"No One Else Is Doing This!" The Tiny Kittery Company That's Leading the Skincare Industry Into a New Era

Inga Potter knew there was a better way.

So when her colleagues told her about the indelible benefits of kelp, the marine biologist couldn't help but go down a rabbit hole about the seaweed strand that looked to be the next big thing in the wellness industry.

Then, when Inga told her longtime friend Krista Rosen, a former lawyer, about her kelp-based dreams, the two decided to go all in together.

The result?

Cold Current Kelp, a Maine-based skincare company which manufactures kelp-based products like the Kelp Glow Facial Oil.

From the Cold Current Kelp headquarters in Kittery, M.E., Krista Rosen and Inga Potter sit down with ⁠⁠host Troy Farkas⁠⁠ to discuss why the two friends decided to start a kelp business together, the benefits of kelp, securing nearly $1 million in research grants, why Maine is at the forefront of kelp farming in the country, and more.

CHAPTERS:

• Inga's kelp-based dreams (00:00)
• Why kelp deserves the hype (05:35)

• Why they wanted to get into skincare (18:02)
• The kelp farming process (25:35)
• SPONSORS: Yoga East & JOBTALK (33:00)
• CCK's long-term vision (36:10)

• How CCK is funding their research efforts (47:25)
• The struggles of running this business (53:37)
• How do you hope to be remembered? (01:00:20)

To support Cold Current Kelp, you can check out their products on their website. Inga's 2025 TedX Portsmouth talk is also here on YouTube.

To support "Seacoast Stories," you can follow the show on ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠, ⁠Spotify⁠, or ⁠YouTube⁠. You can also sign up for the next ⁠Seacoast Stories Dinner Club⁠ on Wed. 8/20 in Dover, or join the waitlist.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:

• Yoga East: Sign up for a 5-class card and use the coupon code “STORIES” at checkout to get 50% off!
• ⁠⁠⁠JOBTALK LLC⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: Get 50% off ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOBTALK Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ courses with the code "SEACOASTSTORIES50" for the rest of 2025!
• David Higgins: The official investment office of "Seacoast Stories!" Email ⁠[e-mail]⁠ to get started.

Investment and insurance products are:• Not Insured by the FDIC or Any Federal Government Agency• Not a Deposit or Other Obligation of, or Guaranteed by, the Bank or Any Bank Affiliate• Subject to Investment Risks, Including Possible Loss of the Principal Amount InvestedInvestment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Clearing Services (WFCS), LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. WFCS uses the trade name Wells Fargo Advisors. 1 North Jefferson, St. Louis, MO 63103.v