What is Bifida Ferment Lysate?

The skincare community has been abuzz with probiotics lately and Bifida Ferment Lysate has been the hero ingredient in probiotic skincare. So what is Bifida Ferment Lysate? Will it really do wonders for your skin?

Bifida Ferment Lysate is a type of probiotic obtained by the fermentation of Bifida. Studies have found that it helps prevent skin damage from exposure to UV light, hydrate the skin, and strengthen the skin's immune system of the participants. The ingredient had also helped soothe inflammation and reduce dry skin. Another benefit of Bifida Ferment Lysate seen in the study is that it helps lessen skin sensitivity and make skin less reactive.

This is why Bifida Ferment Lysate is present in popular serums such as Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair and Lancôme’s Génifique. It is also an ingredient used in our very own Souffle Beauty skincare line, The Elixir (Serum) and The Potion (Toner) –and we certainly love it!

Read on to find out why!

Are You Really Putting Live Bacteria on Your Skin?

The first time I’ve ever heard about probiotics is in yogurt drinks. You know, those teeny tiny bottles containing yummy fermented milk? Well, there’s a reason why they come in those small bottles. These yogurt drinks have live good bacteria in them. Once they are exposed after opening, they can be taken over by bad bacteria and the good bacteria may die out or decrease.

So to answer the question: No, you are not actually putting live bacteria on your skin. (Not that using live bacteria on your skin is a bad thing. In fact, it continues to be studied for its benefits but that’s for another topic.)

Imagine your skincare products. It will be pretty difficult and expensive to contain and sustain live bacteria in pots and bottles that you need to access on a daily basis. Cross contamination can happen and the products won’t simply last very long. At this point in time, it’s not really a safe and practical option.

What's the Point if It's Not Alive?

First off, the fermentation process where Bifida Ferment Lysate is derived from already makes it a beneficial participant in skincare. As it goes through fermentation, vitamins, amino acids, and antioxidants are naturally produced. When you have Bifida Ferment Lysate in your product, it basically brings with it a lot of the goodies our skin needs.

The fermentation process also breaks these molecules down into smaller structures making them easier for our skin to absorb. This may very well be the reason your skin gets better hydrated and supple when you include probiotics in your skincare.

Now, here’s how it actually does its trick: Bifida Ferment Lysate trains your skin to be more resilient to bacteria and sensitivity.

We used to think that bacteria is the number one enemy because it causes reactions in our skin. Naturally, people thought we needed to avoid bacteria. I remember having been taught to clean my face and body as often and as thoroughly as I can. I’ve gone through many harsh soaps and cleansers only to end up with hypersensitive, dry, and aggravated skin.

Our skin naturally has a low ph of 4.7. This is the healthy level for our skin and it is at this level that our skin is able to protect itself against bad bacteria and the inflammations and irritations they cause.

A lot of cleansers in the market have high ph levels that can go as high as 12! These harsh cleansers can actually destroy your skin’s microbiome. When this happens, your skin gets stripped of its natural defenders (good bacteria) and you say hello to bad bacteria and other irritants.

What probiotic skincare proposes is that instead of running away from bacteria, we must teach our skin to have better immunity against it. For this to happen, bacteria do not necessarily have to be alive for the skin to recognize it. This is similar to how a vaccine works. You are teaching your skin by introducing it to the proper elements.

Instead of implementing live cultures to actively fight against bad bacteria, introducing the lysates to your skin microflora helps it learn how to strengthen itself. Your skin develops a stronger barrier against those unwelcome elements.

 To summarize, you get well-hydrated and naturally resilient skin by introducing Bifida Ferment Lysate to your skincare routine.

Final Thoughts

You see, moisturizers and lotions keep things in place. These are physical layers of protection that you apply to act as your skin’s shield and as an emollient to retain hydration and elasticity. What makes probiotic skincare special is that it trains your skin to actually build that natural barrier. Moisturizers are still an essential part of skincare but upgrading your skin’s natural defenses will always get you the most benefits.

The many advantages of Bifida Ferment lysate that have shown in recent research are truly promising. It conditions and strengthens the skin. It even protects it from harmful UV radiation. So what more can you ask for?

It has been getting a lot of attention in the skincare community lately and for good reason. If there’s anything to ask for is that more studies about the ingredient be done so that we can explore the benefits and applications of it more.

Hurray for healthy skin!

XOXO