the pockets of fishermen. By bringing the super-power of lobster glycoproteins to skincare consumers, Marin is turning what once was wasted into an game-changer for dry, damaged skin.
To learn more about Marin Skincare visit marinskincare.com or find the brand on Instagram.
Looking for more cosmetics industry news & commentary?
Subscribe to the Beauty Insights newsletter today!