When we hear the word “fermentation,” skin care might not be the first association to come to mind. Many of us are familiar with fermented foods and drinks like sauerkraut, kimchi and kombucha. Driven in part by the popularity of the paleo diet, a rich practice has developed around the fermentation of other vegetables like carrots, garlic and even turnips. Of course, we can’t forget some of the oldest products of fermentation: wine, cider and beer. 

But fermentation doesn’t end with food. One of the foremost trends gaining momentum on the skin care landscape is the use of fermentation for skin care products. Over the last few years, we have seen a number of brands enter the market with fermented products. Where is this new emphasis on fermentation coming from? And—most importantly—does it actually help?

Let’s take a look at the how and why of fermentation in skin care. 

How Did Fermented Skin Care Become Popular?

Most skin care watchers trace the current buzz around fermentation to the K-Beauty trend. So named for its emergence in South Korea, K-Beauty is a skin care system that focuses on warding off signs of aging, avoiding blemishes and achieving bright, flawless skin. We’ve given suggestions on implementing a Korean-inspired routine before in the blog: Simple 10 Step Korean Skincare Routine for Beginners.

Fermented foods are an indispensable part of South Korean cuisine. Aside from the recognizable kimchi (mostly cabbage), rice, soybean and fish are all regularly fermented for South Korean dishes. These dishes have long been associated with antioxidant and nutritional properties. With such close exposure to the methods and benefits of fermentation, it should be no surprise that K-Beauty promoted fermentation in skin care. Read more about Kimchi here.

Does Fermentation Have Benefits?

Aside from serving as antioxidants, fermented foods have been credited with delivering helpful prebiotics and anti-inflammatory agents. As skin care users have discovered, many of these benefits also apply when fermented substances are applied topically. To understand why, we must examine what the process of fermentation does to organic substances.

When a skin care ingredient is fermented, it is broken down into component parts over time. Because these components are reduced in size, they are better able to reach deep into the skin. Additionally, they are less likely to clog pores or cause unwanted buildup, making fermented ingredients ideal for those with sensitive skin. At the same time, fermentation is a gentle process, allowing the ingredient to retain more of its activity level. 

The end result is an ingredient that does more, goes deeper and causes fewer side effects. 

How Does Skin Actives Use Fermentation? 

At Skin Actives, we’re pleased to see fermentation become more widely appreciated. One of our most-used ingredients is Sea Kelp Bioferment, familiar to the many who rely on our soothing, moisturizing Sea Kelp Coral. Derived from algae extract, Sea Kelp Bioferment is made with a special fermentation process. The rich antioxidant capacity of our Sea Kelp products comes straight from the botanical source, where plants use antioxidants to tolerate heavy sun exposure. Through the process of fermentation, we are able to unlock those antioxidant nutrients in a form the skin can accept.

Another key benefit of Sea Kelp Bioferment is anti-inflammatory action. Because fermented products can help to balance the microbiome of the skin, they serve to discourage bacteria and other sources of irritation. As our readers will know, keeping the skin barrier healthy does more to support calm, clear skin than a routine involving over-cleansing.

Given that Sea Kelp Bioferment is featured in dozens of Skin Actives bestsellers—including Collagen Serum, Antioxidant Serum, and our recently released Hydrating and Firming Age-Defying Cream, just to name a few—it’s safe to say that Skin Actives has been leading the way on fermentation since the beginning. But we didn’t stop with one success.

Those of you who have tried our new Hair Care products may be interested to learn that several of them include an ingredient new to Skin Actives: Kefir Bioferment. Seeing the many positive outcomes delivered by Sea Kelp Bioferment, we went back to the lab and tweaked our fermentation process to support all-new classes of Skin Actives product. 

The result, Kefir Bioferment, is an ingredient that carries a similar antioxidant profile as Sea Kelp Bioferment, while leaning equally into the anti-inflammatory effects. We soon realized it was the perfect fit for our new Nourishing Hair Mask, Leave-In Conditioner and Brow and Lash Conditioner. Due to factors such as an abundance of oils, areas covered with hair are often affected by redness, itchiness or irritation. The anti-inflammatory effects of Kefir Bioferment work perfectly here, penetrating deeply into the face or scalp to provide relief.

We also chose to harness the advantages of fermentation with Barrier Repair Cream, the finishing touch on our new Gentle Perfecting collection. Thanks to its ability to balance and enhance the skin barrier, Kefir Bioferment was an obvious choice. When used alone or as part of a routine with other Gentle Perfecting products, Barrier Repair Cream promotes a calm, clear complexion without the need for aggressive or damaging cleansers or exfoliants. 

Time to Give Fermented Products a Try?

By now it should be clear that fermentation has its roots throughout the Skin Actives lineup. As with any hot topic on the skin care market, we encourage our customers to seek out clear, scientific information—too many times, new trends give rise to spurious claims and poorly thought-out products. If you’re interested in exploring what fermented products have to offer, you may want to choose a brand that has been making them for years. Take it from the hundreds of five-star reviews on our website: Skin Actives does it right.

References

Patra, J. K., Das, G., Paramithiotis, S., & Shin, H.-S. (2016, September 28). Kimchi and other widely consumed traditional fermented foods of Korea: A Review. Frontiers in microbiology. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5039233/#s2title