Do you know what the skin microbiota is? The skin flora? It's a complex ecosystem made up of bacteria, fungi, mites, and viruses that inhabit the surface of the skin. Some of these microorganisms are good, while others are harmful; it's their balance that keeps the skin healthy. Pollution, long journeys, stress, diet, hormonal changes, and even some skincare habits, such as excessive cleansing or exfoliation or choosing products with toxic or aggressive ingredients, can disrupt the microbiota, leading to inflammation, eczema, dermatitis, redness, peeling, and even acne outbreaks.

Nurturing the skin’s flora is essential for maintaining optimal skin health, especially over 30s. This is where prebiotics and probiotics come into play, as they nourish and strengthen the skin's natural protective barrier, reducing inflammation and redness, and, in turn, helping to prevent premature aging. Let's delve into pre and probiotics: what they are, their benefits, and how they can restore balance and radiance not only to sensitive skin but to all skin types.

What are pre and probiotics?
Usually obtained from sugars in some plants (bananas, onions, garlic, and certain cereals like barley are rich in prebiotics), prebiotics are essentially 'food' for the beneficial bacteria that inhabit our bodies and the skin's surface. They help balance the microbiota, strengthen the skin barrier protecting against potential pathogens and moisture loss, and have anti-inflammatory, soothing, and healing properties, making them beneficial for acne, dermatitis, and eczema. Additionally, they stimulate collagen production, providing elasticity, density, and firmness to the skin.

Unlike prebiotics, probiotics are living microorganisms. Found in yogurt, kefir, kimchi, as well as in other fermented foods or beverages like kombucha, they are essential for overall health and help balance the skin from within. Applied to the skin, they provide additional support to the existing beneficial bacteria, contributing to a more effective protective barrier, neutralizing the action of pathogens, and helping the  skin deal with dehydration. Moreover, they are able to restore the skin and calm inflammation, making them ideal for those with irritated, reactive, or sensitive skin.

However, incorporating live probiotics into skincare products is not easy, mostly in terms of stability, preservation, and shelf-life. Therefore, you will usually find them in the form of lysates, which are produced by breaking down the cell walls of probiotic bacteria (or some yeasts) and extracting their beneficial assets such as proteins, peptides, enzymes, and other compounds. For this reason, they are often referred to as post-biotics. They provide the benefits of probiotics without the risk of adverse reactions.
Because both prebiotics and probiotics act to maintain a healthy microbiota, using both in a single formula, as in our Pre and Probiotic Booster, can yield significant benefits.

What are the benefits of adding prebiotics and probiotics to your skincare routine?
When the skin’s microbiome is compromised, it can react with inflammation, redness, eczema, or acne. By favoring and maintaining the balance and health of the microbiota, pre and probiotics strengthen the skin's barrier function, improving its response to external aggressions. This, in turn, can calm and prevent redness, inflammation, and acne, but also prevent the appearance of wrinkles and other signs of aging.

— Balanced microbiota:
By nourishing the skin's good bacteria, prebiotics create an environment where harmful microorganisms are less likely to grow, contributing to overall skin health and helping to prevent inflammation, redness, and even acne outbreaks. Combined with probiotics, which add diversity to the microbiota, they strengthen the skin's natural defense mechanisms, making it more capable of facing potential pathogens.

— Healthier and stronger natural barrier:
A healthy and balanced microbiota is essential for the effective functioning of the skin barrier. By stimulating the skin's immune response and the production of antimicrobial peptides, the combination of pre and probiotics prevents moisture loss and creates a more efficient defense against oxidative damage and external aggressors such as UV rays and pollution. This, in turn, helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, as well as sunspots and age spots.

— Calming and preventing inflammation:
By promoting a healthy and balanced microbiota, prebiotics act as soothing agents capable of relieving irritated, reactive, and sensitive skin. On the other hand, probiotics regulate the skin's immune response, helping to reduce redness, itching, and other forms of inflammation.

— Revitalizing the skin:
The symbiotic action of pre and probiotics will stimulate the skin's natural ability to regenerate and renew. This is especially beneficial for sensitive skin prone to flaking, but also for mature skin as, over time, the skin's hydrolipidic barrier tends to weaken. By preventing dehydration and, above all, by stimulating the natural production of both collagen and hyaluronic acid, the skin looks and feels more elastic, firm, and juicy.

How does ROWSE's Pre and Probiotic Booster work?
Formulated with 100% plant-based, vegan, and toxin-free actives, our Pre and Probiotic Booster acts as a comforting balm for the skin. Skin-balancing and repairing, it restores the skin’s health and visibly improves its texture and radiance. With an optimal concentration of natural actives –Bioecolia (1% Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide) and the Prorenew probiotic complex (2% Lactococcus lactis lysate)– this pre-serum calms reactive and sensitive skin while supporting its barrier function. As a result, the skin can more effectively defend itself against external aggressors that cause aging, such as UV rays and pollution. But its benefits don't end there. By promoting better moisture retention and stimulating the natural production of both collagen and hyaluronic acid, it redensifies and firms the skin, providing elasticity.

Can I use pre and probiotics even if I don't have acne?
Our Pre and Probiotics Booster is suitable and recommended for all skin types. It calms sensitive skin and prevents acne, but its restorative action and its ability to strengthen the skin barrier are beneficial for all skin types. In the case of dry skin, it helps retain moisture, and for combination or oily skin, it has a balancing effect. It also works wonders for mature skin: besides preventing dehydration and strengthening the skin barrier so it can better protect itself from external aggressions, it replenishes and firms the skin by stimulating the natural production of collagen and hyaluronic acid.