The Power of the Hebrides: Why Ishga Is the Skincare Brand Everyone Is Talking About (And How You Can Win £226 of It)
By Nicola Campbell
As you probably know, we’ve been quietly working away behind the scenes on our new podcast, launching next month. Every episode has been enlightening. The women we’ve spoken to have opened up about their careers, their relationships, their reinventions – but they’ve also opened up their bathroom cabinets.
And do you know what came up again and again?
Skincare that actually works. Particularly for sensitive skin. Skin that flushes. Skin that reacts. Skin navigating perimenopause. Skin living with rosacea.
One brand that was top of podcast host Rosie’s list - Ishga. A little dig into why, it turns our the answer is beautifully simple: seaweed.
A little bit of Hebridean magic
Ishga (derived from the Gaelic word for water) is organic luxury skincare formulated and manufactured in the Hebrides. Not inspired by Scotland. Not branded to look Scottish. Actually made here.
At the heart of every product is a potent Hebridean seaweed extract, harvested sustainably from the shores of the Isle of Lewis. Using a low-temperature extraction process, the team preserve the seaweed’s powerful antioxidants – particularly polyphenols, which help neutralise free radicals and protect skin from environmental damage.
It’s mineral-rich, anti-inflammatory and deeply nourishing. Which explains why women with sensitive or rosacea-prone skin are quietly evangelical about it.
The range is certified organic by the Soil Association and blends that seaweed extract with ingredients like aloe vera, jojoba, macadamia, thistle oil and Hebridean spring water, drawn from a healing spring rich in magnesium and potassium.
In short? It’s results-driven skincare, but rooted in nature.
From the Hebrides to the world’s most luxurious spas
Ishga’s story began back in 2010, when detoxifying seaweed baths were introduced at Kimpton Blythswood Square in Glasgow. From there, the brand evolved into a full professional and retail range, developed by marine biologist Malcolm Macrae and refined alongside beauty expert Joanna Macrae.
Today, you’ll find Ishga in some of the UK’s most prestigious spas – including Coworth Park, The Dorchester, Fairmont St Andrews and Loch Lomond Golf Club and Spa – as well as luxury destinations internationally.
That high-end spa connection matters. These are treatments designed to deliver visible results. Anti-ageing facials. Rejuvenating body wraps. Mineral-rich seaweed baths with over 85 trace minerals.
It’s indulgent and intelligent skincare.
My own experience
As someone navigating midlife skin (and all the hormonal curveballs that come with it), I’ve become far more cautious about what I put on my face. Anything overly active or aggressively fragranced can leave my skin cross and reactive for days.
What I love about Ishga is the feeling. Calm. Comforted. Hydrated. The texture of the Marine Cream in particular is rich without being heavy – the sort of product that makes your skin feel supported rather than smothered.
There’s also something grounding about using a product that is so intrinsically Scottish. It feels close to home. Thoughtful. Considered.
And when multiple women – all with completely different skin types – independently recommend the same brand? You listen.
WIN £226 WORTH OF ISHGA LUXURY
And now for the part we know you love.
One lucky Hood reader will win an indulgent Ishga skincare and home fragrance bundle worth £226, including:
Anti-oxidant Marine Cream (50ml) – £93
Marine Cleansing Balm – £46
Sea Salt Scrub (50ml) – £22
Hebridean Dreams Diffuser – £65
From glow-giving hydration to a spa-like scent for your home, it’s a complete Hebridean ritual.
For your chance to win just answer the question below and sign up to our newsletters.
If your skin has been feeling sensitive, stressed or simply in need of something that works with it rather than against it, this might just be your new obsession.
Scottish seaweed. Perfection.