What is Sea water?

Water phase base

Sea water on an ingredient list means filtered and treated seawater standing in for part or all of the purified water in a formula. It carries dissolved mineral salts, and brands often name the sea it was drawn from. Because it is the base of the water phase, it sits at or near the top of the list.

Was this exact ingredient the one tested?

Sea water hasn't been tried as a skincare product on healthy skin.

What won't it do?

Claims you often see, and what is actually true.

It isn't shown to hydrate skin.
Sea water hydrates or moisturizes the skin
Minerals aren't shown to calm skin.
The minerals in sea water calm, soothe or repair skin
Deep sea water isn't a proven skincare active.
Deep sea water is a proven skincare active

Which products feature it?

29 of the 2320 products we've checked feature this as a key ingredient. Products that disclose a concentration or list it near the top of the ingredient list come first.

Showing 1 to 12.

JUNGSAEMMOOL
Essential Mool Wrapping Mask
Key: Sea Water (#1 on the ingredient list), Jojoba Seed Oil, Hyaluronic Acid
OBgE
Max Skin Mist 250ml
Key: Sea Water (#1 on the ingredient list), Lactobacillus Ferment Lysate
Official (Korean)
3 claims checked
claims, checked
Sprayable probiotics, emergency soothing mistplausible, not tested
Psst- the moment you spray, cool & moist! Large-capacity emergency soothing mistoverstated
Volume·Convenience·Effect MAXnothing specific to check
THE MEDIDOCTOR
RingTon Toner
It's made for better hydration.
Key: Sea Water (#1 on the ingredient list), Panthenol, Allantoin
2 claims, summarized
Only partly backed:
better hydration · less visible pores · a smoother skin texture
See each claim
claims, checked
After cleansing, protect the skin's golden time, and improve pore tightening and dead skin cell improvement. After cleansing, a Ring Ton full of moisture and minerals.partly backed
Moisture/Nutrition/Soothing/Pore Improvementpartly backed
Dr.Althea
Aqua Marine Jelly Mist
Key: Sea Water (#2 on the ingredient list), Sodium DNA, Hyaluronic Acid
Round Lab
1025 Dokdo Cleansing Tissue
Key: Sea Water (#5 on the ingredient list), Hyaluronic Acid
Official (Korean)
7 claims, summarized
Tests passed:
dermatologist check
See each claim
claims, checked
It is a fragrance free product with no added fragrance.backed by evidence
A fresh and moist water-type cleansing tissuepartly backed
The cleansing water soaked into the thick embossed sheet cleanly wipes away makeup and skin impurities.partly backed
Ulleungdo deep sea water and triple hyaluronic acid leave moistness on the skin even after wiping.partly backed
Unlike oil-type tissues that leave a slippery residue, you will also like how it finishes fresh with a water base.partly backed
Testing institution : Korea Institute of Dermatological Science / Test result : in a human application study on primary skin irritation evaluation, judged to belong to the low irritation product grouppartly backed
The sheet is thick and large, so even one sheet cleanly removes makeup and skin impurities. After wiping it finishes fresh yet moist, with no slipperiness or residue.overstated
Round Lab
1025 Dokdo Cleansing Water
Key: Sea Water (#6 on the ingredient list), Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Hyaluronic Acid
Brand store Official (Korean)
8 claims, summarized
Don't count on:
better hydration
See each claim
claims, checked
Gentle one-swipe weakly acidic cleansingplausible, not tested
A soothing wash for tired and irritated skinplausible, not tested
With a weakly acidic pH similar to healthy skin, it cleanly removes impurities and minimises damage to the skin's protective film, protecting the skin comfortably even after washing.overstated
It is rich in nourishing minerals beneficial to the skin such as calcium, magnesium and zinc, filling the skin with moist hydration.overstated
Moist even after washing with triple hyaluronic acidoverstated
The complicated cleansing process all at once! It reduces the hassle and helps a fast, easy, irritation-free clean wash.no supporting source found
The clean moisture of Ulleungdo deep sea water, just as it isnothing specific to check
A light and moist water texturenothing specific to check
Round Lab
1025 Dokdo Water Gel Mask
It's made for better hydration and calmer skin.
Key: Sea Water (#6 on the ingredient list), Hyaluronic Acid, Protease
Brand store Official (Korean)
32 claims, summarized
Only partly backed:
better hydration · calmer skin (amount unknown) · a smoother skin texture
Tests passed:
hypoallergenic · skin irritation
See each claim
claims, checked
Produced with soy ink on FSC-certified packaging to protect forests.backed by evidence
High-adhesion water gel moisture maskplausible, not tested
Contains the moisture of pristine Ulleungdo deep ocean water created by natureplausible, not tested
The bouncy jelly sheet, fully soaked with moisture, adheres thinly and transparently to the skin, delivering fresh moisture.plausible, not tested
Panthenol, allantoin, and betaine, which are effective in soothing the skin, help comfortably protect skin stimulated by external environments.plausible, not tested
The essence-type texture that firmly holds moisture replenishes hydration and delivers supple moisture.plausible, not tested
#SensitiveMoistureplausible, not tested
Powerful moisture effect with just one sheetpartly backed
When used once, skin moisture improvement increased by 656.85%partly backed
After one use, skin hydration at 2.5mm depth increased by 4.05%partly backed
8 types of hyaluronic acid of various sizes and 8 types of amino acids effective for moisture retention tightly fill and protect moisture, creating a non-drying moisturizing barrier.partly backed
Instant cooling and soothing effect upon contact with skinpartly backed
Immediate skin soothing (cooling) effect: 17.12% reductionpartly backed
After one use, skin dead skin improvement decreased by 22.86%partly backed
Using a cellulose sheet that naturally biodegrades 84.9% in 45 days under composting conditions, we thought about the environment too.partly backed
Completed skin low-irritation test, gentle without irritationpartly backed
Average skin reactivity is 0.00, judged as non-irritating according to the criteria.partly backed
German Derma Testpartly backed
Deeply moisturizing care with just one applicationoverstated
Drawn from the deep sea where sunlight cannot reach, it is clean and pristine, and with a mineral balance similar to the human body, even sensitive skin can use it with confidence.overstated
Rich in skin-beneficial nutritional minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and zinc, it fills the skin with moist moisture.overstated
Removes dead skin cells cleanly so moisture is fully absorbed.overstated
2021 Glowpick Hall of Fame Mask Category 1st place for 16 consecutive weeksno supporting source found
2021 First Half GLOWPICK AWARDS 1st Place Moisture Maskno supporting source found
It feels like skin's inner dryness has improved. 100%no supporting source found
It feels like skin has become moist and soft. 100%no supporting source found
It feels like moisture lasts for 24 hours. 100%no supporting source found
Containing HATCHING EX-07, the key ingredient in Dokdo Toner that creates a smooth skin base, it gently cares for sebum and aged dead skin.no supporting source found
#BouncyAdhesion #OneSheetMoisture #CoolingSoothingnothing specific to check
Experience fully packed moisture with one sheet every day!nothing specific to check
8-layer moisture effect with no room to escapenothing specific to check
The secret to the moisture bomb: high-adhesion water gel sheetnothing specific to check
Chaewun
Hyaluron Pudding Mist Ampoule
Key: Sea Water (#6 on the ingredient list), Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid
ROUND LAB
ROUND LAB 1025 DOKDO PEELING GEL
It's made for better hydration and calmer skin.
Key: Sea Water (#6 on the ingredient list), Cellulose, Hyaluronic Acid
Brand store Official (Korean)
24 claims, summarized
Only partly backed:
better hydration · a smoother skin texture (amount unknown) · calmer skin (amount unknown)
Tests passed:
skin irritation
See each claim
claims, checked
Average skin reaction was 0.00, classified as non-irritating per the criteria.backed by evidence
No relevant skin reactions were detected in the test area following a single product application.backed by evidence
2 STEP plant-derived cellulose cleanly removes softened dead skin cellsplausible, not tested
Calming care for tired and irritated skinplausible, not tested
A soft gel texture that holds moistureplausible, not tested
Moist, low-irritation water peelingpartly backed
Gentle but definite double peeling effectpartly backed
No more dry peeling, 8 types of hyaluronic acid provide moist water peeling.partly backed
Hyaluronic acid in 8 different sizes provides a moist hydration peeling effect and helps achieve a hydrating finish.partly backed
Panthenol, allantoin, and DPG, effective for calming the skin, help protect skin irritated by external environments comfortably.partly backed
The gommage gel texture filled with moisture gently adheres to the skin, aiding in low-irritation exfoliation.partly backed
Skin irritation testpartly backed
German Derma Testpartly backed
To protect forests, it is made using FSC-certified boxes and soy ink.partly backed
With the synergy of low-irritation HATCHING EX-07 and cellulose ingredients, it delivers a gentle double peeling effect and refines skin to a smooth texture.overstated
Drawn from deep where sunlight doesn't reach, it is clean and pure, and with a mineral balance similar to the human body, even sensitive skin can use it with peace of mind.overstated
1 STEP HATCHING EX-07 gently softens old dead skin cellsno supporting source found
It contains the moisture of pristine Ulleungdo deep sea water created by nature.no supporting source found
Enriched with beneficial minerals for the skin such as calcium, magnesium, and zinc, it fills the skin with moisture.no supporting source found
#MoistureFull #SmoothSoft #SkinProtectionnothing specific to check
If the absorption speed of the skincare you use every day gradually slows down, it's time for periodic exfoliation care!nothing specific to check
Regain a smooth skin base with Dokdo peeling gel!nothing specific to check
Because it's a cosmetic that touches skin directlynothing specific to check
Round Lab creates cosmetics that even sensitive skin can use with peace of mind.nothing specific to check
Round Lab
1025 DOKDO MIST
It's made for calmer skin and better hydration.
Key: Sea Water (#7 on the ingredient list), Panthenol, Hyaluronic Acid
Official (Korean)
19 claims, summarized
Only partly backed:
better hydration · calmer skin (amount unknown)
Tests passed:
skin irritation
See each claim
claims, checked
Germany Dermatest EXCELLENT grade certification.backed by evidence
Moisture-dense Soothing Mistplausible, not tested
Soothing care for tired and irritated skin.plausible, not tested
A light and fine mist spray type.plausible, not tested
As a fine mist spray type that smoothly penetrates without clumping, it provides dense moisture and cares for skin's suppleness.plausible, not tested
To protect forests, it was manufactured using soy ink on FSC-certified paperboard boxes.plausible, not tested
The clean moisture of Ulleungdo deep sea water, as is.partly backed
Low-molecular moisture charging that is small yet deep.partly backed
Low-molecular hyaluronic acid supplies deep moisture, filling it up layer by layer to keep your skin hydrated for a long time.partly backed
Certified with EXCELLENT grade in Dermatest by the strict German skin science institute, so sensitive skin can also use it with confidence.partly backed
Panthenol, allantoin, betaine, and DPG, effective for soothing skin, help comfortably protect skin irritated by external environments.partly backed
Completed domestic and international skin irritation tests, and is mild without irritation.partly backed
A mist that leaves only robust moisture with unbreakable hydration.no supporting source found
Dokdo Biome™ found in the Seodo Sea.no supporting source found
Among them, Round Lab's proprietary ingredient, formulated with microorganisms from the Seodo Sea, the cleanest and most resource-rich, fills moisture and manages skin to be moist and healthy.no supporting source found
Drawn from the deep sea where sunlight doesn't reach, it is clean and pristine, with a mineral balance similar to the human body, so sensitive skin can also use it with peace of mind.no supporting source found
Rich in beneficial nutritional minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and zinc, it fills skin with moist hydration.no supporting source found
#MoistureCharge #SoothingProtection #Mistnothing specific to check
Meet hydrated skin with Dokdo Mist!nothing specific to check
Round Lab
1025 DOKDO CLEANSING MILK
It's made for better hydration and calmer skin.
Key: Sea Water (#8 on the ingredient list), Decyl Glucoside, Hyaluronic Acid
Official (Korean)
22 claims, summarized
Only partly backed:
better hydration · calmer skin (amount unknown)
See each claim
claims, checked
Soothing cleansing for tired and irritated skinplausible, not tested
Soft and mild milk textureplausible, not tested
The soft milk texture melts away impurities without worry of irritation, and finishes moist without any oily residue.plausible, not tested
Made with soy ink on an FSC-certified paper box to protect forests.plausible, not tested
Low-irritation, worry-free cleansing milkpartly backed
Low-irritation, worry-free cleansing with plant-derived surfactants that are kind to the skinpartly backed
Decyl glucoside derived from coconut and palm kernel protects the skin, helping even sensitive skin to cleanse gently without irritation.partly backed
Not a powerful cleanser, but with gentle yet thorough cleansing power, it cleans away leftover impurities on the skin such as light makeup and sunscreen.partly backed
The pristine moisture of Ulleungdo deep sea water, exactly as ispartly backed
With triple hyaluronic acid, stay moist even after cleansingpartly backed
High, medium, and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid fills moisture layer by layer, keeping the skin moist so it doesn't dry out even after cleansing.partly backed
Moisture barrier firmly held by 5-ceramide complexpartly backed
Panthenol, allantoin, and DPG, effective for soothing skin, help comfortably protect skin irritated by external environments.partly backed
The average skin reactivity is 0.00, judged as non-irritating according to the evaluation criteria.partly backed
Mildly acidic cleansing that balances the skinno supporting source found
With a mildly acidic pH similar to healthy skin, it thoroughly removes impurities while minimizing damage to the skin barrier, protecting the skin comfortably even after cleansing.no supporting source found
Drawn from the deep sea where sunlight doesn't reach, it is clean and pristine, and with a mineral balance similar to the human body, even sensitive skin can use it with confidence.no supporting source found
Rich in beneficial nutritional minerals for the skin such as calcium, magnesium, and zinc, it fills the skin with moist moisture.no supporting source found
With the synergistic effect of 5-ceramide complex, it prevents moisture evaporation and finishes moist without any tightness.no supporting source found
#Gentle #MildlyAcidic #MoisturizingCleansingnothing specific to check
Gently cleanse with Dokdo Cleansing Milk!nothing specific to check
Removing irritation, gentle yet thorough!nothing specific to check
Round Lab
1025 Dokdo Lotion
Key: Sea Water (#8 on the ingredient list), Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Chondrus Crispus Extract
Brand store Olive Young US Amazon· Seller not confirmed Official (Korean)

Often featured alongside it

Are the claims about it backed up?

We checked each claim that features this ingredient. Open the list below to see the result for each one.

See the results by claim

Result	Claims
plausible, not tested	2 of 13
partly backed	6 of 13
overstated	1 of 13
no supporting source found	3 of 13
nothing specific to check	1 of 13

These are counts of claims, not products. One product can name the same ingredient in several claims, and we checked each one on its own.

Sources

We summarized the published studies and public records listed below, each with its DOI or PubMed number. Findings about treating medical conditions are outside what a cosmetics page covers, so we left them out.

Was this exact ingredient the one tested?

No source located applies Sea Water to healthy human skin in a cosmetic context and measures a cosmetic endpoint.

What won't it do?

It isn't shown to hydrate skin.
No study here put sea water itself on human skin and measured its water content. The one hydration result came from soaking a forearm in a bath of 5 percent Dead Sea salt, a different material used a different way.
A bath study in which one forearm was immersed for 15 minutes at a time, not a product put on and left there.
No source located tests Sea Water on human skin for a hydration endpoint.
Minerals aren't shown to calm skin.
The magnesium explanation was the authors' own suggestion, and no arm of that study left magnesium out for comparison. Mineral waters also differ in chemistry from site to site, so minerals as one category has nothing to stand on here.
Read from the bath study's own wording and from a review that keeps three mineral water sites chemically distinct.
The generic mineral efficacy story is not established by these sources.
Deep sea water isn't a proven skincare active.
The deep sea water results come from mice rather than from people, and the water tested was filtered down into a concentrate rather than water as it is drawn.
Studies that applied the concentrate to mice, and what they measured there has no counterpart in cosmetics.
Concentration by nanofiltration and reverse osmosis also means the tested material is not the water as drawn.
Sources: 2

Citations

1
Proksch E, Nissen HP, Bremgartner M, Urquhart C. Bathing in a magnesium-rich Dead Sea salt solution improves skin barrier function, enhances skin hydration, and reduces inflammation in atopic dry skin. Int J Dermatol. 2005;44(2):151-157.DOI 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2005.02079.x PMID 15689218
2
Bak JP, Kim YM, Son J, Kim CJ, Kim EH. Application of concentrated deep sea water inhibits the development of atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2012;12:108.DOI 10.1186/1472-6882-12-108 PMID 22834904

What each point on this page rests on, with full citations.