Gratitude, Growth, and the Power of the Sea

Over the past year, I’ve been on one of the most challenging, and meaningful journeys of my career. 

After years of building Better Basics, a business that believed in and was on a mission to tackle our single-use plastic problem, I realized I needed to pivot. While our mission was there, our ability to make your lives easier, and better, didn't stack up. I took time to stop and listen to what people truly wanted, and I heard that a connection back to nature, health and a moment for self care would fill their days with joy and add value.

So, I started a great pivot. Starting with reconnecting to my purpose: creating high performing products that improve your health, and connect you back to nature.

The Discovery

Through that process, I’ve been had the incredible opportunity to meet some people who are transforming the world of ocean science. Scientists, seaweed farmers, and biochemists who have opened my eyes to the power and potential of sea algae. 

This ocean organism is one of our most powerful yet untapped natural resources. It grows in a place that’s near and dear to me: the wild, nutrient-rich waters of the Pacific Northwest. And its potential to regenerate our environment, rebuild ocean health, and fuel our bodies with deeply nutritious minerals and vitamins is immense.

Sea algae are sustainable to harvest, feel incredible on the skin, and remain a largely untapped resource here in North America.

This discovery led to the reinvention of my business: Maris Dae, an ocean-powered wellness company.

The Power of Seaweed

Our cold, nutrient-rich waters of British Columbia and rich in deep sea minerals and home to thousands of sea algae, some of which are only native to BC (our Bull kelp). Farmers are transforming the marine eco-system by shifting from fishing to seaweed farming, and practicing regenerative seaweed farming (they plant some farms to replenish the ocean, as much as they plan some to harvest). These ocean crops don’t need freshwater or fertilizer. They capture carbon, generate oxygen, and provide habitat for countless species.

This movement is also revitalizing local communities. Many farms in BC are now Indigenous-led, providing stable, sustainable income in regions where traditional fisheries have suffered from overfishing and the plight of sea lice from fish farms.

I have met with biochemists who have been researching the benefits of these sea algae for skincare, human health, as well as agritech and even bioplastics. Research from kelp farms on Vancouver Island to biorefineries in the UK and California shows how seaweed farming could become one of our planet’s most regenerative industries.

• In BC, kelp farmers are restoring marine biodiversity and buffering ocean acidification, helping fish and marine life return to healthy ecosystems.

• In the UK, fucoidan extracts from brown algae have been clinically shown to support gut microbiome diversity and enhance skin hydration and barrier repair.

• And in California, seaweed-derived actives are outperforming synthetic skincare ingredients, offering 80% better hydration in clinical trials.

Healing Inside and Out

The magic lies in polysaccharides: long-chain natural sugars found in sea algae. These compounds help hydrate and protect skin, reduce inflammation, and feed beneficial gut bacteria. They’re antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and prebiotics — nature’s quiet multitaskers.

What excites me most is that these benefits don’t just stop at our bodies. Seaweed farms themselves act as carbon sinks, pulling CO₂ out of the atmosphere while healing our oceans. It’s the rare case where what’s good for us is also good for the planet.

Gratitude for the Process

This journey hasn’t been linear or easy. There have been moments of doubt, disappointment, and failed rounds of innovation, but also incredible growth. I've learned to trust my passion for natural health, and to seek out scientists who can help me change the industry.

What I’m most grateful for is that, through all of this, I’ve stayed connected to nature, which grounds me; to people, who inspire me; and to my purpose, which has never been clearer: to connect people to their healthiest selves and to the planet, and to build products that honor the world we live in.

So yes, this journey started as a business pivot. But it’s become something much more profound: a reminder that nature is both our greatest teacher and our greatest mirror.

And if we take care of it, it will always take care of us.