The microbes of your microbiome are essential to keeping your skin happy and healthy.
Here’s how to support them according to the pros.
Youre never without them.
Youre the guest of honor at their permanent party.
founder of Codex Beauty
Jasmina Aganovic is the president of Mother Dirt.
Laura Marinelli, PhD is the scientific advisor at Ellis Day.
dual board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist
Most microorganisms are really nice creatures that you would want as your neighbors.
The best way to do that, however, is still unclear.
What is the skin microbiome?
Also called the skin flora, the skin microbiome is the garden of organisms that inhabits our skin.
Itcommunicateswith our immune system to call for help during SOS situations.
It minimizes damage from UV rays and environmental pollutants by taking the hitforus.
So whatisit, exactly?
The organisms can be broken into three groups: commensals, symbionts, and pathogens.
He explains that commensals help maintain the balance between friendly and opportunistic microorganisms.
dual board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist
Symbionts are highly beneficial and produce postbiotics, which help fortify the skins moisture barrier.
And, perhaps most importantly,it adapts to provideexactlywhat your skin needsmost in real time.
Left to its own devices, the microbiome teems with diverse life.
That diversity fosters balance.
Each of the organisms play a specific roleand the skin thrives.
That is, of course, if theskin microbiomeis functioning properly.
And thats a bigif.
What can impact the skin microbiome?
According toElsa Jungman, PhD, a skin scientist and founder ofDr.
Elsa Jungmanskin care, the skin flora isdirectly affected by our skin-care regimenswhich are sometimes too intense.
From what we understand on a biological level, this isnt doing our skin any good.
Weve never used so many products, and our skin has never been worse.
Weve never used so many products, and our skin has never been worse.
Chronic stress is a biggie, confirms Schulick.
It increases the fight-or-flight hormone, cortisol, which can increase sebum production.
This shifts the skins environment, he says, which in turn changes the composition of your skin microbiome.
Dietary choices and lack of exercise can have a similar effect.
OK, so lets take a quick pause.
What is microbiome-friendly skin care?
Waterless formulas are preferred when possible (as they dont require potentially harmful stabilizers and preservatives).
Overall, creating gentler products is the goal (as many popular ingredients can be disruptive).
But it all depends on the other ingredients and whether its truly microbiome-friendly.
She suggests checking the formula to ensure it doesnt contain added irritants that will counteract any benefit of probiotics.
What are the best ways to support and protect the skin microbiome?
Could the secret to good skin be less skin care?
Skinimalism has entered the chat.
And each of those ingredients can potentially interact with your microbiomeoften killing bacteria or damaging the skin barrier.
Surely thats okay, right?
But perhaps most importantly of all, dont stress it too much.
Our goal is to help you really take control of your skin care, says Dr. Jungman.
We teach you how to listen to your skin and stop layering so many products for a less-is-more approach.
It also once used to exist on our skin until we cleaned it away.
The formulation contains Cutiphage, a proprietary blend of bacteriophages that naturally live on healthy skin, explains Marinelli.
The phages target and kill blemish- and inflammation-causing strains of Cutibacterium acnes bacteria.
One of our best products for supporting a healthy skin barrier is the Restore Essence Spray, says Schulick.
These biological formulas do more with less by synergizing more effectively with the skin, says Cutlan.
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