By Carla Oates
If you closely examine the many cleansers, toners, serums, face oils and moisturisers in your beauty cabinet, it’s likely that you will stumble across the same ingredients time and time again.
From antioxidants like vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E and ingredients like rosehip or camellia seed oils—there are tried and true skincare heroes that will continue to deliver results. But what’s exciting about the world of beauty and dermatology is that there are always new ingredients and innovations to explore and there is one that we are particularly passionate about: the role of pre and postbiotics in skincare.
Given our brand is built on educating our community on the importance of gut health—including prebiotics, probiotics and postibiotics—for health, immunity, beauty and wellbeing, it makes sense that we explore their topical benefits, too.
Here’s everything you need to know about these biotic beauties…
But First, What Are Prebiotics & Postbiotics In Skincare?
You’ve no doubt heard of probiotics—aka the good bacteria (like lactobacillus or bifidobacterium) that keep our gut microbiome happy, healthy and in balance—and you’ve probably even noticed that brands are integrating these beneficial bacteria with other active ingredients into probiotic skincare as they help to replenish and feed the skin’s delicate microbiome whilst fortifying its immune system.
But until recently, prebiotics and postbiotics were largely under the radar in terms of topical skincare products—which is why we are so excited to share this innovation with you all. Just like prebiotics delivered internally help to nourish and feed the beneficial bacteria in our gut—simultaneously encouraging their proliferation and reducing pathogens—when applied topically, prebiotics have a similar function, boosting our skin health and supporting the skin barrier by encouraging the growth of beneficial bacteria present on the skin’s surface and suppressing the growth of unfavourable ones (or bad bacteria like staphylococcus).
In terms of postbiotic skincare, essentially these are the metabolic by-products from probiotic bacteria. Unlike probiotics, however, these anti-inflammatory outputs are more resistant to deterioration, making them an excellent way to deliver the benefits of good bacteria directly to the skin, without the addition of preservatives which are often included in topical skincare formulations to improve shelf-life and maintain the viability of probiotics.
The Beauty Chef Difference
As with any ingredient—not all are created equal and as a consumer, it’s important to do your research and not only look for high-quality, efficacious ingredients, but also consider their source. All of our inner beauty products are not only rich in nutrients, but also microbiome-boosting pre-, pro- and postbiotics. And in GLOW F.A.C.E™, we wanted to maintain this level of quality, integrating our fermented prebiotic and postbiotic technology into the final formula to deliver active benefits to your skin’s microbiome—which is why we have used Biome Oleoactif®. This unique ingredient contains rare lipids sourced from naturally wild-grown bacteria and is a world-first in terms of skincare—combining postbiotic origin with the benefits of prebiotics within a 100% oil-based composition. The microorganism is also derived from therapeutic hot water springs and the lipids extracted are then subject to fermentation for even greater potency. What does this mean? Well, put simply, it helps to nurture the beneficial microflora on the surface of the skin, helping to promote greater microbial diversity which results in a stronger barrier function and a happier, healthier skin ecosystem. The diversity of lipids contained in Biome Oleoactif® are also known for their moisturising benefits—so skin feels smoother, more soothed, moisturised and ultimately—glowier! Another untapped benefit of this ‘biotic’ synergy, is its ability to temper inflammation, which can not only contribute to skin irritation and skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, rosacea or even acne, but can also lead to dullness, dryness and premature ageing.
If we consider all the nutrition and lifestyle practices we put into play to foster a healthy gut microbiome—feeding it with all the nutrients, prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics it needs to thrive—it makes sense that we give the same love to our skin. And if we do, there’s no doubt we’ll be rewarded with a radiant, resilient and adaptable complexion.
