Our Brand DNA

Always innovating.
Always in pursuit of adventure.

Our Manifesto

Built by outdoor athletes,
for outdoor athletes.

We don’t take life too seriously, but we're serious enough to get the right things right.
The Forecast. The Gear. Our Health. Our Community. The Planet.

We are scientists who surf, dive, hike, camp, and travel. We check surf cams and weather forecasts in between emails and field testing. We nerd out on DNA repair mechanisms and consume superhuman levels of coffee (and hot sauce). We've logged enough time outside to know what we're talking about, and enough time in the lab to know why.

We built TERNS because we lived on both sides of the equation: the science and the session. Our products didn’t come from trend reports or focus groups. They came from real time outside. From decades of research into how marine organisms have survived UV rays, oxidative stress and the harshest conditions on earth for longer than we’ve been asking why. Nature takes a toll in the elements, but it also hands us a playbook on how to adapt.

We are a community of active humans inspired by the long migration. We follow the sun. Pole to pole. For us, the mountains aren’t a cool backdrop. The ocean isn’t a vibe. It’s something more personal. Something that’s worth experiencing and protecting. Not because it’s good marketing, but because you don’t take from something that gave you everything without giving something back.

Functional. Effective.
No shortcuts.

Our Purpose

Functional. Effective.
No shortcuts.

Founded on the belief that what you put on your skin should work as hard as everything else in your kit. Functional. Effective. No shortcuts. Driven by our passions and the many places that they take us. Fierce believers in preserving, protecting, and celebrating all that nature provides.

Our Values

What we stand for.

  1. Share the Stoke of an Outdoor, Active Lifestyle

  2. Stay Dedicated to Scientific Discovery and Innovation

  3. Deliver Uncompromised Quality and Efficacy

  4. Always Strive to Reduce Our Environmental Footprint

  5. Make a Positive Impact on the Environment

Eduardo Esquenazi

A health scare twenty years ago taught me that some of the most powerful medicines come from nature. That realization led me to a career studying the biochemistry of marine plants and microorganisms.

As a lifelong surfer and fisherman, and now a dad raising my kids in the water, I created TERNS for people who live outdoors: after-sun skincare powered by marine and plant-based ingredients that go beyond aloe to help neutralize the oxidative stress and inflammation associated with sun damage and premature aging.

Because time spent outdoors is something to enjoy, and something worth protecting.

Eduardo EsquenaziChemical Biologist
Founder, TERNS
Professor, Scripps Institution of Oceanography