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Just Kelp Yourself

If you want cosmetics that reduce , combat acne, moisturize skin, improve skin elasticity, prevent oxidant damage, and so much more, just kelp yourself.

Sorry. Puns are hard to resist when talking about the growing wave of "marine" cosmetics-products containing extracts of seaweed, sea mud, and other things you'd probably consider icky at the shore.

"Nature's beauty secret!" puns an advertisement for SeaAllure, a new anti-wrinkle face patch made by Bio Med Sciences. It contains a sugar isolated from giant bladder kelp.

Seaweeds-marcroalgae, to be technical-are rich in sugars, proteins, vitamins, iodine, antioxidants, amino acids, and other biologically active compounds. But experts say that doesn't necessarily mean the claims made for marine cosmetics are based on solid scientific evidence.

"Almost all cosmetics ... are , and probably don't do a lot for you except make you feel good," said Ara DerMarderosian, a professor and expert on bioactive natural products at Philadelphia's University of the Science."The sea-weed angle is just another novelty."

John Whille, a molecular biologist who has a cosmetic and pharmaceutical consulting firm said," There is some science behind it, but not much. Not to discredit anything, but most of this is hype."

A dramatic upturn

Underwater plants are not entirely new in the beauty business. Seaweed wraps and "detoxifying" baths are staples of spas. But these days, there seems to be a of seaweed-spiked beauty potions. The Body Shop has a seaweed line that includes a toner, exfoliator, wash and day cream. Nivea for Men has an Oil Control Face Wash with extract of giant bladder kelp.

Marinova, an Australian biotech company that supplies seaweed blends and extracts to pharmaceutical and health-food companies, says inquiries from cosmetic firms have increased tenfold over the last year.

"Twelve months ago, this market was really in its infancy,"said Nick Falk, Marinova's business development director."There has been a upturn in interest from cosmetic clients."

Vocabulary Focus

oxidant(n)  ---氧化剂a substance that adds oxygen to other substances

antioxidant(n) --- 抗氧化物 a substance which slow the rate at which something ages or decays

topical(adj) ---(产品)用于外部的 describing a product which is used on the outside of the body

gout(n) ---痛风 a painful disease which makes the joints, especially the feet, knees and hands, swell

Specialized terms

pun(n) --- an amusing use of a word or phrase which has several meanings or which sounds like another word

icky(adj)  ---unpleasant，especially to look at

hype(n)  ---something that is continually advertised and promoted in order to attract everyone's interest

staoke(n)  ---a basic or main element

infancy(n) ---the early stage of growth or development of something

back up(phr v)  ---to prove something is true

flora(n) --- all the plants of a particular place