By Hilary Metcalfe
Living With Skin Inflammation
I’ve lived through inflammation at every stage of life.
As a teenager, it was breakouts that left me red and sore. In my 20s and 30s, my skin became reactive and sensitive, flaring with every hormonal swing. Postpartum, I battled eczema and patches of raw, irritated skin that no moisturiser seemed to calm. And now, as I edge closer to perimenopause, I’ve felt the creeping return of redness and pigmentation.
Through all of it, I learned the same frustrating truth: inflammation wears many faces. Acne, eczema, hyperpigmentation, fine lines that deepen too quickly, they’re all connected by the same root cause. Yet most products I tried either masked the problem for a day or made it worse with harsh actives.
That’s why I developed alongside dermatologists and OBGYNs an Active Nutrient Serum: a formula designed specifically for hormonal, inflamed skin. And at the centre of it is one ingredient I believe represents the future of calming skincare: fermented seaweed.
Why Inflammation Matters More Than Age
For decades, skincare was sold as “anti-ageing.” But what science now shows is that inflammation is the real driver behind visible skin decline. UV, pollution, stress, and hormonal changes all switch on inflammatory pathways, flooding the skin with cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α) and reactive oxygen species (ROS).
The result is a cascade:
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Collagen breakdown through activation of MMPs (enzymes that chew through your skin’s scaffolding).
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Barrier disruption that leaves skin dry, thin, and prone to sensitivity.
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Pigmentation and dark spots triggered by inflammatory messengers.
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Breakouts and flares as microbial balance shifts under stress.
Researchers call this phenomenon inflammaeging, the idea that low-grade, chronic inflammation accelerates every visible marker of ageing (Fisher et al., 2002). For hormonal skin, this is compounded by cycle changes, postpartum crashes, and perimenopausal hormone dips.
Seaweed: Built to Survive Stress
Seaweed is a masterclass in resilience. Living in tidal zones, it is bombarded with UV rays, oxidative stress, and salt exposure daily. To survive, it produces a unique arsenal of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds:
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Fucoidans: sulphated polysaccharides that suppress inflammation and protect against collagen degradation.
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Phlorotannins: polyphenols with strong ROS-scavenging activity, shown to inhibit inflammatory enzymes.
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Fucoxanthin: a carotenoid with documented anti-inflammatory and anti-pigment effects.
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Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs): natural UV filters that absorb damaging rays.
When fermented with Lactobacillus, these compounds become even more bioavailable. Clinical studies show fermentation enhances antioxidant activity by up to 50%, while also producing prebiotic sugars that feed beneficial skin microbes (Kim et al., 2018).
This dual action - calming inflammation while supporting the microbiome - is what makes fermented seaweed such a breakthrough.
How It Works for Hormonal Skin
Every stage of hormonal change brings its own version of inflammation. Fermented seaweed addresses them on multiple fronts:
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Acne and breakouts → by reducing oxidative stress and restoring microbial balance, it calms the redness and swelling that make hormonal acne so painful.
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Postpartum sensitivity → its prebiotic sugars strengthen barrier function, reducing transepidermal water loss and reactivity.
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Perimenopausal redness & pigmentation → fucoxanthin and phlorotannins interrupt the pathways that lead to dark spots and collagen loss.
This is why I chose to anchor the Active Nutrient Serum in marine ferments. For me, it wasn’t about chasing a trend, it was about solving a problem I’d lived with for years.
The Active Nutrient Serum: Anti-Inflammatory by Design
Fermented seaweed alone is powerful, but the serum works because of its ecosystem of ingredients:
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Marine ferments (bladderwrack, kelp, Laminaria, Lactobacillus ferment) → anti-inflammatory peptides, polysaccharides, and prebiotic sugars.
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Natural hyaluronic acid → hydrates deeply, plumping and cushioning fragile skin.
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Adaptogens (pine bark extract, calendula, aloe vera) → proven to reduce oxidative stress, redness, and pigmentation.
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Rosehip oil → omega-rich repair, fading post-inflammatory marks.
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Botanical oils and butters → restore lipids for long-term barrier resilience.
In clinical parallels, kelp ferment matched hydrocortisone in calming redness within two weeks (Practical Dermatology, 2021), while pine bark extract reduced pigmentation by 15–20% in 12 weeks (Maritim et al., 2003).
This isn’t a serum designed to “brighten” or “glow” for a day. It’s a strategy to interrupt the inflammation cycle at every stage of hormonal life.
Building Skin That Can Calm Itself
Inflammation has been the red thread through every stage of my skin story. It is the unifying cause behind so many struggles women face: acne, sensitivity, pigmentation, premature ageing.
Fermented seaweed is the ingredient I believe changes the conversation. It is stable, bioavailable, and works in multiple ways: calming cytokines, neutralising oxidative stress, and supporting the microbes that defend our skin.
That’s why the Active Nutrient Serum exists: to give women with hormonal, inflamed skin a formula that doesn’t just soothe the surface but rebuilds resilience from within.
ABOUT HILARY
Hilary is the Co-Founder of the SABI, a Holistic Nutritionist, natural, whole foods Chef, product developer and advocate for women getting to know their bodies, cycles and selves better. Born in Los Angeles, California and raised in Baja California, Mexico, she now lives in Los Cabos with her partner Kees, a curly-tailed rescue dog from Curacao, Flint and her rainbow babies Paloma and Bea.
HORMONAL & PROUD
Created as a brand to help women navigate the toughest moments in pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum — and practically every stage of life, the SABI aims to change the narrative around our hormones from one of taboo, embarrassment and loneliness, to awareness and even pride. Much more than a wellness brand, SABI offers a carefully crafted line of products to carry you through your hormonal journey; a set of rituals, supportive tools, and ancient herbal remedies that have been tested time and again by women and now, backed by medicine. SABI is a blend of science and nature conceived by women who have experienced the joys and deep implications of bringing a child into the world, the pains of a heavy and difficult period, miscarriage and difficulty conceiving
Here is an invitation to get to know your body and its cycles better and to really understand what is going on inside. Learn to use your hormonal cycle to your advantage no matter your stage of life, and know that you can always support and balance your hormone levels. Look for the right sources of information, know that there is help, and know that you’re supported.
DISCLAIMER
The SABI blog and articles are not meant to instruct or advise on medical or health conditions, but to inform. The information and opinions presented here do not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals for your unique situation.
References
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Fisher, G. J., et al. (2002). Mechanisms of photoaging and chronological skin aging. Arch Dermatol.
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Kim, S. K., et al. (2018). Antioxidant activities of marine algae and fermented derivatives. Mar Drugs.
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Fitton, J. H., et al. (2015). Marine bioactives in functional skincare. J Appl Phycol.
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Maritim, A. C., et al. (2003). Antioxidant properties of pine bark extract. Toxicology.
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Practical Dermatology. (2021). Looking to the sea: Kelp-based formula shows anti-aging effects and more.
