Probiotic products to date have been mostly used in food and medicinal
products. But lately they have caught the eye of cosmetic manufacturers catering to a growing
market that is demanding nutritional cosmetics, or nutria-cosmetic
products.
Mintel analyst Nica Lewis told CosmeticsDesign.com about
probiotics in cosmetics:
“Beauty and food are becoming increasingly intertwined.
Ingredients that started out in food are entering cosmetics and beauty ingredients are also moving
into food.”
Relation Between Probiotics And Our
Skin
Probiotics are live microorganisms like bacterias and yeast that are
similar to beneficial micro-organisms found in the human digestive system (gut) and are good for
the body. Reported benefits of healthy bacteria are boosting the immune system,
reducing inflammation, lowering cholesterol and managing lactose intolerance, and others.
An important aspect of health is to maintain correct levels of balance between the
micro-flora, both internally in the gut and externally on the surface of the skin. The human skin
provides a habitat for a variety of micro-organisms, of which some are good bacteria such as
probiotic and some are harmful, disease causing bacteria.
Whereas, probiotics create a natural barrier for the skin against harmful substances including bad
bacteria, pollutants, free radicals, and allergens; chemical based cosmetics and anti-septic
products greatly attack the fragile balance of micro-flora by destroying the probiotics and at
times causing irreparable damage to the skin.
Using probiotic based cosmetics is the best way to replenish the skin with good bacteria and
restore the balance of micro-flora. Probiotic skin care alleviates skin conditions like eczema,
psoriasis, rashes, skin allergies, acne, unsightly discolorations, and promotes anti-aging, and it
is a powerful antidote against wrinkles.
The Need for Probiotics in
Cosmetics
Most of the ingredients used in cosmetics and personal care products
are chemicals that are usually hazardous to your health. Often there is an unconcern among cosmetic
manufacturers about cosmetic safety. These
chemicals may be toxic or carcinogenic and may cause life long health damages. Products like
lipsticks, perfumes, deodorants, nail polish, shampoos, and nearly all the cosmetics we use are
made up of harmful ingredients such as lead, coal tar, mercury and other chemicals which are
harmful to the body’s natural immune system. Anti-bacterial ingredients kill the probiotics as
well as pathogens, actually increasing susceptibility to infection.
This onslaught of chemical warfare through cosmetics can be stopped by a two-fold approach:
(1) by boycotting chemical based cosmetic products,
(2) by going the natural and probiotic way.
Consumer demand has lead to an increase in both R&D (research and
development) and production of nutria-cosmetic products.
Probiotics Cosmetic
Products
In addition to the already developed herbal cosmetic market, there is a
rapidly growing interest in probiotics in cosmetics to support healthier, better-looking skin, hair
and nails. A number of probiotic
cosmetics are already in the market and many more are being developed to satisfy the
consumer demand. Yoghurt and milk based creams and scrubs are popular probiotic skin products. The
active probiotic bacterial cultures are responsible for most of the benefits found in yoghurt and
milk.
Probiotic skin and hair care ranges are manufactured by companies like
Skin Song, Verattiva, Clinique, Danone, Bioelements and a host of others that have joined the nutri-cosmetic bandwagon.
Probiotics has also made an entry into the oral care market; EvoraPlus is a mint, with a patented Probiora3 ingredient, which
claims to promote both healthier gums and teeth. In fact probiotics are also being utilized by
doctors for cosmetic surgery procedures. Allergan and Clinique supply a probiotic cleanser as part of
a skin care line for use before and after non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
As a consequence, probiotic and other
nutritional cosmetics are the new age health mantra for a glowing skin,healthy hair
and a bright smile.
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