Ferments, Probiotics and Postbiotics
Ingredients made by fermenting plants, yeasts or bacteria, used to hydrate, soothe and support a balanced skin microbiome.
ferment filtrate, ferment extract, lysate, Lactobacillus ferment, Bifida ferment lysate, Saccharomyces ferment filtrate, galactomyces ferment filtrate, Bacillus ferment, yeast extract, probiotics, postbiotics, prebiotics, microbiome skincare
Dry & dehydrated skin · Dull skin · Sensitive skin · Barrier support
What it does
Ferments are ingredients made by letting yeasts or bacteria break down plants, milk, soy or other materials, and they appear on labels as ferment filtrates, extracts or lysates. Fermentation produces amino acids, vitamins, organic acids and sugars that hydrate and condition the skin, which is why ferments are a staple of essences. Many are also used to support the skin microbiome, the community of microbes living on the surface that helps keep skin calm and resilient.
How it works
The terms overlap. Probiotics are live microbes; prebiotics, such as inulin, feed the helpful ones; postbiotics are what microbes leave behind, including lysates, filtrates and fragments. Because cosmetics must be preserved, most 'probiotic' skincare contains inactivated microbes or their by-products rather than live cultures. These can help hydrate, soothe and support the barrier. Supporting the microbiome is a promising idea, but research on what topical ferments do to it is still at an early stage.
MG says
Eighth Day's The Restorative Cleanser, with probiotics and exfoliating enzymes, is a gentle gel that purifies and balances while bolstering the skin's microbiome, leaving skin perfectly clean, never dry or tight. In an essence, ferments add a layer of hydration that helps the serums that follow absorb.
Cautions
Ferments are generally well tolerated. Yeast and bacterial ferments can occasionally cause a reaction, so patch test, particularly if your skin is sensitive or reactive, and check the source if you have a known allergy, for example to soy or milk.
