Are Probiotics the Next Big Thing in Skincare?
These days, navigating around the skincare scene can seem something of a minefield, with lotions and potions for each and every perceived imperfection as consumers strive to transform their skin. Whether shoppers are looking to exfoliate, hydrate, brighten, or cleanse the sheer amount of beauty regimes and product recommendations can feel exhaustive.
For years, beauty experts have been encouraging shoppers to seek out those products best suited to their ‘skin-type’; dry, oily, sensitive, combination – the market is utterly saturated with an endless selection of skincare options. Here, a member of our established skincare product marketing teams takes a closer look at some of the options available to consumers today.
Ingredient-Dense vs Au Natural
Having previously become accustomed to harsh, ingredient-dense beauty products, the growing numbers of health-conscious consumers are now seeking more ‘au natural’ products. Consumers are now increasingly questioning what they put upon their face – and rightly so. It seems many of these harsh, ingredient dense products are not so pretty after all…
As the body’s largest organ, the skin is host to an incredibly diverse bacterial ecosystem
It is composed of 1.8 m2 of diverse habitats, with an abundance of folds, invaginations and specialised niches that support a wide range of microorganisms. Research shows that some of these microbes actually promote skin health. They reinforce the role of skin as a natural barrier against bad bacteria, balance the skin’s pH levels and may even protect against skin cancer.
Constant use of harsh facial cleansers and antibacterial soaps, however, strip skin of these healthy bacteria or the ‘good bugs’ – consequently damaging the skin’s natural bacterial ecosystem. This, in turn, makes skin stressed and dry, causing skin issues like breakouts, eczema, rosacea flares and psoriasis.
Probiotics: Here to Help
Probiotics are microorganisms similar to the naturally occurring bacteria in the gut and facilitate numerous health functions, from serotonin production and digestion to increasing resistance to illness and infection. The more good bacteria in the body, the more likely we are to prevent the bad bacteria from taking over and causing issues like gastrointestinal symptoms, IBS and inflammation.
The types of bacteria living on the skin and in the gut are however fundamentally different. The bacteria on skin is aerobic, meaning it needs oxygen to survive, whereas those in the gut are predominantly anaerobic, meaning they can survive without oxygen. The skin’s microbiome is largely dependent on the environment, whereas the gut microbiome depends on the location within the gut and on extrinsic factors like diet. If you have an ingredient-dense or au natural product that you are looking to get in front of more consumer, consult our skincare market research experts.
But if you dislike eating lots of live yoghurt and kefir – there’s good news!
Enriched with this same healthy bacteria, probiotic skincare helps to protect the very outer layer of skin, keeping it radiant and clear. Probiotic skincare works in a very similar way to its digestible versions. Probiotics taken orally help to calm and soothe digestive issues and flare-ups, which is exactly what the topical ones do. If shoppers have irritation issues like acne, redness or eczema, probiotics can really help to nurture and repair.
Keep in mind, though that these probiotic skincare products can be quite delicate. Most of them have a six-month expiration date after opening and need to be stored in a cool environment.
Probiotics are considered one of the best supplements you can take for your inner health, so it is unsurprising that this skincare trend has taken off so quickly. Searches for ‘microbiome’ have skyrocketed in 2020 with almost 10,000 enquiring minds Googling it each month. As more and more beauty brands begin to jump on the probiotic skincare trend, not only is this category is one to watch, it will likely also do wonders for the health of skin.
If you have a probiotic or alternative skincare product ready for market and you’d like HRA Global’s expertise and help, feel free to get in touch by emailing [email protected]. Alternatively, find our complete set of contact details.
