Microbiome-supporting skin care
In our own developed studies in collaboration with Linköping University, we have seen that the diversity of bacteria increases in the skin when switching to preservative-free skin care. This occurred after one month of product use, which led to less irritation and less red skin, as well as increased skin smoothness. Hence, it can be concluded that a balanced microbiome that is undisturbed by preservatives and other skin care products, leads to better skin health with improved skin tone and smoothness.
Probiotics in skin care
A relatively new area of skin care focuses on incorporating live bacteria, known as probiotics, into the product. But what not many skincare consumers know is that it is very rare to find "real" probiotics in skin care products, in other words, bacteria that are alive, even if it says probiotics on the product packaging. Only 1% of all skin care products marketed as probiotics contain these live bacteria. Instead, these are ingredients such as pre-and post-biotics, which are not the same as live bacteria. We find this misleading but unfortunately, there is no regulatory framework that regulates communication about the different types of biotics at the moment.
Live bacteria can only survive in completely anhydrous formulations (for example, in oil solutions). Currently, only a handful of products in the European market live up to their promises and contain live bacteria.
So, do probiotics work, and are there any benefits for applying live bacteria to the skin? Yes, more and more studies are pointing in this direction. Even our studies show positive effects such as increased hydration, better texture, and fewer fine lines after applying live lactic acid bacteria on the skin.
This has led us to launch our first night concentrate with probiotics this autumn, which is something we will be telling you more about shortly!
