To answer this several questions come to mind. This first is why is the trend is having such a big impact on the skin care category right now? Next is what scientific evidence is there to assure that these type of products are out there? And answering these questions should give us a far better idea of whether or not it is here to stay.
I will cover these point in this article by referencing content we have previously published, but I would also like to point you to our Cosmetics Design Skin Microbiome Innovation Summit, which includes a comprehensive two-day speaker programme that will be going far deeper into these questions and many more.
The Cosmetics Design Skin Microbiome Innovation Summit
If you would like to find out more or if you feel you’d like to attend the Summit, which takes place June 24 to 25th, in Amsterdam, please click on the link for the Cosmetics Design Summit, which will provide details about the presentations, the speakers and registration.
Some of the biggest names in the formulation side of the industry have already stepped in to back the event, including DSM and Givaudan, who are both diamond sponsors, Sabinsa Cosmetics and Solabia Cosmetics as platinum sponsors, Atlantia Food Trials and Mibelle Biochemistry as gold sponsors and Indena as a supporter sponsor – giving a huge boost to the programme and its gravitas.
Tying in with the fact that this is such a massive trend right now, and the fact that the Cosmetics Design team has dedicated its Summit to skin microbiome, we have developed a significant volume of content as a means of supporting beauty and personal care professionals to be more informed, which can be referenced at the dedicated Cosmetics Design Europe hot topic section.
Why skin microbiome is trending
The message that is getting out to consumers is that skin microbiome is of optimum importance to overall skin health and that by promoting a healthy microbiome, the results can lead to a healthier, better protected skin that radiates.
But there is more to it than that. A large variety of skin conditions, from acne to rosacea and eczema have all been linked to changes in the skin microbiome that result in an unhealthy balanced of bacteria that can in turn exacerbate these skin conditions.
If microbiome targeted skin care products can be scientifically proven to treat these kind of skin conditions, which afflict a huge percentage of the population, and promote general skin care health, then this will make it a trend that is here to stay.
Underlining this, an extensive range of skin care products have been developed and launched on to the market in the past couple of years, many of which have taken very different approaches to tackling the issue of promoting a healthy skin microbiome.
The science behind microbiome
Scientific research is probably the biggest tool to help underscore the reasons why microbiome targeted skin care products are worth investing in for consumers. Do they actually work?
The big trigger for microbiome skin care has been advances in research into genetic sequencing, which has in turn given insight into gut and skin microbiome and how both can have a positive impact on health.
Although the scientific evidence is still unraveling about the effect different bacteria have on skin health, most researchers seem to now concur that it is not a question ofgood and bad bacteria, but more about cultivating a healthy microbiome biodiversity for the skin.
Focusing on microbiome diversity
In an article by Lucy Whitehouse, we interviewed Joomo skin research director Kit Wallen Russel, who will also be a speaker at our Cosmetics Design Summit.
In the article, Wallen Russell underscored how his peer-reviewed reach points to the importance of an abundant microbiome biodiversity, rather than focusing on specific bacteria strains.
By focusing on encouraging a biodiverse skin microbiome, the Joomo development team claims that its products serve to enhance several key areas that contribute to skin health, including regulations the skin pH level, promoting good levels of sebaceous gland secretion and regulating the eccrine sweat glands to also enhance pH levels and sebum.