Posted June 22, 2015 in Blog
When it comes to skincare, it seems like a reputedly miraculous new product or method pops up daily. While some beauty trends are worth trying, oftentimes tried-and-true methods end up being the best way to go.
In Korea, one very old trick is gaining a resurgence in popularity: fermented skincare. While the words “bacteria” and “moisturizer” don’t inspire much confidence, the list of potential benefits is long. But can fermented products really improve the health and beauty of your skin?
WHAT IS FERMENTED SKINCARE?
Fermented skincare contains fermented ingredients that purportedly improve the efficacy and potency of the product—without the need for preservatives. In theory, this works because:
- Fermentation (the metabolic breakdown of sugars into enzymes and amino acids, as processed by good microorganisms) naturally keeps “bad” bacteria at bay
- The process results in smaller, more easily absorbable molecules that, hypothetically, have a better chance of penetrating the skin
- Just like with foods or drinks (wine, anyone?), fermentation increases potency, meaning your skincare could have a denser concentration of healthy nutrients, antioxidants, peptides, proteins, and amino acids
The most common fermented ingredients you’ll see listed on your new Korean face cream include aloe, soy, rice, and botanicals like chrysanthemum or dandelion.
SO, DOES IT WORK?
While most people agree that fermented foods and probiotics can provide a host of health benefits when ingested regularly, we’re still waiting to hear a bit more about a skincare application. Topical probiotics are slowing appearing in the United States, but research is just beginning and the jury’s still out on this one.
Here at Dr. Brother’s office, we see numerous patients hoping to improve skin health, reduce visible signs of aging, and address a variety of skin concerns. While our licensed aestheticians love it when a new product can help our patients with their diverse skincare needs, we wait for clinical studies to prove that a given treatment is both effective and safe before recommending it to you.
Our advice: talk to a professional before trying any new skincare trend, especially if there’s not much science backing it up. There is often a proven alternative for addressing each of your skin health concerns that you can choose instead. Everyone deserves to have healthy, radiant skin, and we don’t want you to gamble with yours!
Read more about the new fermented skincare trend here.
