If the sea covers nearly seventy percent of the Earth and we ourselves consist of two-thirds water, wouldn‘t it be only logical to spend most of our lives by an ocean? It would certainly be beneficial, both physically and mentally. In fact, a British study found that the happiest and healthiest people live by the coast. For the rest of us – like myself – summer vacations are our chance for a kind of therapy that regenerates both body and soul. Nowhere else do I feel such calm as when I bite into a ripe peach in the shade of a tamarisk tree, gazing into the blue, with a sailboat or an offshore island in sight – my next destinations once I jump back into the water to rinse off the peach juice and the heat.

You don’t even need the peach – at the sea, you become content with less. Just looking is enough, though touching and diving in heightens the experience. Underwater, everything changes: the light, the sound, the space – even time itself. Everything slows down, grows quieter, more peaceful, when you observe a school of tiny fish in their element, or watch a shy crab disappear between coastal rocks, grumbling silently at the disturbance. Back on the beach, the salt dries on your skin – a gentle exfoliation in the sun, while your thoughts begin to wander. Sensations between a feeling of home and wanderlust, fascination and danger. The sea is a place that tells tales of fantastic adventures while singing a lullaby. It is millions of years old and yet constantly renews itself. I only have such thought-journeys when I gaze at the gentle swaying of the waves, ideally from a Greek island like magical Patmos, the legendary Aegean in front of me and people, food, architecture, and style just a few lazy steps away. The best signs of complete idleness and total relaxation – only topped by the meditative act of stacking pebbles at the water’s edge. Clack, clack, clack.

I follow the motto of Vicco von Bülow with his pugs: A summer without the sea is possible, but pointless. Most of us associate positive memories with the waves – because we spent childhood days on Adriatic beaches in bikinis, gelato in hand, or – like me – on the North Sea coast in a wool sweater over a swimsuit, with a swimming badge pinned on and a fish sandwich plus sandy garnish in hand, because the brisk wind there breaded everything. The first summer vacation without parents? Naturally, it led south – to the sea. Later, more sophisticated travel led to snorkeling in the Indian Ocean, followed by a road trip along the Pacific coast, or indulgent feasting on the Breton Atlantic with girlfriends, or an ambitious surf course in Essaouira, where you swallowed more seawater than mint tea – and even emotional heartbreaks were healed by the salt.

No matter the place or age, the sea always offers, well, a special “sea-worth”. An effect that the geopsychologist Willy Hellpach recognized as early as 1911: The color blue has a pleasurable, calming effect, the expansive horizontal plane soothes the eye, and the surf “can lull us into a kind of twilight state – this dozing by the sea may be counted among the ‘hypnoid’ states.”

Indeed, the sea is hypnotic when its colors shift from blue to turquoise to green, while it gurgles and swells, crashes and trickles – a natural symphony composed by the wind, which carries with it the scent of salt, algae, and a whiff of boat motor. Here, the soul calms down, the skin softens, and the lungs expand. And that’s not just a feeling – it’s a fact. “The mineral composition of seawater, human blood serum, and extracellular fluid are nearly identical. This similarity allows the body to better absorb these substances and regenerate,” explains marine biologist Dr. Inez Linke. She conducts research in Kiel at OceanBasis on marine ingredients that essentially package a seaside holiday into a jar – from algae to jellyfish mucin.

In skincare, macroalgae are especially sought after. Over 13,000 different species are known to date, full of potential and categorized into brown, green, and red algae – a “rainforest under water,” as Inez Linke calls them. For example, the brown algae kombu can grow up to 70 meters long. Its extracts moisturize, protect the skin barrier, have anti-inflammatory properties, and regulate oil production. Green algae like Caulerpa lentillifera – also known as green caviar or sea grapes – are true anti-aging pros that smooth the skin. Red algae such as Palmaria contain large amounts of vitamin B12 and amino acids and can be used as natural sun protection. But it’s not just the external effects that interest scientists – the antiviral and antitumoral properties of algae are also being researched.

Jellyfish mucin – the slime of medusas – actually began its career in medicine, as cartilage replacement in knee joints. Now, the collagen is used in skincare products. “Jellyfish are fascinating because their numbers are increasing due to warming oceans and overfishing, and they can be used in a variety of ways,” says Dr. Linke. They can filter microplastics, act as water reservoirs in agriculture, and, as a mineral-rich food, even deserve a spot on the menu. In Asia, these low-calorie, high-protein jellyfish are considered a delicacy and are served marinated as Chuka Kurage appetizers. They are said to taste like oysters...

One marine creature currently making the reverse journey from plate to skincare studio is salmon – or more precisely, its sperm. Less sensationally, this refers to DNA fragments from the fish milt called polynucleotides, which are injected under the skin – with Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Aniston reportedly among the first adopters. “This stimulates skin cells, boosts collagen and elastin production, and accelerates wound healing,” explains Viennese dermatologist Dr. Eva Wegrostek. Her clinic offers treatments for fine lines around the eyes and neck, as well as rejuvenation of the hands. The anti-inflammatory effects of the processed “sperm” can also help treat acne or rosacea.

As unusual (and a little “ewww”) as jellyfish mucin, algae extracts, and salmon sperm may sound, they’re only the frontrunners. “We’ve only discovered about 10 to 20 percent of the ocean’s active ingredients,” says Dr. Inez Linke. “It’s estimated that up to a million bioactive natural substances are still waiting to be discovered in the depths of the sea.” Marine bacteria, fungi, and undiscovered species – enriching every drop of seawater with some 350,000 microorganisms, the vast majority of which are beneficial to humans. Something to ponder this summer in the shade of a tamarisk, as the horizon shimmers and the sea lies rarely still or smooth. Endless possibilities ahead, below – and in the mind.