Probiotics in Skincare: Boosting Skin Health with Good Bacteria

Probiotics in skincare – Should I be using them?

You’ve all no doubt seen an advert on TV boasting the benefits of drinking probiotics or having them in yoghurt. Proven to help with the promotion of a healthy gut it’s no wonder they have made their way into our skincare routine, one product at a time. Yep, you’ve heard right, probiotic skincare products.

Do they work? Are they beneficial for an overall healthier skin? Let’s explore further to find out!

What are probiotics?

Probiotics are a live bacteria (don’t worry, the good kind of bacteria) and yeast that aid the overall health of your gut and digestive system. You can generally find them in yoghurts and supplements which help with balancing the bacteria found in the body. If bloating, stomach cramps and any other gut issues are a regular problem for you, probiotics may be the answer to all your worries!

This is, of course, the general benefits of probiotics and it has been discovered that introducing them to your skin can have the same effect! With their calming and balancing properties, skin concerns such as blemishes, redness and excess sebum, probiotics restore the skin to its healthiest, balanced self again.

What do probiotics do for your skin?

In the most simple terms, much like the probiotics found in yogurts, drinks and supplements, topical treatments and products will have a calming effect on the skin by giving it a boost in good bacteria for the skin cells to flourish and help restore balance back into your skin, be it on the body or your face. If you imagine your skin is like a city, with millions of bacteria residing on it, all busy getting on with their jobs. These bacteria, which are called resident bacteria, are on your skin constantly. What probiotics can do is to keep them protected and fend off any new “bad” ones that come and try to disrupt the population.

Now this part gets a little bit more “science” the ecosystem found on your skin is made up of natural bacteria and its role is to protect the body, so you can imagine, it’s an important job right? It’s a tough one too as with the climate and everyday lifestyle, this ecosystem gets damaged regularly, which is why more than ever people are complaining more of dry, sensitive and generally stressed out skin! With the addition of probiotics and prebiotics, you are giving the skin a chance to rebuild a healthy ecosystem which means you get the glow back your skin should always have! You’ve got to remember that even though the top layers of your skin are technically at the end of its cycle and ready to shed away, the overall appearance of your face relies on those layers staying hydrated and looking healthy.

Not only do probiotics help calm and protect, but they are also wonderfully clever and work well with other skincare ingredients. Once they begin to work their way into the skin you will also find new ingredients develop, such as hyaluronic acid, vitamins and peptides. All of which is a powerful blend of diminishing signs of ageing and giving the skin better hydration with restored radiance back in your skin. Here is a little run down of the benefits of skincare containing probiotics.

Allows the skin to remain properly hydrated throughout the day

Improves dryness and stops the skin feeling tight and uncomfortable

Strengthens the skin to stop environmental aggressors

Restores the overall pH balance to the skin

Now you must admit that is some hard-working ingredients and deliver outstanding results!

Should I be using probiotics in my skincare?

Everyone will benefit from probiotics in their skincare, your skin will encounter several aggressors and won’t have the power to keep them at bay on its own! Using a topical product containing good bacteria probiotics will form a protective blanket over the skin. There are some skin types however that will benefit from using them more.

Probiotics for Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin usually means your skin’s natural barrier is damaged, allowing irritates and aggressors to cause a reaction. Probiotics help to strengthen the barrier and rebuild any areas that are already damaged! Your skin can indeed heal on its own, but with the addition of probiotics to your skincare routine, you will find your skin repairs quicker and feels more comfortable. Redness and flaky areas that could be on the face before will appear reduced and calmed too.

Probiotics for Blemish-Prone Skin

If you have a blemish or even acne-prone skin, you would have tried many treatments and products to help combat the problem. Some of you may have reached out to your doctor in the hopes they would have the answer, with antibiotics usually being used. The only worry with using antibiotics to tackle acne is that it tends to wipe out all sorts of bacteria on the skin. Great for all that “bad bacteria” that fuel the problem, but not so good for that hard-working “good bacteria” that balances the skin’s surface.

Having said this, antibiotics are generally still used for helping acne sufferers. This could be due to change, however, as many skincare experts and dermatologists finding probiotics are the Holy Grail of blemish banishing! Studies have revealed that skincare products containing a certain type of probiotic found in yoghurt, called lactobacillus, which is remarkable at fuelling the good bacteria and restoring the skin, killing off the bacteria that develops into more blemishes and spots. Some experts, such as Marie Drago, have been quoted to say they see antibiotics taking a back seat in treating acne with probiotics delivering faster results leaving the skin healthy and maintaining its natural balance.

Probiotics Calm Skin Redness

Much like sensitive and acne-prone skin, if you find redness is your main skin concern using skincare containing probiotics will help calm and rebuild the skin’s barrier. Much like the settling benefits of probiotic yoghurt for the gut and digestion, the skin sees the same results.

Other things to consider

Believe me or not, but your location and where you live has an effect on your skin, and using a probiotic skincare routine will help any concerns you may have.

City Dwellers

There’s no denying it that you city folk have to deal with a lot when it comes to your skin. With pollution throwing a large number of aggressors that affect the comfort and overall health of your skin, leaving it irritated and clogged with bacteria an build up.

With probiotics, they can form a protective shield around the skin, stopping pollution, bacteria etc from affecting the skin and causing reactions, irritation or blemishes.

Countryside

Pollution isn’t as much as a concern for you all out in the countryside. With the weather and environmental aggressors, such as tree and floral pollen, becoming the main factors of skin flare up and irritation, admittedly not as severe as it would be in the city and usually clears up a lot quicker.

Coastal

Much like countryside dwellers, coastal habitants will be at the mercy to the elements. Not an ideal situation for sensitive and dry skin types, especially with sea air and winds full of skin drying salt. Fabulous for blowing out those cobwebs and clearing the head, terrible for keeping the skin hydrated. Applying probiotics will work wonders, image a sponge pudding that has been overcooked, dry and unappetising, drowning it in thick cream completely transforms it, much like a probiotic enriched moisturiser will do for your tired, dry, uncomfortable skin.

So, there you have a little more information about probiotics and how they work within skincare products and make a great addition to your skincare routine. Especially if you have the skin types or live in the areas previously mentioned. As off-putting it sounds to hear how applying bacteria to your skin will be beneficial, what you have to remember is that these are “the good guys” and come in a million various strains or types that can aid you in any way from your gut right the way to your glow!

DQH Knowledge drop: In your 20s, your skin cell turnover decreases. (Cell turnover is a key component in keeping your skin youthful.) You know what else slows down? Your collagen production. Starting in your 20s, collagen decreases by about 1 percent per year. Should you want to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, start by eliminating behaviors that contribute to premature aging. “If it’s bad for you, it’s bad for your skin,” says dermatologist Michel Somenek. “Cigarette smoking reduces blood flow to the skin and causes premature wrinkling and a dull skin texture. Making the repeated pursed motion to inhale can also cause smoker’s lines. Alcohol and recreational drugs are toxins for the skin that damage its cellular structure and DNA,” Somenek tells us. “The faster you eliminate vices while you are young, the better chance your skin and body have to recuperate.” Also, adopting an anti-aging routine in your 20s is key. After all, the best offense is a good defense. We spoke to Somenek and experts Joshua Ross and Audrey Kunin to find out more. Keep reading for the best anti-aging products for your 20s, according to skincare professionals. Sunscreen “We all know that the sun is the number one cause of skin aging and starting the prevention in your 20s is very important,” Ross says. “The majority of your sun damage won’t start to appear until you’re in your 30s, so don’t wait until you see it surface or you’ll be behind the curve. Stay ahead of it with a good-quality zinc-based sunscreen worn daily.” Farmacy Green Defense Daily Mineral Sunscreen An invisible sunscreen with SPF 30, plus botanical extracts meant to protect skin with tons of antioxidants. Bonus: It’s clean and fine to use under makeup. Bareminerals Complexion Rescue™ Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Although we recommend you use your SPF and moisturizer separately, we also understand moments when you don’t have time or energy for that extra step. For those times, this bareMinerals moisturizer is a great thing to have on hand. Vitamin C Serum “A great introduction to anti-aging is to start with a vitamin C serum in your morning skincare routine,” Ross says. “It’s a powerful antioxidant that will neutralize free radicals and brighten the skin.” He adds that it’s a great way to counteract the effects of the sun’s harmful rays, which, as previously mentioned, are among the biggest causes of premature aging. Drunk Elephant C-Firma™ Vitamin C Day Serum The Drunk Elephant C-Firma is a lightweight serum that promises to give skin a glow by combining the brightening powers of vitamin C with ferulic acid, l-ascorbic acid, and vitamin E. The included sodium hyaluronate is meant to replace hydration loss, so you shouldn’t have to deal with any irritation. Sunday Riley C.E.O. Rapid Flash Brightening Serum This potent serum is jam-packed with vitamin C (15 percent, to be exact), which means it’s a potential superstar at both brightening skin and dousing it in antioxidants. Peptides Using peptides on your skin has many benefits, says Somenek. “The skin barrier is what defends the body against pollution, UV rays, bacteria, and toxins. It can be damaged by several everyday factors. Using topical peptides aids in building a stronger barrier,” he says. “Peptides comprise elastic fibers, which are a type of protein. These fibers help to make skin appear taut and firm. Peptides can also help repair damaged skin, relieve inflammation, and even out skin tone. Some peptides can kill acne-causing bacteria that is common in 20-somethings.” Kunin agrees, saying, “Peptides are an excellent entry point for supporting collagen.” She recommends looking for face and eye treatments that contain these collagen-boosting powerhouses. Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue Cream This Charlotte Tilbury super-emollient eye cream has a base of coconut oil and shea butter (read: it’s incredibly hydrating). Botanicals plus peptides are meant to help reduce dark circles and boost collagen, respectively. This creamy moisturizer serves up potent collagen-boosting peptides and pycnogenol, and antioxidant-rich vitamin C. “Instead of sitting on top of the skin, peptides penetrate the outer layer so they go deep. The ‘signals’ they send tell the cells to produce elastin and collagen, which are needed for youthful-looking skin,” explains Somenek. At-Home Peel Pads Remember that skin cell turnover fiasco we talked about earlier? One way to help support it is by exfoliating. “Exfoliation is important to help keep skin fresh and luminous,” Kunin says. She recommends using at-home peel pads as an easy and effective way to exfoliate. “The goal in your 20s is to fight the slowing pace of cell turnover. It is wise to use products that gently exfoliate, yet still remove oil and other impurities. Products that have Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA) are a good choice.” According to Somenek, you should only exfoliate two to three times a week. “People of all ages are guilty of over-exfoliating and that can be too much of a good thing,” he says. Dermadoctor Kakadu C Intensive Vitamin C Peel Pad A few swipes of this Derma Doctor powerful peel pad promise to leave your skin glowing and smooth, thanks to the seven (yes, seven) types of chemical exfoliants, including AHA and BHA. It also contains vitamin C via Kakadu plum extract for added brightening and antioxidant protection. KEY INGREDIENTS Kakadu plum extract is sourced from the Kakadu plum, a fruit grown in northern Australia. It contains vitamin C, which restores the skin’s natural barrier, increases collagen production, and soothes irritation. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads These are the gold standard of peel pads, with a cult following and over 900 five-star reviews on Sephora. They’re easy to use and contain a blend of anti-aging exfoliating acids. Emollient Night Cream “In your 20s, you need to start upping the hydration in your skincare routine. You may have been cautious of over-moisturizing because of acne in your teens, but as you enter your 20s, your skin transitions and becomes drier,” Ross says. “I recommend an emollient night cream added into your evening skincare regimen.” “Twenty-somethings need to make sure that they are not using creams that will clog their pores and cause excess oil production,” says Somenek. Opt for non-comedogenic products. Cerave Skin Renewing Night Cream One great choice is the CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream, which is a non-comedogenic night cream that leaves skin soft and glowy. It combines the moisturizing powers of ceramides and hyaluronic acid. RoC Retinol Correxion Max Hydration Creme “The best night cream ingredients contain retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and/or salicylic acid or hyaluronic acid. The goal is to moisturize, yet remove excess oil,” says Somenek. This Roc Retinol Correxion cream fits the bill as it contains both hyaluronic acid and retinol so it promises to moisturize while also being non-comedogenic.

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