Prebiotics vs Post-biotics in skincare

Our skincare routines are moving beyond hydration and anti-ageing – the latest focus is on supporting your skin microbiome. This is the ecosystem of good bacteria and micro-oganisms that play a huge role in how healthy and resilient your skin looks and feels. And how you can keep it supported is with products that include prebiotics and post-biotics.

In this guide we’ll explain the difference between prebiotics vs post-biotics in skincare, their unique benefits and how to choose the right one for your skin.

What’s the skin microbiome?

Taking it back to basics, your skin isn’t just skin – it’s home to microbes that protect against harmful bacteria, regulate inflammation and support a healthy skin barrier. If your skin microbiome gets disrupted, this will affect your skin barrier and result in common skin concerns like dehydration, fine lines and wrinkles and irritation.

So when your skin microbiome is balanced, your skin is hydrated, smooth and resilient against everyday environmental stressors.

What are prebiotics in skincare?

Think of prebiotics as the “food” for the good bacteria that’s already living on your skin. By nourishing the beneficial microbes, prebiotics help them thrive and counteract the harmful bacteria.

The benefits of prebiotics in skincare are balancing your skin flora, supporting a stronger skin barrier and overall improving hydration, transepidermal loss and skin’s resilience.

What are post-biotics in skincare?

Post-biotics are the byproducts of probiotics, compounds produced when beneficial bacteria break down nutrients. Examples of these are peptides, enzymes, antioxidant molecules and short-chain fatty acids. They’re perfect for reducing redness and sensitivity, great for anti-inflammation and delivering antioxidant protection against free radicals and environmental stressors.

Can you use prebiotics and post-biotics together?

Yes, they actually work best as a team! While prebiotics nourish your skin’s microbiomes, postbiotics deliver the beneficial results produced by those microbes. They work in harmony to support your skin microbiome and for overall skin health and barrier.

Who should use prebiotic or post-biotic skincare?

If you struggle with acne, oily skin or breakouts, prebiotics are great for supporting the healthy bacteria on your skin and starving the bad bacteria that can cause these. Probiotics are perfect for those with sensitive or reactive skin as they help calm and sooth the skin. Our personal preference is to go for both, they work best to support the microbiome and for strong barrier protection.