Probiotics have been around since, well since bacteria has been around. The term probiotics was coined by a German scientist in 1953, but people knew the health benefits of fermented foods long before that. People in ancient times were fermenting milk into yogurt, and making brewed fermented beverages to improve health. If it’s good for your insides, there is no reason that it wouldn’t be good for your outsides, and new research is proving that probiotic skincare has many benefits.

What are probiotics, anyway?

Just in case you’re not on the probiotics bandwagon yet, they’re basically just bacteria. The big deal with probiotics is that these germs actually benefit their host and improve health. Taken internally, probiotics can improve digestion, help with bloating and cramps, and strengthen the immune system.  Probiotics also provide important vitamins to their host as a by product of their digestion (like B Vitamins.) Part of the way probiotics work is to take the place of harmful bacteria in your body.

 How do probiotics in skincare work?

Probiotics in skincare work pretty much the same way taking probiotics internally does. They help re balance the biome, or level of good vs bad bacteria, which helps skin stay calm and flourish. When your skin biome is optimally balanced, it works better, balancing oil production, staying moisturized longer, and safeguarding against free radicals.

It’s important to add probiotics into your skincare routine because any antibacterial soap, retinoid, or peroxide on your face disrupts the delicate balance and leaves room for the bad guys to take over.

So, what are the benefits of probiotics in my skincare?

Reduce Redness & Inflammation

There is mounting evidence showing that probiotics in your skincare can help prevent and treat conditions like eczema, dry skin, and UV induced damage.

Boost Ceramide Production

Ceramides are a type of fatty acid that help lock moisture into your skin, keeping it plump and beautiful by diminishing fine lines and wrinkles.

Lower Skin pH

Healthy, normal skin has a pH of around 4.2-5.6, which means it’s slightly acidic. This helps prevent bad bacteria from growing on our skin, and optimizes many of the processes of healthy skin. As we age, our skin pH slowly starts creeping higher, eventually becoming slightly basic instead of acidic. This is when dull dry skin starts to show up. Probiotics often give off acidic molecules through their metabolism process. This can help aging skin maintain the proper, slightly acidic pH.

Protects Against Free Radicals

Free radicals are a fact of life. They’re just angry little molecules that are missing an electron. They start of a cascade of electron stealing in whatever cells they come in contact with. These free radicals can damage DNA, lipids, and proteins, such as collagen. In addition to those lovely fatty acids that help our skin pH, probiotic metabolism also gives off long chain sugar type molecules that bind to free radicals before they can attack our cells.

As you can see, there are quite a few upsides to trying probiotics on your skin. Here’s one more, because probiotics give off pH lowering fatty acids, and crowd out bad bacteria, they make the perfect natural and beneficial preservative for our skincare line. We never use questionable ingredients like parabens in our products. All of our skincare is preserved through the power of probiotics! They’re making your product safe, and improving your complexion in one simple step.