My Little Sea Story

My respect for the ocean has been my teacher. Its richness of minerals, which are derived especially from seaweed, provide many healing benefits to our skin and body. Luminessence is an exquisite natural skin care line that captivates your senses with pure essential oils, seaweeds, hydrosols, and botanical extracts. Thirty-eight years in the health and beauty industries, and the story below, inspired my creation of Sea Essence. This is the backbone of the Luminessence line and body care Luminess products, and my seacret ingredient.


With my Mum being a Brit, and you know how the English love their gardens, we grew up with flowers and flower beds and rock walls, a full size commercial greenhouse... organic botanicals that Mom sold through a little mail order catalog, a large gold fish pond, the best tasting fresh organic veggies from her garden... Dad hybridized original day lilies when each of us 5 kids were born... all very unusual for Atlanta in the 50s and 60s, long before "natural" was popular.

I was around 11 or 12 when Mom cut her right hand in the center of the palm, close to the wrist. Having been a nurse in England, she promptly took care of it with first aid in the kitchen. That was not enough. A trip to the doctor diagnosed the hand was infected and treated her. Evidently, that was not enough either. The infection continued to get worse. With red streaks now going up her arm, Mom went back to the doctor. I remember packing off to Girl Scout camp for two weeks with the words "septicemia... possible amputation... blood poisoning... systemic" running through my head. Not knowing that when she picked me up, if she would have both hands or not.

Mom did, but she was no better. So she packed up her 5 "beautiful brats" and we headed for Florida for a camping trip. She knew exactly what would heal her hand. As soon as we set up camp, Mom headed for the beach and sat down in one of those very low deck chairs with her arm dangling in the water. While we kids romped on the beach, Mom soaked. While we built sand castles, Mom soaked. While we explored the land, Mom soaked. After fixing meals, Mom soaked. After tucking us into our sleeping bags at night, Mom soaked. This continued for several days. Then we broke camp and drove back home. The red streaks were gone and Mom's hand was healed, with no surprise to her. The doctors were totally amazed.

In retrospect, Mom was probably meditating and using her mind to help heal her body as well... she was a strong lady and a great inspiration!