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Supplier Spotlight: Macro Oceans
From Alaska’s Waters to Your Skin:
The Macro Oceans Story
Seaweed with Superpowers:
Inside Macro Oceans
At Fat and the Moon, we’re obsessed with knowing exactly where our ingredients come from. When we say we use the best—we mean it. Which is why we couldn’t wait to pull back the curtain on one of our most innovative and inspiring ingredient partners: Macro Oceans. They’re the masterminds behind Big Kelp Hydration™, a sustainably sourced, clinically tested kelp extract that’s changing the way we think about skincare. But their story starts far from the lab—in the icy, pristine waters of Alaska.
Photo Credit: Alaska Ocean Farms
Photo Credit: Macro Oceans
Harvesting Kelp:
A Regenerative Story from Alaska
Macro Oceans works with pioneering fishermen and Native communities in Alaska who practice regenerative kelp farming. This isn’t wild harvesting—it’s a carefully managed process that actually improves ocean health.
Photo Credit: Alaska Ocean Farms
Photo Credit: Alaska Ocean Farms
From there, it’s shipped directly to Sacramento for processing—100% traceable back to the farmer who grew it. The name of the farmer is even on every pack Macro Oceans sells.
Photo Credit: Seagrove Kelp
Each farm undergoes a rigorous permitting process with the State of Alaska and the Army Corps of Engineers to ensure no harm to marine life, waterways, or local ecosystems. Farmers monitor growth so kelp is harvested at peak bioactivity, then drop it at the dock where it begins its journey south.
Photo Credit: Seagrove Kelp
Our Visit to Macro Oceans’ Facility
When we visited Macro Oceans’ manufacturing HQ in Sacramento, we expected to see beakers, white coats, maybe a microscope or two. We did not expect to walk into what felt like an innovative seaweed think tank.
The space buzzed with quiet precision—giant stainless steel vessels humming, small teams monitoring extraction outputs and data screens, and the scent of the ocean somehow wafting in without a single grain of sand. The founder walked us through each stage of the process, from the moment the kelp arrives fresh from Alaska to the final concentrated ingredient we use in our products.
And then came the French press moment. As they described it, their extraction process is like brewing the perfect cup—only instead of coffee, it’s regeneratively farmed kelp. The result? Pure, potent, bioactive compounds preserved at their peak.
The pulp is dehydrated and used by other companies to make innovative bio products. More on that below!
The Science Behind Big Kelp Hydration™
Unlike “mystery mix” extracts on the market, Big Kelp Hydration is made from a single species of regenerative Alaska kelp. Macro Oceans isolates two powerhouse polysaccharides—fucoidan and laminarin—using a gentle, low-temp, aqueous extraction method that preserves their full potency.
Photo Credit: Macro Oceans
It’s so gentle that at 3% concentration, it’s been shown to remove irritation from aggressive AHA/BHA formulas. And it’s not just for skincare—this extract performs in haircare, too.
Photo Credit: Macro Oceans
Here’s what that means for your skin:
- +80% boost in hydration within 5 minutes
- +26% improvement in skin barrier strength
- Skin that feels smoother, softer, and more luminous
Zero Waste:
Nothing Goes to Waste, Everything Goes to Good Use
Macro Oceans isn’t just making premium skincare ingredients—they’re also making sure no part of the kelp is wasted.
After extracting the polysaccharides for Big Kelp Hydration, the remaining pulp is sold to other businesses to be turned into high-performance biomaterials.
That means every kelp blade has a second life, keeping the process fully circular.
Our Favorite:
Kelp Pots by OceanMade: plantable seed-starters made from seaweed and recycled organic fibers.
Kelp Pots are designed to make gardening easier, greener, and more rewarding. Crafted from sustainably harvested seaweed and recycled natural fibers, these biodegradable seed-starters enrich the soil, reduce transplant shock, and naturally decompose—leaving nothing behind but healthy plants and thriving gardens.
Photo Credit: OceanMade
Photo Credit: OceanMade
Learn More about Kelp PotsQ&A with Matthew Perkins, Founder of Macro Oceans
What makes this kelp extract unique compared to others on the market?
“Extracts” are often mystery mixes, with low concentrations of bioactive compounds. Often, they are made by taking a small part of the overall plant, throwing away the rest. Moreover, extracts can be made from multiple species, sourced from different geographies, and processed in ways that can be rough on the plant and the planet.
Big Kelp Hydration is different. We only use seaweed from regenerative farms in pristine Alaskawaters, and we can trace every batch right back to the farmer who grew it. We isolate the polysaccharides gently and efficiently, creating the 50% concentrated bioactive called Big Kelp Hydration — so the star polysaccharides (fucoidan and laminarin) stay intact and potent. Then we make sure nothing goes to waste, upcycling the rest into other useful biomaterials. It’s high performance, fully traceable, and part of a bigger zero-waste story.
Photo Credit: Macro Oceans
Was there a cool "aha!" moment in the creation or testing of Big Kelp Hydration? (the ingredient we use specifically)
When building something for the first time, there are so many a-ha moments! But two moments in particular stand out: first, when we received the results of our Big Kelp Hydration clinical trials we were blown away. We knew seaweed was powerful, but we were still quite surprised to see just how good it is for skin hydration - on par with bioactives like hyaluronic acid!
The second a-ha moment was when we figured out we could scale up our zero-waste process. It’s easy to do things in the lab, at a small scale. But when we proved it out at a commercial scale you realize that you can have an impact that’s as big as your imagination - that was a pretty neat Moment!
What specific benefits does this kelp deliver (topically or internally)?
Unlike many extracts, Big Kelp Hydration is backed by in-vivo clinical studies. It is proven to deliver hydration, skin barrier promotion, and skin luminosity! On skin, Big Kelp Hydration works hard in a few different ways. It gives an immediate boost of hydration (our clinicals show 80% within the first 5 minutes following application). It helps strengthen the skin barrier (26% improvement within the first 5 minutes following application) and it leaves skin looking smoother and more luminous.
In addition, there’s lots of peer reviewed PhD studies pointing at fucoidan and laminarian skin soothing potential. While we don’t have the clinical data (yet!) to substantiate this for Big Kelp Hydration, we have confirmed customer feedback that Big Kelp Hydration (at 3% w/w) has removed irritation when used in an otherwise aggressive and irritating AHA and BHA 15 minute leave on/rinse off formulation.
What’s the extraction method, and is it different from traditional techniques?
To make Big Kelp Hydration, Macro Oceans uses an aqueous extraction method with mild temperatures. Unlike other extraction methods, we don’t use any harsh chemicals. Our gentle process allows us to carefully separate and isolate fucoidan and laminarin - two unique marine polysaccharides. These bioactive compounds are isolated and preserved in pristine condition, so that Big Kelp Hydration delivers peak bioactive performance in skincare and haircare applications.
Unlike other extraction techniques, our process is zero waste. What is left over after we extract the polysaccharides is upcycled into other high performance biomaterials including cellulose and Alginate.
How do you ensure the kelp is farmed/harvested and processed sustainably?
Since 2021, we have been working closely with pioneering fishermen and Native Communities in Alaska. All regenerative kelp farms go through a rigorous permitting process with the State of Alaska and the Army Corp of Engineers. This involves evaluating the farm’s potential impact on maritime traffic, recreational water use, wildlife and the local ecosystem.
Throughout the growing season we monitor progress so that we’re harvesting the kelp at peak bioactivity. The farmers drop the kelp off at the dock, at which point, we stabilize it and ship it to Sacramento for zero-waste processing.
We guarantee that all our products are 100% traceable back to the farm where it was grown; the name of the farmer is on every pack we sell. Sustainability is not just a value we aspire to, but something we try to actively practice at every step in our process.
What do you look for in a brand partnership?
We love partnering with innovators and creators who are both passionate about making products that delight consumers but who are also equally passionate about sustainability. This can mean not only making clean label products, but also considering packaging options and low-impact supply chains.
What is the most exciting or innovative thing you want people to know about working withor using seaweed and kelp?
When you buy a product with Big Kelp Hydration in it, not only do you get an incredible and fully natural experience which will make your skin feel amazing, but you’re also making a positive impact in the world - providing new economic opportunities for fishermen and Native Communities and helping us build the future - a regenerative supply chain.
What is the most frustrating thing about working with seaweed and kelp (or is there anything that holds back future innovation?)
The most frustrating thing about working with seaweed is that there are so many opportunities tomake innovative products and not enough time or money to pursue them all! Luckily there are many other innovators out there making packaging solutions, textiles from seaweed and even next generation batteries! We love seeing what everyone is building.
Why We’re Proud to Partner with Macro Oceans
For us, working with Macro Oceans means more than sourcing an ingredient. It means supporting:
- Regenerative farming practices that restore ocean ecosystems
- Economic opportunities for Alaskan fishing communities
- Cutting-edge science that delivers visible results in your skincare
- A truly zero-waste supply chain
So the next time you see Saccharina Latissima on one of our labels, know that it’s not just marketing fluff—it’s the story of people, place, and planet working together in harmony.
Photo Credit: Macro Oceans
