Why your skin needs microbiome-friendly skincare

When it comes to skincare, there’s one element that is often overlooked and that’s the skin’s microbiome. You may not be able to see it, but it’s always there, working hard to keeping your skin healthy and feeling its best. Supporting your skin’s microbiome is one of the most effective ways to keep your skin feeling balanced.

Here’s everything you need to know about microbiome friendly skincare.

What is your skin’s microbiome?

This is the community of ‘good’ bacteria, fungi, and microbes that live on your skin. They act as the first line of defence against dryness, irritation, and inflammation, a protective shield. Don’t be scared off by the idea of bacteria and fungi living on your skin – it’s far from harmful and is very natural!

A healthy microbiome helps your skin:

• Stay resilient against seasonal changes.
• Keep hydrated.
• Calm redness and sensitivity.
• Fight against breakouts and inflammation

Celebrity Facialist, Arezoo Kaviani commented: “Your skins microbiome is a vital living ecosystem that works around the clock to protect, repair, and to maintain a healthy balance. When it is healthy, your skin is stronger, calmer, and more resilient.  It is so important to protect your microbiome by avoiding harsh products, and using nourishing ingredients. If you go to an expert facialist, they will know what nourishments your skin needs by doing a full assessment before they just apply products that could potentially do more damage than good.”

When skin is able to function at its best, it can do all the good things like keeping moisture in, bacteria out, produce collagen optimally and heal the skin quickly

Signs your microbiome is weakened:

• Your skin is more irritated and red
• Dry, flaky patches
• Breakouts or congestion are flaring up
• Skin is generally quite lacklustre and dull.

How to support your skin microbiome

Be gentle and balanced with your skincare

“The skin’s microbiome helps to keep the skin calm, clear, and happy. Over-cleansing, harsh products, or even stress can mess with that balance. Skincare is shifting towards being gentler and more supportive, focusing on keeping your skin’s natural ecosystem in check,” Says Dr Raffaella Gabassi.

Start with gentle, pH- balanced cleansers as products like harsh foaming cleansers can disrupt protective oils and disrupt your microbiome. Look for products that are labelled pH balanced or have a pH close to 4.5-5.5. A balanced, slightly acidic skin pH, ideally between 4.5 and 5.5, is crucial for a healthy skin microbiome as it supports the beneficial bacteria and inhibits the pathogenic ones, so looking for skincare within that range is perfect to support your skin.

Be gentle with your acids and scrubs: don’t overdo it! Daily scrubbing or overuse of acids can strip away your barrier and the beneficial bacterial, so exfoliate gently.

Next, lock in hydration with ceramides and barrier supporting moisturisers. Ingredients like fatty acids, ectoin, squalane and hyaluronic acid are also fab at helping to lock in hydration and protect the microbiome.

Even your daily habits make a difference:

• Avoid very hot showers: it can be tempting particularly when its cooler outside, but it will dry out the skin.
• Use a humidifier indoors – this can help your skin to maintain optimal hydration and barrier function, particularly when you’re using central heating which can dry out the skin.

Protect your skin barrier

Look to incorporate micro-biome friendly ingredients to protect your skin barrier including:

• Prebiotics (this feeds the good bacteria): look for chicory root and oat extract.
• Probiotics (introduces good bacteria): look for fermented ingredients and lactobacillus.
• Postbiotics (the by-products of probiotics), often found in soothing serums/creams.

And remember, it’s not just what you put on your skin that matters. What you eat plays a role too. A diet rich in fibre and fermented foods supports a healthy gut microbiome, which in turn benefits your skin.

Microbiome-Friendly Skincare Products

Cleansers

Moisturisers

Serums and Treatments

By taking care of your skin’s microbiome and respecting your skin’s natural ecosystem, you strengthen your barrier and create the ideal conditions for beautiful skin. It’s the foundation of long-term skin wellness, no matter your skin type, age or gender!