TREND ALERT: The Microbiome Boom
Great skin is no longer just about good skincare… it’s all about that magic word popping up everywhere – Microbiome. What the heck is it and why should we care? Your microbiome is the collection of all microbes, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and their genes, that naturally live on our bodies and inside us. They are tiny but they are doing extraordinary things for your health. Scientists and aestheticians, beauty therapists and nutritionists are all getting together to create the best possible formula for your skin and for your overall health. So along with seeing pre and probiotics in your skincare, you might also see nutritional supplements that support your gut and skin microbiomes. Take the Nutrimetics Super Greens supplement for example – a recent return and right on time for this growing trend.
Ingredients include:
Organic spirulina - Not only does spirulina support the good gut bacteria which are essential for maintaining a healthy immune system, it is also packed with a powerful mix of vitamins, minerals and complete essential amino acids that helps support your body's natural immune response. It will also boost the overall health and radiant appearance of your skin, as well as preventing acne build up and swelling.
Organic Alfalfa – Alfalfa is in the legume family. Legumes are a rich source of a range of fibre types that are broken down in the large intestine by your gut bacteria or microbiota. Eating whole foods that are naturally higher in dietary fibre can help to create and maintain a more diverse gut microbiota. A diverse gut microbiome creates a gut environment unfavorable for harmful bacteria and helps to maintain the health and integrity of the gut lining. And, because alfalfa is brimming with anti-oxidants that fight free radicals in your body, the skin picks up this benefit too.
Organic Wheatgrass – A living food that is regarded as a super potent health food with amazing benefits. Among these benefits is that wheatgrass has high levels of enzymes that aid in digestion by helping your body to break down food and absorb nutrients. Wheatgrass has high Vitamin C & Vitamin K too, which is great for skin cell regeneration Organic Barley Grass – The powerhouse of antioxidants! Barley grass is rich in vitamins A and C and these vitamins help fight off free radicals that can damage your body. They help carry free radicals out of the body and lower your risk of problems ranging from decreased skin elasticity to breast and colon cancer.
Probiotics / prebiotics and the micro biome… is HUGE! Not that long ago, the belief was that the very top layers of your skin (stratum corneum) were just – dead skin cells without a purpose other than shedding. But in recent times, scientists and researchers have found the top layers have an eco-system of their own, which actually keeps your skin healthy. Now, you will start to see good bacteria in your skincare (a bit like how good bacteria is in your yoghurt) and there are literally trillions of bugs on the surface of our skin, making up over a thousand different bacteria types. A healthy micro biome means healthy skin but the skin microbiome changes depending on several factors. The critters also vary depending on the amount of light and whether the area is moist, dry, hairy, or oily. And the microbiome differs with age and gender. For instance, a hormonal, sweaty teenage boy sports a very different microbiome than a sedentary, postmenopausal woman. A healthy skin microbiome communicates with our immune system, protects us from infection, calms inflammation, aids wound healing, minimises UV oxidisation and keeps the skin plump and moist. It’s amazing! Did you know, for several years, Nutrimetics has their own probiotic, microbiome-supporting product? The ‘Lactobacillus Probiotic’ in Platinum Skin Regeneration Toning Essence works to re-balance the natural pH levels on the skin’s surface. Acting as a tonic to the skin, it increases skin firmness and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.