BALANCE_NOVEMBER_19 - 56

BEAUTY
ALL NATURAL

SKINB I OTI C S
Bring harmony to your body by boosting
the good bacteria on your exterior

ur bodies are covered with a unique microbiome: a microscopic ecosystem where
micro-organisms coexist amicably. Except very often they don't, especially with our
JESSICA
overly cleansed bodies. Take eczema for example; most sufferers have higher levels of
PUNTER
staphylococcus aureus, steroids and antibiotics offer temporary relief, but the action
is a lowof indiscriminately blitzing the bacteria allows it to recolonise the skin and the condition to reoccur.
maintenance
Using a skinbiotic to allow good bacteria to proliferate could be the solution. So, should we be
beauty addict
using a probiotic, a prebiotic or both? And fundamentally, what's the difference? "A probiotic is just
who loves products that
another name for good bacteria," says Dr Marie Drago, pharmacist and founder of Gallinée skincare.
enhance, heal and tread
"Our products are loaded with prebiotics; the nutrients that feed the good bacteria on your skin."
lightly on our dear planet
How does the technology work? "In skincare you can use three types of probiotics," explains
Dr Drago, "either as lysates1, where the bacteria are mashed up and form a kind of active soup.
Tyndalised2 - the type we use at Gallinée - where the bacteria has been gently deactivated by heat or as naturally occurring live bacteria3,
which is constantly present on our skin, but may need a boost. Prebiotics are much simpler. They are usually complex sugars and when they
arrive on skin, they are "eaten" by your own bacteria, helping them to grow."
Are they more effective on specific areas? "We see the most impressive results on sensitive skin," says Dr Drago, "as the good bacteria help
lower inflammation. And our scalp care cleansing cream shows excellent results on itchy scalps." The genius of the skin biotic is that it can
help all skin types. Mother Dirt put its skin-balancing powers down to AOB, the ammonia-oxidising bacteria that existed on our skin until
our love of soap removed it. AOB feed off sweat and keep the skin in check. The unscented AO+ mist can be used to restore balance to all
skin types; be it dry, sensitive or oily. Both Oskia and Green People use oligosaccharides, the sugars that nurture good bacteria. "Feeding
bacteria instead of killing them will turn around the world of beauty products," reasons Dr Drago. "Is killing your bacteria really the best idea,
or should we support the existing ecosystem and help them help you?" Maybe working with nature instead of against it, is really the best way.

Gallinée Hydrating Face
Cream, £35 for 30ml

Mother Dirt AO+ Mist For Face
and Body, £49.99 for 100ml

Oskia Perfect Cleanser,
£34 for 125ml

Green People Day Solution
Moisturiser Prebiotic & Willow
Bark, £19.50 for 50ml

Aurelia Probiotic Concentrate,
£38 for 10ml

Tata Harper Purifying Mask,
£63 for 50ml

BALANCE_NOVEMBER_19

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