Microbiome Skincare 101: Full Guide For Small Business Owners
The microbiome skincare niche is rapidly growing from year to year.
But are the bacteria-balancing claims just a marketing gimmick, or is there real scientific evidence to back it up?
Our in-depth guide below outlines the science behind this relatively new cosmetics niche, and how small businesses like yours can launch a successful line of microbiome-supporting skincare.
To learn more about the three types of microbiome skincare, and the manufacturing methods to create your own range of flora-supporting cosmetics, just keep reading!
What Is The Microbiome? How Does It Influence The Skin?
According to the National Human Genome Institute, a person’s microbiome is the community of microorganisms (including fungi, bacteria, and viruses) in or on a particular part of his or her body - including the skin.
Lataste and colleagues explain that trillions of the live bacteria that naturally live on our skin are essential for balance and barrier function.
However, it’s not just the microorganisms on our skin influencing its health and appearance. A paper from 2022 describes a skin–gut axis, where certain skin diseases are also linked with gut health and the balance of microbiomes within the gut.
According to Joy et al. and Perin et al., dermatological conditions linked with skin and gut microbiome issues include:
The presence of Escherichia coli linked to eczema
Acne as the result of an increase in the percentage of certain phylotypes of Cutibacterium acnes
Suffers of psoriasis have significantly lower levels of Actinobacteria
Vitiligo is related to decreased microbial diversity and an increase in the proportion of Firmicutes at the lesion level
Treating An Imbalanced Microbiome Can Impact The Skin
The impact of an imbalanced microbiome goes well beyond skin issues, and influences several key health indicators, including immunity, hormone regulation, metabolism, and even mental well-being.
To combat the negative effects of microbiome imbalances, scientists developed oral and topical treatments to remove unhealthy bacteria and restore healthy bacteria in its place.
Many of these medicines have the additional benefit of healing and rejuvenating the skin. For example, according to Joy et al.:
Orally ingested Lactobacillus strains of gut bacteria have anti-inflammatory properties that help combat UV-induced aging, while supplementation with Lactobacillus plantarum results in improved skin hydration and skin elasticity.
The Rise Of Microbiome Skincare
With the rise of medical treatments and nutritional products promising to improve microbiome imbalances, the skincare industry is also considering the impact cosmetics can have on microbiome health.
Cosmetics Can Disrupt The Skin’s Natural Microbiome Balance
Picard et al. outlines research showing that preservatives in modern food harm the microbiome in the gut.
This raises the question: can common preservatives or other ingredients in modern cosmetics also impact the composition and balance of our skin flora?
The answer is yes.
Bouslimani and coworkers showed that molecules found in personal care products remain on the skin for weeks after use (despite regular showering), and these cosmetics altered molecular and bacterial diversity on the skin.
In response, clean and ethics-focused beauty brands are rethinking their formulation strategy and choosing cleaner ingredients that are safer for the skin’s natural microbiome.
Skincare Designed To Support And Enhance The Skin’s Microbiome
Not only are brands cutting out ingredients that damage the skin’s natural microbiome balance, but some are going a step further and considering how new products can prevent future imbalances or even treat current microbiome issues.
A group of Swedish scientists in 2022 enlisted 14 people for a three-week microbiome skincare study.
The authors compared the impact of microbiome-supporting products used on one cheek with standard skincare products on the other cheek and analyzed the skin each day using a special rRNA sequencing 3D camera.
The results revealed significant improvements in the microbiome of the skin on the side with microbiome-supporting skincare, while the other side only found improvements in skin roughness.
Types Of Microbiome Skincare: Probiotics Vs Prebiotics Vs Postbiotics
Microbiome skincare comes in three different forms: probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics.
All three can be utilized to support and enhance the skin’s microbiome, but as outlined by Li and colleagues, they have distinct meanings:
Probiotics are the live ‘good’ bacteria living on the body
INCI Decoder lists Lactobacillus ferment as a DNA-repairing enzyme probiotic with the ability to protect against environmental triggers.
Prebiotics are the food for the probiotics
A 2020 Korean study found that the prebiotic Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide (AGO) promotes a healthy balance of the skin microbiome, reduces the appearance of acne, and improves skin barrier function.
Postbiotics are beneficial compounds created by probiotics
For example, Ácsová et al’s study found Lactococcus Ferment Lysate and Bifida Ferment Lysate inhibit radicals and prevent UV-related aging.
Creating Your Own Range Of Microbiome Skincare
The market for microbiome skincare is growing rapidly, with Grand View Research estimating an 11.5% compound annual growth rate between 2024 and 2030. There is huge potential for home-to-lab brands like yours to thrive in this niche.
For the best shot at success, conduct thorough research before you settle on your microbiome product concepts or search for a suitable lab.
The Microbiome Market
First, you must understand the target audience for this niche.
Consumers who seek out microbiome skincare are interested in cleaner beauty. This market cares about their health, or struggles with microbiome imbalances and skin conditions linked to an imbalance.
As such, all ingredients in your microbiome skincare formula should be clean. Not all manufacturers offer clean beauty – so make clean and safe-for-skin ingredients a non-negotiable criterion when you search for the right lab.
At Genie Supply, clean, ethical, vegan, and cruelty-free skincare runs at the heart of our business. We formulate our skincare and color cosmetics without over 2,000+ potentially dangerous ingredients.
Plus, many of our private label products meet or exceed the strict clean beauty standards set by retailers like Credo and Sephora. Learn more about clean beauty at Genie Supply here.
Selecting The Best Manufacturing Method For Your Skincare Range
After vetting the safety and quality of each potential supplier’s ingredients, it’s time to decide on the best manufacturing process for your skincare line.
Custom Formulating
Do you have an idea for truly unique microbiome skincare that the market has never seen before? Custom formulating is the manufacturing process for you.
This involves working with a team of professional chemists to formulate brand-new skincare from scratch. Although it’s a lengthy and expensive process, it’s the best method to release truly market-disrupting microbiome products on the (virtual) shelves.
At Genie Supply, we specialize in custom formulating novel chemical research, clean beauty, hybrid skincare, and new-to-market concepts.
Plus we offer up to 200% of your formulating fees back as manufacturing credits over time. Learn more about our custom formulation services here.
Private Label
If you are on a budget, private label is the most cost and time-efficient method to create a microbiome skincare line. This process involves adding your own custom branding to a manufacturer’s existing formula.
All private label products are preformulated. Therefore, you need to find a manufacturer that already offers the exact type of microbiome skincare you want to add to your range.
At Genie Supply, we offer over 60 clean and cruelty-free private label/bulk preformulated products, including our Prebiotic K-Drama Essence.
Featuring the prebiotic alpha-glucan oligosaccharide (AGO) as the star ingredient, our K-Drama Essence promotes a healthy microbiome balance to tackle acne and prevent transepidermal water loss (TEWL) – which ultimately protects the skin from environmental stressors.
Formulated with hyaluronic acid, the essence leads to smoother, more hydrated, and protected skin.
Try it yourself! Order samples of our Prebiotic K-Drama Essence here. Or learn more about our private label services here.
Custom Product Creation
If you lack the budget for custom formulating, but you have a highly specific microbiome ingredient in mind, custom product creation is the manufacturing approach for you.
This process involves adding a limited number of ingredients to a supplier’s base formula – transforming from basic skincare to microbiome skincare in one easy step.
At Genie Supply, we have over 100 base formulas in total to choose from. Plus, we now offer ownership after you manufacture a sum total of 20,000+ pieces with us! Learn more about our custom product creation services here.
In sum, skincare designed to support and enhance the skin’s natural microbiome is a growing market:
Microbiome is the community of microorganisms (including fungi, bacteria, and viruses) in or on a particular part of the body, including the skin
Dermatological conditions are linked with skin and gut microbiome issues
Many common cosmetic products can impact the skin’s microbiome balance
Microbiome-supporting skincare can help to heal these imbalances, using prebiotics, probiotics, or postbiotics
Create your own range of microbiome skincare with a clean manufacturer via private label, custom formulating, or custom product creation
Ready to launch your own range of microbiome-supporting skincare products? Genie Supply is the clean beauty manufacturer you need! Get in touch to learn more via email: customerservice@geniesupply.com or call: (812) 329-1105.
