Founder Files
Clean Skincare· Malibu, California, USA · Updated 14 May 2026

Jenefer Palmer

Fourth-generation herbalist Jenefer Palmer founded OSEA Malibu in 1996 after her father's lung-cancer diagnosis pushed her to remove every endocrine disruptor from his environment. Three decades and one TikTok-viral Undaria Algae Body Oil later, OSEA is one of the most enduring family-run clean skincare brands.

"Skincare from the sea, made by women, owned by women."

Jenefer Palmer
Background

Palmer's family had used homeopathic and herbal medicine for four generations. After her father's cancer diagnosis, she removed every petroleum-derived ingredient from his life and began formulating seaweed-based skincare in Malibu.

OSEA — Ocean, Sun, Earth, Atmosphere — launched in 1996 and is now run alongside her two daughters Melissa and Jenefer. The Undaria Algae Body Oil became a TikTok-driven hero in the early 2020s and remains the brand's defining product.

Philosophy

Seaweed as the central active — sustainably hand-harvested in Patagonia.

Independent, women-owned, multi-generational — by design.

Career timeline
  • 1996
    Founds OSEA Malibu in California
  • 2010s
    Daughters Melissa and Jenefer Worth join the company
  • 2020s
    Undaria Algae Body Oil becomes a TikTok-era hero
Press & appearances
  • How OSEA Became a TikTok Skincare Cult

    feature
    Vogue
  • Jenefer Palmer on Building a Women-Owned Skincare Brand

    interview
    Forbes
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