Is this the answer to your microbiome issues? An explainer on prebiotic skincare

There’s a new beauty wave fuelled by the power of prebiotics.

Feeling exhausted by complex, 24-step skincare regimes? There’s a new beauty wave of simple products and skincare routines fuelled by the power of prebiotics. Instead of overcomplicating the process with different tools and tinctures, prebiotic skincare just focuses on our natural microbiome, first and foremost.

The new Melbourne-based skincare brand Darl is about products that support your skin, instead of trying to change it. Combining a careful mix of natural and synthetic ingredients, Darl is a beauty brand built on fuss-free, prebiotic formulations.

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Darl’ is the lovechild of six skincare-obsessed Australians. Its founders opted to push back against insecurity-driven marketing tendencies and instead, have leant into a knowledge-based approach that focuses on a core trio of products.

What the heck is the microbiome of the skin?

Scientific terms can seem intimidating, but when it comes to understanding the function of the skin, having the basics down can help us more intuitively look after our body’s largest organ.

With a background in clinical nutrition and a hands-on role in creating Darl’s formulas, founder Josie Penn explains “The microbiome is an essential aspect of healthy, well-functioning skin… [it’s the] resident population of trillions of bacteria, yeasts, fungi and viruses that reside on the skin”.

It’s not as terrifying as it sounds. Actually, having a strong microbiome can be a huge supporter of the function and overall health of the skin.

“When the microbiome is restored to full health the skin becomes less sensitive, we see fewer breakouts, the barrier can be restored… [and] maintaining hydration becomes easier and the skin becomes more fortified, making it increasingly resilient to external stressors,” said Josie.

Where does prebiotic skincare come into it?

Rather than stripping your skin of its natural bacteria – both good and bad – through intense chemical ingredients, prebiotics are a simple way to preserve the important foundation of skin health.

“Prebiotic ingredients act as a food source to the microbiome… [which] promotes the automatic production of skin-loving postbiotics including short chain fatty acids, vitamins, enzymes and peptides,” says Josie.

“[This plays] a role in strengthening the skin barrier, locking in moisture and minimising irritation and skin sensitivity… Support the microbiome with prebiotics and you have a snowball effect of healthy skin optimising factors (or postbiotics) taking place that your skin creates for you!”

What are the benefits of prebiotic skincare?

Once your skin’s microbiome is fed and maintained through probiotics, the natural process of skin repair takes over from there. Crafted from all-Australian ingredients, Darl’s compact trio of biocompatible skincare products are designed to harness prebiotics to restore the microbiome and fortify the skin’s barrier.

“All three products contain prebiotic ingredients which support the microbiome of the skin – crowding out acne-causing bacteria but supporting a healthy bacterium for best-functioning skin,” Josie said.

“You will notice a natural glow, plumper, brighter, healthier looking skin as a knock-on effect of using prebiotic skincare to restore your beautiful biome.”

The low-down on preservatives

Though preservatives are often included in skincare to increase shelf life by minimising bacterial growth in water-based products, they can pose a threat to a diverse microbiome. When applied, products containing parabens and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives will not only halt bad bacterial growth but also wipe out the good microbiome culture on the skin.

 

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To best harness the prebiotic potency, Darl opts out of preservatives in two of its three formulas. “The cleanser and the oil are both waterless, so no need for a preservative… which ensures the products live up to their prebiotic function,” Josie said.

However, when it came to formulating the serum, “The process of developing a preservative that supported the microbiome and maintained shelf stability was a major challenge, but we’re thrilled to say we cracked it,” Josie explains.

“The serum is an aloe vera-based product so requires a preservative… one that is slower acting and does not indiscriminately wipe out your microbiome – so your skin truly benefits from all that prebiotic goodness.”

Does prebiotic skincare work for everyone?

Many of us know when you’re dealing with sensitive, dry, irritated or breakout-prone skin, you probably want to avoid new products for the risk of making the issue worse. But introducing prebiotics into your regime can actually help calm your skin down.

“If you have sensitive or reactive skin, or even skin that you just cannot seem to hydrate no matter how many moisturisers you use… the microbiome and possibly the skin barrier are not as healthy as they could be,” Josie said. “… Prebiotic skincare is a no-brainer for vibrantly healthy skin.”

For more on simplifying your skincare routine, head here.