Probiotic skincare is one of the big beauty trends of 2017. Although several probiotic skincare products exist, it's an ingredient I've known little about...until now.
Probiotic is a word you're probably more than familiar with. Shit, if you're anything like me, you will associate it with healthy yogurts (annnnd if you're anything like me, you won't eat them).
Probiotics are simply good bacteria that support a healthy body, in particular a healthy digestive system. They help fight inflammation in the gut, neutralising certain toxins and helping block out others. Probiotics are naturally found in the body, however many foods and supplements contain them. Consuming those that do help to balance the levels of good and bad bacteria in your body, keeping you healthy af.
Interestingly, recent research has found that both internal consumption and external application of probiotics has significantly benefited the skin. Apparently good bacteria helps treat various chronic skin conditions, including rosacea, eczema and acne. But what is more interesting is that probiotics are able to fight signs of ageing and they do this by increasing collagen and elastin production and reducing inflammation.
This may surprise some of you, but excessive cellular inflammation is considered to be one of the root causes of premature skin ageing. As Clare Vero - founder of probiotic skincare brand Aurelia - puts it, "When skin inflammation occurs, the extracellular matrix’s (ECM) function deteriorates. The ECM is essential for processes like growth and skin healing. When the skin becomes inflamed at the cell layer, degradation of the ECM occurs and it can no longer maintain the skin’s firm and elastic structure, leading to premature ageing". So its ability to powerfully tackle inflammation, both inside and out, is what makes probiotics seriously impressive anti-ageing agents.
The use of probiotics in skincare is becoming more and more popular. So much so that several brands are founded upon this miracle skincare ingredient. GLOWBIOTICS MD and Aurelia are just two of them...
GLOWBIOTICS is a vegan, cruelty free and conscientious brand with its own unique ingredient, the Glowbiotics Balancing Complex. This ingredient is a powerful blend of probiotic and prebiotic bioactives, antioxidants and therapeutic nutrients designed to help balance and restore aging, stressed skin. There are a huge number of products in the GLOWBIOTICS range, however some of my favourites are the Retinol Anti-Aging + Brightening Treatment, Ultra Rich Brightening Cream and Anti-Wrinkle Illuminating Eye Cream.
Aurelia is a British beauty brand that really put probiotic skincare in the hearts of beauty loving bitches everywhere. It was founded by Claire Vero, who began Aurelia's journey out of a desire to create a "brand focused on luxury twinned with nature but formulated and proven by scientists for serious age prevention". She saw the benefits of using probiotics in skincare firsthand and this discovery helped give Aurelia the result-driven roots it needed!
The brand's hero Miracle Cleanser is gorgeous, however some of my other Aurelia favourites include the Revitalise & Glow Serum, Brightening Botanical Essence and Botanical Cream Deodorant.