Canadian Cosmetic Cluster Team
Uniting Canadian Cosmetics and Bringing it to the World
 On September 23–24, 2025, the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) in Oban, Scotland, became the beating heart of a global conversation on seaweed. The two-day Beauty By The Sea symposium — hosted by the Canadian Cosmetic Cluster in collaboration with the UK Cosmetic Cluster (CCUK), SAMS Enterprise, the Pacific Seaweed Association, and the Canadian Seaweed Network — gathered 35 delegates from across Canada, the UK, and Europe to explore how marine innovation can shape the future of cosmetics, wellness, and sustainable industry.
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 We are delighted to welcome the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) as one of the valued sponsors of Beauty By The Sea 2025. Established in 2014, IBioIC has become a European centre of excellence, advancing Scotland’s leadership in industrial biotechnology. By connecting world-class researchers with innovative companies and government partners, IBioIC plays a pivotal role in bringing new biotechnology processes and products to global markets. With a network of over 380 members spanning food, feed, cosmetics, sustainable materials, green chemicals, and textiles, IBioIC is driving forward Scotland’s National Plan for Industrial Biotechnology—targeting £1.2 billion in turnover and 4,000 jobs by 2025. Beyond strategy, IBioIC offers hands-on support through collaboration, scale-up facilities, and skills development, ensuring that emerging biotech ventures can grow and thrive.
As a nation with an extensive coastline and a rich history of seaweed use, Scotland is now experiencing a renaissance in marine biotechnology. IBioIC is at the heart of this transformation, supporting seaweed valorisation, packaging innovation, and cosmetic applications through initiatives like its open-access FlexBIO bioprocessing facility near Edinburgh. This makes Scotland an attractive hub for marine biotech innovation—and IBioIC a natural partner for Beauty By The Sea. We are thrilled to have IBioIC join us in Oban, where their insights and international perspective will help strengthen collaboration between Scotland, Canada, and the global community in building a sustainable bioeconomy.  When it comes to beauty and wellness, most of us think skin, hair, maybe even fitness routines — but rarely do we think about our eyes. For Angela Jenkins, that blind spot became both personal and professional. What began with her own struggles — watery eyes, blurred vision, and the frustration of makeup not sitting quite right — grew into a bigger mission: to make eye health part of the beauty conversation. Angela is the voice behind Dry Eye Girlfriend, a platform where science meets everyday life, and where women can feel understood, empowered, and equipped to care for their eyes without giving up the things they love. In this interview, Angela shares her journey, busts a few myths, and reminds us that when your eyes feel good, you feel good. What started your dry eye journey?
My dry eye journey is both personal and professional. Personally, I began noticing the signs myself: blurry vision, watery eyes, that constant sandy feeling, and even difficulty wearing makeup the way I wanted. At first, I brushed it off, but as the symptoms grew, I realized just how disruptive dry eye can be. Professionally, working in eye health, I saw countless women experiencing the same struggles, often without even knowing it was dry eye, and when they did seek help, they were usually told to “just use drops.” What was missing was a bigger conversation about lifestyle, beauty, and nutrition. Living it myself and witnessing it every day sparked the idea for Dry Eye Girlfriend: a space where women feel understood, where science meets everyday life, and where we can take care of our eyes without giving up the things we love. What is the most misunderstood piece of information on eye care that you have read on social media? One of the biggest myths is that “clean” or “natural” automatically means safe for the eyes. In reality, some natural oils and plant extracts can actually block or damage the delicate glands that keep our tears healthy. On the flip side, preservatives have been given a very bad reputation, but what often gets lost is that preservatives play an important role in keeping products safe and stable. The issue isn’t preservatives themselves, it’s about the type, the concentration, and how the product is formulated. When social media oversimplifies this conversation into “clean is good, preservatives are bad,” women are left making choices that aren’t always best for their eye health.  Have you ever wondered how seaweed ends up in your skincare routine—or how something slimy from the sea becomes a superstar in serums, creams, and masks? Now you can dive into the answer with our brand-new course, Seaweed Biotech and Application in the Cosmetic Industry, brought to you by the Canadian Cosmetic Cluster. This course is where ocean curiosity meets cosmetic innovation, designed for both beauty professionals who want to work with marine ingredients and seaweed entrepreneurs looking to transform biomass into high-value beauty products.
This isn’t your average course. It’s a hands-on, high-impact learning journey that blends marine science with real-world cosmetic application. You’ll explore everything from extracting seaweed polysaccharides to formulating antioxidant-rich skincare, all while understanding how this magical marine material fits into circular economy models and blue biotech trends. Whether you're a formulator, a brand owner, or a seaweed farmer with big dreams, this course offers the knowledge and tools to make waves in the beauty industry.  At the cutting edge of sustainable ocean technology, MediSea Robotics is pioneering intelligent, modular robotics designed to serve the evolving needs of the blue economy. Founded by Dr. rer. nat. Joseph Ambrose Pagaran, a scientist and innovator with a passion for ocean regeneration, MediSea Robotics is more than a robotics company—it’s a vision for a smarter, more circular marine future. Through a modular design philosophy, AI-driven autonomy, and a mission rooted in the UN’s 5Ps—People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, Profit, and Partnership—MediSea is reshaping how aquaculture, seaweed farming, and environmental monitoring are approached. As a sponsor of Beauty by the Sea, MediSea will demonstrate how robotics can enable regenerative beauty—transforming raw kelp into skincare, data into insight, and sustainable harvesting into a wellness experience. In this exclusive interview, we dive into how the company is using scalable automation to create impact across industries, all while putting people and the planet first. 1. You mentioned that MediSea Robotics uses modular robotics technology aligned with the 5 Ps—People, Planet, Prosperity, Profit and Partnership. Could you explain how each of these pillars informs your product development and company culture?
Here’s how MediSea Robotics bakes the 5Ps—People, Planet, Prosperity, Profit, Partnership—into both our product decisions and our day‑to‑day culture:
  In a world craving practical climate solutions and authentic connection to nature, Get Kelp stands out as a refreshing voice—playful, purpose-driven, and deeply rooted in ocean advocacy. Founded by Rachel Huber, a seasoned marine conservationist, travel journalist, and diver, Get Kelp is more than just a platform—it’s a movement to make seaweed visible, valuable, and deeply personal. What started as a journey of curiosity became a storytelling platform dedicated to regenerative seaweed brands and the people behind them. Rachel isn’t just highlighting products—she’s weaving stories that connect consumers to the sea in accessible, non-preachy ways. Through authentic reviews, thoughtful content, and a community-driven voice, Get Kelp supports cosmetic and wellness brands using seaweed by turning marine science into everyday inspiration. Whether you’re a brand looking to share your ocean-positive values or a consumer wanting to live more sustainably, Get Kelp is your bridge between curiosity and action. It reminds us that seaweed isn’t just something clinging to your toes at the beach—it’s a vital part of climate resilience, coastal economies, and the blue beauty movement. 1. What inspired the creation of Get Kelp, and how does your platform support the marketing and education of seaweed-based brands for cosmetic and wellness brands?
Get Kelp was born from a personal journey. After 20+ years working in marine conservation, scuba diving, and travel journalism, I started seeing seaweed not just as a climate solution, but as a storytelling opportunity. It’s an entry point for people to connect with the ocean in a positive, hopeful way. The platform highlights regenerative, responsibly harvested seaweed people and products - spotlighting the brands doing great work, and translating seaweed’s benefits into content that consumers can easily understand and get excited about. We’re not overly scientific, sales-y, or preachy. Our role is to bridge curiosity with action, making seaweed less intimidating and more inviting. 2. Can you walk us through how a seaweed brand would benefit from your website? Get Kelp is designed to offer high-integrity, low-barrier visibility for brands doing good work with seaweed. Here’s how we support seaweed-based brands, even as a growing platform:
 By: Dhanesh ShelatFounder @Leads Champs Google's rollout of AI Overviews (formerly called the Search Generative Experience) has fundamentally changed how people interact with search results. Instead of clicking into websites, users are now often met with AI-generated summaries pulling answers from various sources — reducing traffic to brand-owned content. A recent study by Conductor found that major sites like WebMD, Healthline, and Wikipedia lost between 54%–76% of their traffic from Google since the launch of AI Overviews. For cosmetics brands — especially SMEs — this presents both a challenge and a moment of opportunity. With the right strategies, brands can still grow visibility, credibility, and conversions in an AI-powered search world.
 In a market saturated with adult-focused beauty products and TikTok trends, one Canadian brand is stepping up to fill a crucial gap. Nudl Skincare was born out of a mother’s love and concern—a response to watching her daughters explore skincare without safe, age-appropriate options. Nudl isn’t just another skincare line; it’s a mission-driven brand designed specifically for tweens and teens, blending clean ingredients with empowering routines that nurture both skin and self-esteem. We sat down with the Chantal Snow, the founder of Nudl to learn more about what inspired the brand, how they’re redefining skincare for young people, and what’s next as they prepare to launch their thoughtfully crafted line across Canada. From mental health to ingredient integrity, Nudl is proving that skincare can be smart, safe, and seriously fun.
 After nearly a decade working behind the scenes at beauty giants like Estée Lauder, L’Oréal Luxe, L’Occitane, and Orveon Global, Marco Tsang knew the ins and outs of corporate beauty. But what he didn’t see was himself—or the kind of skincare he needed. That realization, combined with a personal journey of skin recovery and self-discovery, led to the creation of Vintage Noon—a brand inspired by travel, nostalgia, and the emotional pulse behind truly intentional beauty.
We sat down with Marco to hear how his experiences shaped the brand, why golden-hour memories matter, and what’s next for this rising Canadian label.  As the Canadian Cosmetic Cluster gears up to bring sea-smart solutions to the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, let’s dip our toes into seven splashy facts about the Mediterranean—especially its French Riviera stretch—and dream of a bluer future powered by seaweed farms. A Semi-Closed Sparkling Basin
Covering about 2.5 million km² with a volume of roughly 3.7 million km³, the Mediterranean is nearly landlocked, linked to the Atlantic only through the Strait of Gibraltar. That narrow throat supplies some 70,000 m³/s of Atlantic water—without it, the sea level would plunge at nearly 1 m per year—and gives the basin a water “residence time” of about 100 years.[1] Salinity That Packs a Punch Evaporation outpaces freshwater inputs here, driving average surface salinity to about 38 PSU (parts per thousand)—higher than almost any other open sea. In its western depths, salinity still clocks in at 38.4 PSU, rising to 38.7 PSU in the eastern Mediterranean.[2] |
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