Microbiome is one of the most popular terms in personal care today, and this trend is fueled by the trillions of microorganisms crawling on the skin and the money to be made by selling products that support them.
To the naked eye, a freshly washed face appears to be clean, but upon closer inspection at a microscopic level, that skin should be a bustling microbiome, covered by trillions of different microorganisms called microbiota.
Each individual has a unique microbiota, determined by DNA. The human body is first exposed to microorganisms as an infant, and its makeup depends on the environment around it. Environmental exposures and diet impact the microbiome later in life, and can either hurt or harm a human’s overall health and risk for disease.
The microbiome is made up of microbes that are both helpful and potentially harmful. Symbiotic microbes benefit both the human body and microbiota, while pathogenic ones promote disease. In a healthy environment, pathogenic and symbiotic microbiota coexist peacefully, but if a disturbance from an external source impacts that balance, dysbiosis occurs, leaving the body more susceptible to disease and other forms of damage. ²
Microbiome health is much more largely understood and supported by the medical community in relation to digestion and the gut than for skin. The body’s digestive tract is home to nearly 99% of its entire microbiome, and when this system is out of balance, it results in gastrointestinal issues.
There is a significant link between food, digestion, and overall skin health. Research shows that a healthier digestive system and the introduction of more probiotic-rich foods has a positive impact on skin conditions such as acne and psoriasis, and customers are more interested than ever before in “beauty from within.”
So, how can the microbiome be supported at a topical level?³
Skin microbiota: microorganisms on the skin, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, which varies for each individual, and for each body part on a person
Skin microbiome: the DNA of the skin microbiota⁴
In a healthy ecosystem, the skin serves as a source of nourishment for the microbiota, providing dead skin cells, fatty acids in the form of sweat, lipids, and sebum. In turn, microorganisms provide skin benefits and protection, including antimicrobial peptides and immune system support
In an unhealthy system with a missing or imbalanced microbiome, the absence of skin flora means that this barrier has no protection, which results in inflammation and an overload of the immune system.
In healthy skin, microbiota form a protective film or barrier over the skin, which is self-sustaining and repairing, protects against foreign species, prevents the dominance of specific species and infections, and provides skin with protection and essential molecules. A healthy skin microbiome protects us from pathogens, damage, and dryness, and leads to healthy, glowing, and hydrated skin.
When this function is disrupted, different skin conditions have the opportunity to flourish.
This barrier can be compromised by many everyday activities and the use of certain personal care products, which is why products with microbiome support are at the forefront of skincare development discussions. Such causes of skin microbiota imbalances include:
These imbalances can result from not wearing proper sun protection, over-exfoliating with frequent chemical peels, aggressive acne treatments, and many other practices that an individual may not understand is doing harm at a microscopic level.⁵
Condition: | Examples of Microorganisms Involved: |
Acne | P. acnes, S. epidermidis |
Atopic Dermatitis | S. Aureus |
Rosacea | B. oleronius, S. epidermidis |
Dandruff | Malassezia species |
Psoriasis - Scalp | Malassezia |
Psoriasis - Skin | Candida, S. aureus |
Diaper Rash | C. albicans |
Beard Irritation | Tinea, S. Aureus, Candida |
Because the microbiome is so diverse, there isn't a 'one size fits all' formulation approach to support and heal it.
To help address this wide spectrum of issues, there are four main approaches for skincare brands to address the microbiome and support a healthy and balance ecosystem on the skin:
Many early products that fell underneath this trend focus on the idea of probiotic-rich skincare. As with digestive supplements, this poses the challenge of keeping live cultures alive in order to be their most impactful. Stability is a concern for this product type, as many require refrigeration that is not feasible for most distribution situations, and live cells for topical use are difficult to manage from supply chain, preservation, and formulation perspectives.
With the rise of skin conditions, including acne and psoriasis, more environmental pollution, aging populations, and many of the other factors that support the growing skincare market, personal care products that are focused on microbiome health to help ease signs of aging, acne, and general skin health will be a prominent trend for years to come.
In a recent report, Euromonitor identifies key takeaways for brands to consider as they explore product developments in this area:
For release in the third quarter of 2019, Twincraft’s Innovation Team explored the microbiome space to create a regimen to support and balance the skin’s microbiota. The goal of these products is to use a combination of gentle active ingredients to improve skin health and appearance, fight environmental damage, balance pH, and keep skin hydrated, which can also ease other skin conditions for specific users.
Microbiome Support Skincare Products |
Reset CleanserThis gentle, creamy facial cleanser is designed to not harm the skin's delicate microbiome. The base uses conditioning amino acid surfactants and does not strip away protective oils. Many organisms rely on sebum for food, which they convert into fatty acids to help maintain the skin's pH. The base is also pH balanced to match the skin, further reducing potential harm to the skin's microbiome. This cleanser features Sophorolipid, a glycolipid produced from fermentation that has prevented the overgrowth of c. albicans in clinical trials, as well as a biosurfactant that is produced by bacteria, yeast, and fungi. Benchmark Analysis:
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To learn more about opportunities in formulations within the microbiome space, please contact our Sales Team. |
Sources: ¹²https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/microbiome/ https://www.byrdie.com/probiotic-cleansers https://www.allure.com/gallery/probiotics-skin-care-products ³https://www.dermstore.com/blog/top_ten/what-is-skin-microbiome/ ⁴ Ultra Skin Microbiota preBIULIN BOILIN Presentation 02.22.2019 ⁵⁶⁷Euromonitor International: The Role of Microbiome in the Evolution of Skin Care