Is Your Skin Too Clean? Here’s Why Probiotics Are Good for Your Complexion

If you religiously buff and scrub your face multiple times a day, you might be doing more harm than good. Yes, your complexion will be very clean, but thatโ€™s the problem. โ€œWhen you over cleanse and strip the skin, you remove not only natural oils, but the healthy bacteria that lives on your complexion,โ€ says Whitney Bowe, M.D., a dermatologist with offices in New York City and Briarcliff Manor, NY.

This can lead to some not-so-pretty results, like inflammation, redness and acne. One solution is to lather up less often, says Greenwich, CT, dermatologist Kim Nichols, M.D. โ€œJust do it twice a dayโ€”as soon as you wake up and before you go to bed.โ€ Another option is to add probiotics, or โ€œgoodโ€ bacteria, into your skincare routine. โ€œJust as they are said to calm stomach inflammation, probiotics are billed as having a calming effect on skin irritation,โ€ explains Dr. Bowe.

While you can up your intake with foods, thereโ€™s also a new wave of probiotic-infused skincare and spa treatments available. โ€œTopical forms of probiotics contain bacteria or bacterial fragments that interact with receptors found on cells within the skin,โ€ says New York City dermatologist Erin Gilbert, M.D. โ€œThis interaction can set off responses that reduce inflammation, boost the skinโ€™s immunity and likely even induce collagen synthesis.โ€

Another bonus is that probiotic skincare formulas often contain other beneficial ingredients. Dr. Bowe likes Aurelia Probiotic Skincare Miracle Cleanser ($62, shen-beauty.com), which is fortified with peptides to brighten and hydrate, and NUDE Skincare Purifying Cleansing Wash ($26, nudeskincare.com), with ultra-hydrating hyaluronic acid. Or consider a spa fix, like the Glowbiotic YouthBoost at GLOSquad spa in Greenwich, CT. The 25-minute treatment harnesses the power of probiotic bioactives in order to brighten and balance your complexion ($125, glosquad.com). Dr. Gilbert, a consultant for GLOSquad, likes the spaโ€™s myBody Glowbiotic Probiotic Instant Resurfacing Pads ($49, mybodyskincare.com) for an easy at-home treatment. When used once or twice weekly, she says, they deliver โ€œan overall glow for any skin type.โ€

Still, dermatologists caution that probiotics are not a magic bullet. โ€œMost products do not have live bacteria,โ€ says Dr. Bowe. โ€œApplying a bacterial lystate, extract or derivative might be just as beneficial as applying live strains, but we need further studies.โ€ In that case, you might want to stock up on yogurt with live and active cultures and take a supplement like Ther-Biotic Complete, which Dr. Nichols recommends. This way, you can apply your probitoicsโ€”and eat them too.

DIY Probiotic Mask

Probiotics-Mask1 tablespoon honey

2 tablespoons full-fat Greek yogurt

Mix the ingredients together in a bowl and apply to freshly cleansed skin. Leave on for 10 minutes. โ€œThe yogurt and honey work to strengthen your skinโ€™s protective barrier, retain moisture and alleviate eczema, rosacea and acne,โ€ says Dr. Bowe, who recommends doing the mask once a week.

Culture Club
Get more good bacteria in your routine with these probiotic-rich picks.

Probiotics-Creams-CleansersAurelia Probiotic Cell Repair Night Oil
Rub two drops between your palms and pat on your face to fight dullness andย  dehydration. $82, shen-beauty.com

mybody Clean Routineย  Probioticย  Revitalizing Cleanser
Itโ€™s sulfate-free so it wonโ€™t irritate delicate skin. $32, mybodyskincare.com

Tula Hydrating Day & Night Cream
Its probiotic technology and moisturizing antioxidants help soften fine linesย  and firm yourย  complexion. $52, tula.com

Clinique Redness Solutions Makeup SPF 15 with Probiotic Technology
Swipe it on to cover redness and prevent it from coming back.ย ย  $27, clinique.com

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