Many of us know the benefits of incorporating fermented foods into the diet such as probiotics yoghurt due to the friendly bacteria that it has in it which is a positive for gut health and therefore overall health.
Fermented ingredients in skincare are also beneficial…they have been in abundance in Korea for some time but now the world is catching up..and no it does not involve smearing sauerkraut all over your face (thank goodness).
So what actually is a fermented ingredient? In simple terms it is an ingredient where it has been put in an environment to allow ‘good bacteria’ to grow. The bacteria feeds on sugar and starch and generates lactic acid. This process creates a lot of by products like B vitamins, probiotics, Omega 3 fatty acids and enzymes, making the ingredient rich in things that it didn’t have before.
There is some though that fermented ingredients can help to build collagen as well as an antibacterial effect. Some reduce sensitivity and help skin repair itself.
There are a some of skincare brands that are starting to include fermented ingredients such as lactobacillus, bifida ferment lysate and fermented lemon extract.
We incorporate this into our Signature facials through our Enzyme exfoliant. It is ever so gentle but nibbles away the dead skin cells as an alternative to using a scrub and it contains Bacillus Ferment Extract. It creates a smoother more youthful looking skin.
Keep an eye out for these ingredients next time you are buying skincare..will this be a fad or something here to stay?