An interview with AMPERNA®'s head chemist, Rita
We recently attended a skincare and beauty industry trade show and were excited by the level of interest in AMPERNA®, specifically with regards to the use of probiotics in skincare.
The use of probiotics in skincare products is a new concept to many people and while most of us understand how probiotics can work to aid digestion and help balance out our internal microbiome (the thousands of microorganisms or bacteria that live within and on the surface of our bodies), a lot of people are still in the dark when it comes to how probiotics actually work in skincare products.
We thought it was time to delve a little deeper into this topic and clarify the science behind our range with the help of AMPERNA®’s head chemist Rita.
Let’s Start at the Very Top – Just What are Probiotics?
Rita: Probiotics are referred to as live active microorganisms or bacteria. These include various bacteria strains such as; Bifidobacterium & Lactobacillus (read more about these two strains of probiotic). These are uniquely helpful bacteria that occur naturally.
We all know the undisputed health benefits of eating foods that contain probiotics, such as yogurt, kefir, and kimchi, or of taking probiotic supplements. Probiotics help restore the natural balance of bacteria.
So how do they Work in Skincare Products?
Rita: Both good and bad bacteria live on our skin. Although the top layers of our skin are dead, there is still a lot of microflora (bacteria) on the surface. It’s easy to see if these microflora are being disrupted when skin problems such as acne, redness, itching, dry patches and other inflammations and irritations occur.
Probiotics can help to keep and restore the natural balance of the skin microbiota.
In skincare products, probiotics and their derivatives, known as lysates, work beautifully with other skincare ingredients. Furthermore, as the probiotics break down on the skin’s surface, they create amazing new ingredients for skin such as hyaluronic acid, peptides and vitamins, as well as increasing the presence of ceramides. This in turn leads to diminished signs of ageing, better hydration, and a radiance that’s visible proof of skin’s renewed vitality.
When our skin’s biome is in good balance, you can visibly see results and the benefits can include:
- Restoring a healthy pH Balance to the skin
- Improved ability to stay hydrated
- Strengthening the skin’s surface against environmental damage
- Strengthening the skin’s surface against ingredients in everyday skincare products, where previously they may have caused irritation, redness and blotching
Drying out your skin biome not only doesn’t get rid of pimples, but it can make your skin inflamed and feeling a whole lot worse.
How did you Choose the Probiotic you Included in AMPERNA®?
Rita: Our chosen probiotic acts on essential features in the aging process of the skin, and has the ability to both successfully adapt to its constantly changing environment and effectively renew itself.
AMPERNA®’s probiotic may help to speed up skin repair by enhancing cellular renewal while also increasing collagen production to improve texture. Combined with the increased rate of exfoliation, the improvements in hydration may help to further minimise the appearance of wrinkles for additional anti-aging results.
Probiotics are Becoming Increasingly Popular as a Skincare Ingredient, Why do you Think that is?
Rita: I think that skincare wellness is an important trend. People want to feel good on the inside and out, so it’s only a natural follow on for us to ensure that our skin looks good.
With the rise of skin conditions such as redness, dryness, itchy skin and breakouts, consumers have been turning to a more healing and holistic approach to their skincare regime.
When patients started to see results in their skin’s appearance and wellbeing from consuming probiotics, the leaders in the research industry for skincare ingredients started to see some robust research on probiotics and overall skin health. This has led to a surge in this probiotic trend.
Find out more about AMPERNA®’s unique range of active, healing ingredients here.
Find out what the American Academy of Dermatology had to say about the benefits of probiotic skincare for acne and rosacea in their article ‘Could probiotics be the next big thing in acne and rosacea treatments’.
Discover more about the scientific research behind the use of topically applied probiotics in the extensive report ‘probiotics for skin benefits’.
Read how bacteria on some people’s skin may play a role in the development of acne in this scientific article ‘The balance of metagenomic elements shapes the skin microbiome in acne and health’.
