Ishga

Seaweed is a natural resource that grows in abundance in the pure unpolluted coastal waters of the Hebridean Islands of Scotland. It has been used for centuries for its natural healing and therapeutic properties and is known to contain a balanced combination of vitamins, minerals, trace elements, amino acids, and anti-oxidants that are considered essential for maintaining healthy and youthful skin. Seaweed as the main active ingredient in cosmetics is said to help tighten and tone the skin, stimulate blood and lymph circulation, deep clean, and increase the skin’s moisture levels and elasticity. Seaweed is increasingly becoming a popular choice in Spa and Thalassotherapy. It is now being recognised for its ability to revitalize, repair and moisturise the skin, promoting a healthy, glowing appearance. Seaweed is also reputed to help with skin conditions such as Eczema and Psoriasis. Seaweed is increasingly becoming a popular choice in Spa and Thalassotherapy and is now being recognised for its ability to revitalize, repair, and moisturise the skin promoting a healthy, glowing appearance.

The coastal waters surrounding the Outer Hebrides are recognised as being amongst the most pristine in the world, and to reflect this, they have been given the highest quality classification available by SEPA (Scottish Environmental Protection Agency). The sea is rich in vital minerals. In fact, it contains 83 elements of the periodic table. Hebridean Spa uses Hebridean seawater in the skincare range. The seawater used is collected from the surf as the waves break on one of the many beautiful island beaches.

People have always been mindful of water, as it is at the heart of all living matter. Historically, on the Hebridean Islands of Scotland, great importance was attached to locations which held water. In particular, certain natural springs were noted for different healing and therapeutic properties. These locations always emanated a sense of beauty; but people were also aware that they were special spiritual places, endowed with magical virtues which could bring health from the heart of the earth.
Ishga cosmetics use water from one such historical Hebridean healing spring in the manufacture of all the products in the skincare range. The spring used is situated in a beautiful remote location among the hills and lochs on the Hebridean Isle of Lewis. This particular spring is a lively spring with a bottom of blue clay and according to local folklore it was used down through the ages for its healing and therapeutic properties.

Sea Salt
Most table salts are highly processed and laden with anti-caking agents (some sea salts use anti-caking agents as well), and they are usually stripped of their naturally occurring trace elements. The Sea Salt used in Ishga products, on the other hand, is a pure, natural, unrefined salt which retains over sixty naturally occurring trace elements such as potassium, calcium, magnesium and zinc. All of which are essential for good health and wellbeing.
The sea salt used is hand harvested using the simplest of recipes; Sea Water, heat and time – creating pure white crunchy sea salt flakes, ideal for use in our sea salt scrub.