Ulvan is a sulfated polysaccharide from green seaweeds. In skincare it is mainly interesting as a multifunctional marine biopolymer with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hydrating potential. It supports the skin barrier, helps mitigate oxidative stress, and increase hyaluronic acid production in the skin.
It can make up a surprisingly large share of the seaweed’s dry mass, reported at about 8% to 29%.