When a product’s label says ‘fermented oil,’ it means the product contains an oil that has undergone the process of having a specialized microorganism introduced in an anaerobic environment (without oxygen,)” Norman explains. This process converts the carbohydrates in the original oil to acid plus energy.
These help to restore elasticity, even skin tone and texture to improve overall clarity, while keeping it drenched with moisture. Fermented oils in the Ojas Beauty Balm reduce skin damage and make the skin more resilient, nourished and healthy as it is easily absorbed into the deeper layers of the skin.
We were just getting used to putting probiotics (like kombucha and kimchi) in our bodies when topical probiotic ingredients came along. Using fermented oils and other probiotic ingredients in skincare is a fast-growing trend. As someone who appreciates what fermented foods and drinks do for our digestive systems and immunity, I wanted to know all about the benefits they provide when applied to our skin, so I turned to the experts.
Layers founder Rachel Behm and founder of Humanist Beauty Jennifer Norman both use fermented ingredients in their products. Ahead, they to breakdown the functions of fermented oils in skincare. Read on to learn why your beauty products might be better if they are fermented.
Is Fermented Ingredients In Skincare a New Thing?
Consuming probiotics has been popular in indigenous cultures for ages, but it only reached the cultural mainstream in the West over the past few decades. Is the same true for skincare? Have people been fermenting their oils for ages, and we’re just now catching on? Not so much.
Fermenting oil for topical beauty is a newer ideal. “More research has been done to determine the benefits of topically applying fermented ingredients,” Norman says. “While the process of fermentation is quite ancient, the discovery of topically-applied skin benefits has only more recently been studied.”
Is fermented oil good for skin?
These help to restore elasticity, even skin tone and texture to improve overall clarity, while keeping it drenched with moisture. Fermented oils in the Ojas Beauty Balm reduce skin damage and make the skin more resilient, nourished and healthy as it is easily absorbed into the deeper layers of the skin.
The Benefits of Fermentation in Skincare
There are numerous benefits to applying fermented ingredients as there is ingesting them. Before delving into those, though, there is one major caveat to acknowledge. “Consumers should be aware that just because a product says it contains fermented oils, it doesn’t mean that the product will deliver benefits,” Norman notes. “I always recommend that consumers dig deeper to learn about the actual fermented ingredients and if they have clinical tests showing skin benefits.”
What does fermented mean in skincare?
Fermented skincare, much like fermented foods, means that microorganisms (bacteria) have been added, which release enzymes that break down the ingredients
Why is fermented skincare good?
“Because of this natural process, fermented skin-care products generally contain higher, more potent concentrations of vitamins and antioxidants, which help to fight free-radical damage and protect against UV damage,”
The Science Backing The Claims
While there’s room for a lot more research on the benefits and effects of fermented skincare, some journals on the subject have been published, backing its beneficial nature. 2018 study notes that probiotic extracts can help with photo-aging, also known as sun damage. Another study concluded that fermented red ginseng increased anti-wrinkle efficacy and reduced toxicological potency compared to no-fermented red ginseng.
How Fermented Oil Can Change a Product Overall
The formulation of fermented products relies on the ingredients being at the proper dosage and created with specific skin functions in mind. Both Norman and Behm use entirely different fermented ingredients for different reasons.
Norman tells me that two medicinal fermented oil complexes were formulated into Humanist’s Herban Wisdom Facial Oil at adequate levels. The ferments, called Fermentoil Glycyrrhiza and Fermentoil Shiunko, were developed by a Korean biotech firm called Labio. “Both fermented oils are created by introducing natural plant oils to a yeast microorganism called Pseudozyma,” Norman explains. “The Pseudozyma breaks the triglycerides and fatty acids into glycerol plus free fatty acids with mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs) as byproducts. This fermentation process serves to increase the amount of free fatty acids, MELs, and active antioxidants versus the original plant oils.”
Why is fermented skincare good?
“Because of this natural process, fermented skin-care products generally contain higher, more potent concentrations of vitamins and antioxidants, which help to fight free-radical damage and protect against UV damage,”
The Final Verdict
Fermented oils may have gained traction due to the rise in consumption of fermented foods, but I’m confident we’ll see more of them in skincare as research evolves. While some ingredients and processes have been proven to boost skin moisture and texture, it’s essential to research as new products hit the market. After all, effectiveness depends on the producer’s integrity and ability to use the proper amounts of each ingredient. Still, if you’re curious about incorporating fermented science, there are safe options from brands like Humanist and Layers, that might be the missing product your skin needs.
How does fermented skincare work?
But how does it work? Fermentation helps to break down complex compounds into simple compounds, which allows enhanced absorbency of your skincare products, making them more effective. The fermentation process also makes way for a bunch of new skin-loving ingredients such as organic acids and antioxidants.