We promise it’s calorie-free!
Are you a big fan of yoghurt, keri, kombucha and kimchi? If your answer’s yes, chances are you’re familiar with the benefits of good bacteria, as all these foods help keep your gut happy and healthy. But do you know this same microbe-friendly concept is applicable in skincare too?
Nah, we aren’t asking you to apply yoghurt directly on your face, so please save yourself the mess and keep them in the fridge. We’re talking about prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics for your skin! If you’d like to know what each of these skin foods does for your skin, then keep on scrolling.
But first, what is microbiome?
Similar to our DNA and fingerprint, each of us has our own unique microbiome also known as the skin’s flora, an ecosystem of microorganisms such as viruses, fungi and bacteria. Our skin microbiome is found on the surface of our epidermis and acts as a natural skin protectant from the external environment, fighting infections and strengthening its immunity.
A disturbance to this natural habitat directly means the breakdown of our skin’s defence, making it vulnerable to all kinds of invaders. This is where biotic skincare jumps in to support a strong, healthy and balanced microbiome.
But, this is where it might get a tad confusing with 3 types of biotic skincare – prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotics. So what exactly are they?
1. Prebiotics
Somewhat like fertilisers for plants, prebiotics are food for our skin microbiome to grow strong and healthy. It provides essential nutrients, which are mostly made up of botanically-based sugars and oils such as:
- Bacillus ferment extract
- Epilobium Fleischeri Extract
- Hydrolysed Yeast Protein
- Fructose, Glucose, Sucrose
- Oligosaccharides
- Saccharides
2. Probiotics
We’ve all been told that bacteria is bad for the skin and we must eliminate it at all costs. Well, that is true for the case of bacteria that will cause infections and acne, but probiotics are the exact opposite. They help our good bacteria to thrive and eradicate bad bacteria from our skin. In short, they are the GOOD guys amongst the bad guys.
They can be found in most fermented foods such as yoghurt, kefir, kombucha tea and sauerkraut. The downside to it is, they are easily destroyed by temperatures higher than 40℃ and surfactant chemicals during the manufacturing process.
This is precisely why most probiotics skincare products do not actually contain “live” bacteria but are cultivated with deactivated bacteria that have similar effects to the live ones such as Lactobacillus and Bifidabacterium.
3. Postbiotics
Postbiotics are the by-products of the fermentation process when our microbiome feasts on the prebiotics. It is also what our body naturally produces when there are enough prebiotics and probiotics.
Though they may sound foreign, they aren’t entirely new to the market as you find these ingredients in many leading skincare products such as enzymes, peptides, lactic acid and glycerol.
Do you really need it?
YES OH YES, without a doubt! In essence, a harmonious microbiome is the key to clear and healthy skin, while an off-balanced one may lead to common skin woes such as eczema, dry skin and acne.
There are many factors that can mess up your skin microbiome, such as the hot and humid climate, consuming too much processed food, leading stressful lifestyles and applying harsh skincare products.
By integrating biotics into your skincare routine, you can restore the balance of your skin microbiome and thus improve existing skin conditions. What more do we need to say?
The ultimate biotics skincare picks
These 3 types of biotics can help treat different skin woes; however it’s almost impossible to pick the best among the 3 as everyone’s microbiome is different.
Alone they are strong, together they are stronger.
Look for skincare with a combination of biotics so that it can offer a more holistic and multi-pronged approach in supporting our skin.
For acne-prone skin, try the ést.lab PurClear Anti-Acne Serum
Infused with Alpine Willowherb Extract which is enriched in essential oil, tannins and flavonoids, the PurClear Anti-Acne Serum contains biotics that are great for oily skin to regulate sebum production, aid in rebalancing the skin’s microbiome and reduce pathogenic acne bacteria. Bye-bye zits!
For reactive skin, try the ést.lab ActivCalm Quick Soothing SOS Serum
Your ultimate skin microbiome saver! More than just a sensitive skin reliever, our ActivCalm Quick Soothing SOS Serum is optimised with Hydrolysed Yeast Protein to nurture good bacteria which speeds up skin recovery and fortifies your skin barrier. Say NOOO to compromised skin!
For dehydrated skin, try the ést.lab ActivCalm Skin Quenching Serum
Quenching your skin’s thirst with hydration filled to the brim, our ActivCalm Skin Quenching Serum rebalances your skin microbiome with biotics and electrolytes to draw and lock in moisture deep into the skin layers for a long-lasting hydration. Our very own upgraded version of Hyaluronic Acid!
For ageing skin, try the ést.lab VitaLift A+ Skin Reboot Serum
When it comes to delaying biological skin ageing, we must not neglect building a healthy skin barrier. You can rest assured that our VitaLift A+ Skin Reboot Serum targets both simultaneously as they are enhanced with both biotics and skin renewing ingredients to reboot your skin back to its optimal youthful state.
So go ahead and add these amazing skin foods into your skincare routine now for a guilt-free skin feast!
YUMZZZ!
In good hands,
Estetica
