We live in very health-conscious times and switched-on skin care consumers no longer see bacteria as something that must be removed at all costs. Instead, in the quest for wellbeing and beautiful looking skin, they are looking for ways to maintain the natural balance of their microbiota.
Our skin hosts some 1 million micro-organisms and they have an essential role to play, protecting and promoting skin health and beauty. Among most common are the bacteria Cutibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus hominis, Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus oralis, and Micrococcus luteus; and the fungi Malassezia globosa and Malassezia restrica.
A growing body of scientific evidence points to a link between certain common skin concerns and imbalances (dysbiosis) in the skin’s microbiota, for example:
To avoid imbalances that could lead to skin concerns, it’s important to keep interventions in the skin microbiome to a minimum. So, we should strive to make personal care products as microbiome-friendly as we can. Then, we need to reassure consumers that the personal care products they choose will respect the balance, diversity, and vitality of their skin microbiome.
Every person’s skin microbiome is unique to them, but there are some key microbial organisms typically found on certain skin areas. The "MyMicrobiome Standard" is an independent benchmark for evaluating the influence of cosmetic and personal care products on these key organisms in a standardized way
To be certified as microbiome friendly under the standard, a product is tested in three areas:
Diversity – is the diversity of the skin microbiome preserved in the presence of the product?
Vitality – are the key organisms specific to the skin area where the product will be used able to grow unharmed?
Balance – on healthy skin, does the product disturb skin balance by suppressing protective bacteria and fostering harmful bacteria?
Products that pass these tests can be classified as microbiome-friendly and receive a "Microbiome-friendly" seal of approval.
To increase trust and transparency for you and your consumers, dsm-firmenich has started to test personal care ingredients of their portfolio with this standard and four of our ingredients already carry the “Microbiome Friendly label”: ALPAFLOR® ALP-SEBUM CB, TILAMAR® PDO with NØØVISTA™, HYA-ACT™.
And to find out more about the world’s first independent standard for microbiome-friendly products, visit My Microbiome here.
According to Mintel, 50% of consumers of soap/bath/shower products aged 18+ in the US are interested in trying products that protect the microbiome. As an example, increased handwashing/sanitizing during the pandemic has boosted consumer desire for skin care solutions that maintain the skin microbiota’s natural functions and benefits. This demand will reach across many segments. Common skin conditions such as eczema and acne will also drive formulations to target the microbiome.
Ultimately, consumers want to feel confident that they’re making the right choice when buying a skin care product. Using standards such as MyMicrobiome makes it easy for them to choose products.
After securing the microbiome-friendly label for some of our key ingredients, we then developed a ready-to-use formulation in close cooperation with MyMicrobiome that also carries their seal. By combining microbiome-friendly skin care ingredients with our application expertise, we can offer customers an identical 1:1 composition without any re-testing.
In the article, we showcase the innovative data analysis technique we’ve been using to understand more about skin microbiota composition, and findings from new studies on how key bacteria in
As skin care needs differ from season to season, this inspirational formulation line-up could be the answer to all your changing desires throughout the year! Plus, three of these formulation
This skin microbiome friendly new ingredient line, HYA-ACT™ includes highly efficient hyaluronic acid grades featuring different molecular weights that deliver the efficacy and beauty benefits customers want.
ALPAFLOR® EDELWEISS CB is an organic bioactive that protects skin barrier, enhances skin resistance to external stress factors and provides an ultimate skin sensation. It is COSMOS and NATRUE organic certified and Fair for Life fair trade certified.
The skin microbiome is increasingly thought to be the key to enhancing skin appearance. By combining our expertise in microbiology and epidermal science, we create new innovative skin microbiome personal care solutions.
We have taken a look at the growing enthusiasm for medical beauty, and the products serving this trend, to ensure we offer customers the best skin care ingredients for non-invasive solutions.
