Beauty Breakthrough
The same good bacteria that support optimal digestive health-probiotics-can work wonders on your skin.
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Probiotics, the “friendly” bacteria that are crucial for a healthy digestive tract, are also good for your skin. The American Academy of Dermatology named probiotics one of 2014’s beauty breakthroughs after research showed that oral and topical probiotics can significantly benefit skin conditions, including acne, rosacea, and eczema.
Oral probiotics may ease skin issues by introducing healthy bacteria into the digestive system, whether in supplement form or as live active cultures found in yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and other fermented foods. Essentially, probiotic supplements work by helping prevent the system-wide inflammation that’s thought to lead to acne and rosacea.
Found in masks, creams, soaps, and other skin-care products, topical probiotics can help calm redness and irritation, according to recent research. And some probiotic-based beauty products even help kill germs.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, topical probiotics can cause “bacterial interference” by obstructing bacteria and parasites that cause inflammation, redness, or bumps. Researchers are now looking into which specific strains of probiotics make substances with antimicrobial properties.
Probiotics’ Antiaging Bonus!
By calming inflammation and acting as a protective shield for the skin’s surface, probiotics can help hydrate aging skin, thereby reducing wrinkles and improving skin’s elasticity.
Tame blotchiness, lighten hyperpigmentation, and reduce pesky imperfections with Acure Radical Resurfacing Treatment. Fermented lemon peel probiotic, poet’s daffodil stem cells, and organic chlorella growth factor are the active ingredients in this light, silky cream. Great for all skin types, including acne-prone skin.
Farmhouse Fresh Pajama Paste Soothing Active Yogurt Mask is a spa-style treatment made with probiotic-rich yogurt cultures combined with bentonite clay, oats, and wild honey-an almost edible combo that helps detoxify, moisturize, reduce redness, and tighten skin. According to the label, this mask does just about everything but the dishes!
Tired of dark spots and discoloration? Diminish them both with Andalou Naturals Probiotic + C Renewal Cream. This daily moisturizer brightens skin, evens skin tone, and improves skin’s immunity with a Lactobacillus – based probiotic source. Vitamin C and apple and grape stem cells provide a punch of antioxidants for a healthy glow.
Dry, stressed, or sensitive skin is no match for Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotic Hadayubi Lavender Moisturizer by Essential Formulas. This soothing, fast-absorbing moisturizer boasts a proprietary probiotic extract that works by balancing the skin’s pH level. You’ll also find antioxidant-rich herbs and Japanese magoroku oil (packed with skin-nourishing essential fatty acids). And lavender oil is added to calm skin irritations and for its aromatherapeutic effects. It’s designed for daily use on face, hands, and body.
Beauty Culture
From the Romans, who feasted regularly on sauerkraut, to people in ancient India, who sipped on lassis before dinner, fermented foods have been a staple in the human diet for millennia. Brimming with beauty-boosting probiotics, fermented foods are a surefire way to get a clearer, brighter complexion. Here are 10 foods naturally rich in good-for-you bacteria to emphasize in your diet:
- Buttermilk
- Coconut yogurt and kefir
- Lassi (an Indian beverage made with yogurt or buttermilk, spices, and sometimes fruit)
- Kefir
- Kombucha tea
- Miso (try our recipe for Miso Braised Butternut Squash)
- Pickles
- Sauerkraut and kimchi
- Tempeh
- Yogurt