For the past few years, trend forecasters have said that fermented beauty is on the verge of a breakthrough. What are the benefits of fermented skin care ingredients, and does the trend have staying power?

What is Fermentation in Skin Care?

Legend has it that fermentation as a beauty booster originated in Japan, where women who worked in sake brewing had more youthful hands, and rinsing the hair in fermented rice water is an ancient beauty hack. Likewise, yogurt-based facials have been in use since the 1970s, as an all-natural way to get beneficial lactic acid and probiotics into the skin. 

Fermentation in beauty and skin care products is identical to the fermentation processes in foods: beneficial bacteria are introduced and cultivated, so that they out-compete harmful bacteria and produce the desired enzymes and molecules. Fermentation is an exciting all-natural alternative to the chemical synthesis of compounds and formulations that nourish the skin’s microbiome.

Benefits of Fermentation in Beauty Products

Fermentation offers a huge range of benefits for beauty-conscious consumers, and for the world around us. Here are a few reasons why fermentation is such an exciting area of research:

  • Increases the power of active ingredients. By cultivating the desired compounds, fermentation increases the effectiveness of antioxidants and nutrients with higher concentrations. Fermentation can create highly-concentrated skincare ingredients like peptides, probiotics, amino acids, alpha hydroxy acids, and antioxidants. 
  • Optimizes penetration. Because fermentation naturally removes unwanted molecules, fermented ingredients are more bioavailable, penetrating the skin more deeply and better supporting the microbiome
  • Natural preservative. As with foods, fermented beauty products are more stable and last longer, with natural preservative processes. 
  • Reduces sensitivity. As an all-natural process, fermentation is better suited for sensitive skin, requiring fewer chemicals for production and preservation. 
  • More eco-friendly and sustainable. Fermented beauty products are more sustainable to produce, requiring less CO2 and energy in production, and being biodegradable after use. 
  • Reduces costs. Although the biotechnology of fermented beauty is still in its fledgling stage, it has tremendous potential to create all-natural, pure, potent ingredients at a much lower cost than traditional laboratory production. 

Fermented Beauty Pioneers and Trend-Setters

Here are some of the beauty brands leading the way in fermented skin care.

  • Then I Met You. Then I Met You is driven by the desire to balance K-beauty traditions like persimmon, ginseng, and fermented rice with innovative science and cutting edge research. Their proprietary blend of 80% naturally fermented ingredients has made The Giving Essence an award-winning must-have product. The woman-owned company is also committed to sustainability, with 100% recyclable shipping boxes and soy ink packaging. 
  • The Nue Co. The Nue Co started as an eco-friendly nutrition brand that has recently expanded into skincare. They have developed a unique cell processing technique that stabilizes fermentation bacteria cells to support the skin’s defenses using natural probiotic pathways. Their Barrier Culture Moisturizer nourishes the skin’s microbiome with pre- and pro-biotics and other skin-friendly ingredients. Not only are the ingredients sustainable and ethically sourced, but the focus on highly-effective products simplifies the skincare regimen and reduces waste. 
  • Vintner’s Daughter. As the name implies, Vintner’s Daughter is a beauty brand inspired by fine winemaking. Their signature Phyto Radiance Infusion is a 21-day process of actively fermenting botanicals to produce highly effective formulas with a myriad of skincare benefits. The products are cruelty-free, responsibly sourced, sustainably packaged, and donates 2% of sales to environmental causes. 

Fermented beauty is a trend that matches the ethos of our times, offering products that are effective, affordable, and sustainable. These brands and companies like them are using biotechnology and natural processes to transform an industry. If you need the R&D and life sciences talent to merge ancient techniques with cutting edge ingredients, contact grapefrute today.