Blue Lagoon Skin Care: A Brief History

The story of Blue Lagoon skin care begins 2000 meters within the earth in a tectonic realm of searing heat and immense pressure where freshwater and seawater converge—giving birth to geothermal seawater. It was this unique fluid that came forth from the volcanic aquifers discovered beneath the Svartsengi lava plain in 1972. The engineers at the Svartsengi geothermal resource park expected the silky blue water to sink through the porous lava and return to the subterranean strata where it would re-enter the renewable energy cycle. But owing to the water’s high silica content, proper drainage did not occur and a serene body of water took shape. By the late ‘70s, the humble blue expanse in the shadows of a power plant had become a source of overwhelming curiosity for residents of the Reykjanes Peninsula. From those seeking pleasure to those seeking relief from skin conditions, the lagoon was an irresistible force.

The precise individual who first stepped into the mineral-rich water is not known. But regardless of whose footsteps marked the beginning of an era, an era had begun. Because all who entered the water emerged with sensations of peace, wellbeing, and wonder. Word of the water’s healing and revitalizing abilities quickly spread, and the site—which had acquired the nickname, the Blue Lagoon—entered the pantheon of Iceland’s geothermal bathing locations. It was in 1987 that a doctor from Reykjavík—Grímur Sæmundsen—began to envision a more formalized future for the enchanting reservoir. He imagined a place of health and wellbeing galvanized by the powers of geothermal seawater—a spa where the communion of science and nature would unlock new dimensions of radiance and rejuvenation. In 1992, Sæmundsen formed Blue Lagoon Limited with the intention of turning his dream into a reality. The company soon opened an R&D center and the lagoon’s remarkable powers became the focus of intense scientific research. With multiple studies confirming the water’s efficacy, a clinic for the treatment of psoriasis was opened. Under medical supervision, visitors would immerse themselves in the mineral-rich warmth, experiencing its transformative abilities and inheriting the storied legacy of the first psoriasis patient to derive comfort from geothermal seawater.

In 1995, Blue Lagoon skin care was launched. Conceived by scientist Ása Brynjólfsdóttir, the line was created to harness the extraordinary abilities of geothermal seawater’s constituent properties: silica, algae, and minerals. Forming the fulcrum of Blue Lagoon skin care, these elements are renowned for their purity and dynamism. Thoroughly investigated and meticulously documented by scientists from around the world, the bioactive treasures of geothermal seawater are an astonishing force of nature. Silica brings deep-cleansing radiance and strengthens the skin’s barrier function. Blue Lagoon algae catalyzes collagen production and diminishes collagen degradation. And Blue Lagoon minerals are renowned for their hydrating and revitalizing abilities. The flagship items of Blue Lagoon skin care—Silica Mud Mask and Bath Salt—were created for the treatment of psoriasis. Over time, however, the line expanded beyond treatment products, eventually encompassing the full spectrum of skin concerns: cleansing, exfoliation, hydration, moisturization, rejuvenation, renewal, radiance, nourishment, strength, and protection. Throughout the evolution of Blue Lagoon skin care, sustainability has been an enduring hallmark. Green production methods, pioneered at the R&D facility, are used for isolating, cultivating, and harvesting the trinity of beneficial properties intrinsic to Blue Lagoon water. At heart, Blue Lagoon skin care embodies the harmonic convergence of nature, science, and sustainability. It is a line of products born of the incandescent powers of geothermal seawater and refined through decades of research and development. Today, almost 40 years after the first inquisitive souls ventured into the humble body of water that had formed at Svartsengi, geothermal seawater continues to be a timeless gift of nature—a wellspring of health, beauty, and wellness.