Did you know that your body is home to a genuine ecosystem of billions of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and mites? This microcosm, invisible to the naked eye, is known as the "microbiota" or microbial flora. On average, every adult harbors around 2 kg of this microbiota, including more than 1,000 species of bacteria.
Although tiny, this microbiota is essential to our health. Its crucial role in maintaining good health is only just beginning to be fully understood. In this article, I invite you to discover the fascinating world of skin microbiota and learn how to care for it.
A key role in our good health
Healthy skin means skin with a diverse cutaneous microbiota. In fact, it represents the first living barrier between our body and the environment. Its diversity is associated with extensive colonization of the skin, leaving little room for other potentially pathogenic germs to establish themselves: a fundamental role of our cutaneous microbiota is therefore to protect us against pathogens transmitted by the environment.
The effects of sunlight on our microbiota
UV rays are known for their many harmful effects. It can already affect certain biological molecules, including DNA and proteins. To protect themselves, the bacteria of the cutaneous microbiota produce antioxidants and repair molecules.
UV rays also have the effect of transforming urocanic acid, a molecule highly present in the skin and necessary for its hydration, into a toxic derivative that can act on the immune system and lead to skin pathologies (urticaria, atopic dermatitis).
Another widespread UV resistance strategy in the living world is the production of pigments capable of blocking radiation. Bacteria are no exception, producing molecules sometimes referred to as microbial sunscreens. So effective that there are now plans to use the skin's microbiota, or some of its components, in sun protection strategies...
How to cleanse the skin without damaging its ecosystem?
It's important to know that the skin regulates itself and cleanses itself naturally by eliminating dead cells and residues thanks to various bio enzymes.
Washing too often, or with unsuitable products, excessively removes the lipids essential to skin health, and damages proteins... leading to a deterioration in the skin's hydrolipidic film.
3 tips for skincare that respect your skin’s flora
Ingredients for a healthy skin microbiome:
To preserve and strengthen the skin barrier, it's essential to use ingredients compatible with the skin's microbiome: cold-pressed oils, medicinal clays, whole plant extracts and essential oils. In fact, essential oils are eubiotic, or life-sustaining.
Studies have shown that essential oils such as tea tree oil, black seed oil, and lavender oil can positively influence the skin microbiome by reducing harmful bacteria while promoting beneficial microbial communities.
Unlike preservatives or alcohol, which are more likely to have a negative influence on our microbiome.
Gentle cleansing for your skin:
For the body, cold-saponified soaps limit the stripping effect of your cleanser. This process maintains a high level of moisturizing glycerin in the soap.
What's more, by choosing a natural superfatted soap, the oil prevents denaturation of the hydrolipidic film.
For the face, for example, you can use a cleansing oil.
Apply plant-based oils
They help preserve the skin's condition by providing essential lipids for both the hydrolipidic film (on the surface) and the lipid cement (a little deeper down) to keep epidermal cells well glued together.
The barrier effect is preserved, leaving the skin soft, healthy, and flexible!
The influence of the microbiome on skin aging
An imbalance of beneficial bacteria or a lack of surface lipids can disrupt the skin's pH and protection. This alters the acid mantle, making it easier for harmful bacteria to penetrate, leading to skin problems and loss of moisture.
If the imbalance persists, it can affect vital functions such as cell regeneration, skin metabolism and defense mechanisms against free radicals. Inappropriate cleansing, as well as overly frequent and abrasive exfoliation, can disrupt the natural balance of the microbiome and hydrolipidic film, bringing about premature skin aging.
Relaxayvoo for healthy skin
At Relaxayvoo, we prioritize high-quality ingredients in our formulations to promote skin health and maintain the integrity of the skin microbiome.
Essential oils offer significant benefits for skin health and microbiome balance and we carefully select the ones that will have antimicrobial, anti oxidant and anti inflammatory effect, enhancing the skin health. Certain oils like peppermint, lavender, and eucalyptus, when used in eco-friendly skin care formulations, have demonstrated excellent antioxidant properties. You can find them in our Bath oil. These oils improve the stability and release profile of active ingredients, providing better skin protection and health benefits. In our Body oil and Face oils we also use plant-based oils such as jojoba, prickly pear, and argan that all closely mimic the skin's natural oils, protect the microbiome and promote deep hydration and lasting moisture, everything the skin needs to stay glowing and healthy!
