So where does this leave biotic skin care in general? The need to innovate. Technically, those non-living “probiotics” could fall under the postbiotic umbrella, but as we’ve discussed—the jury is still out as to if they’re beneficial for the skin. Regardless, they are certainly not innovative.  

Instead we look to technologically advanced, unique, and highly-targeted postbiotics to care for the skin. 

Researchers have been able to identify key, beneficial outputs from the bacteria living on our skin naturally. I like to think of these as synergistic gifts, from our microbiome to our skin; our skin, in turn, becomes a more harmonious and habitable place for the bacteria. A beautiful cycle is born. These outputs are called postbiotics.

In our skin’s natural ecosystem, postbiotics come in the form of several key outputs. For example, the strain Staphylococcus epidermidis produces specific serine protease enzymes and the strain Staphylococcus hominis produces antimicrobial peptides, both of which support the skin’s immune function. 

In an ideal world—one in which your skin’s ecosystem is unbothered by environmental agitators, internal stressors, and other damaging irritants—your microbiome would do this all on it’s own, all of the time. That’s not the world we live in. 

So not only were researchers able to identify these very specific outputs, they were able to recreate them, en masse, without having to inactivate or fragment bacteria (like para probiotics or lysates). This technological development means researchers can create targeted actives—of which are able to immediately activate cross talking with the skin directly.

Textbook sounding explanation aside, this is very cool. See, when actives are able to directly cross talk with the skin, they can inspire changes in skin behavior—rather than just enacting superficial changes. (It’s why dermatologists obsess over retinol’s ability to interact with retinoid receptors or L-ascorbic acid’s ability to inspire collagen cross linking.) 

In the case of postbiotics, we find a few impressive changes. (And a fair warning, we get very science-heavy here, but it’s a dense topic). Let’s look at Lactobacillales, the “educational” bacteria of the skin. It’s actually a strain of bacteria that populates our skin in our youth, but declines as we age. As its role as educators, it teaches skin to act young, protect itself, and revitalize barrier function. Its postbiotics are things like oligopeptides (even more specifically oligopeptide-5 through 13), fatty acids (including UFA, PUFA, and EFA), as well as biosurfactants, like rhamnolipids. And now, through modern technology we are able to bioidentically recreate these natural postbiotics and infuse them into skin care. 

Once on the skin, they are able to cross talk with various receptors (such as G-Protein coupled receptors, epidermal growth factor-receptors and toll-like receptors) to improve the epidermis framework regeneration, skin hydration, reduce signs of aging thanks to exposure to irritants and pollutants, stimulate microcirculation, support the skin’s immune system, and calm inflammation. 

“With probiotics, it’s all about survival,” Vincent Pedre, M.D., gut health specialist and medical director of Pedre Integrative Health, told mbg. “These delicate microorganisms must survive several obstacles: the manufacturing process, shelf life, and (once you take them) the acid in your stomach environment to reach your intestines, where they do their job.”

To help ensure probiotic bacteria survival, Pedre recommends taking a high-quality, high-potency probiotic supplement with Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains. Although not a necessary feature of probiotic products, the stomach acid piece of the equation can be semi-troubleshooted with enteric-coated or bioshield capsules that are more likely to withstand harsh stomach acid and release their contents within the small intestine.

But as mbg’s director of scientific affairs Ashley Jordan Ferira, Ph.D., R.D.N. points out, these types of capsules come with another consideration: “These enteric-coated delivery formats include more additives (or chemical excipients, you know, the “Other ingredients” section) in the formula in order to achieve this release profile. It’s unavoidable, and thus a less clean formula overall.” Plus, as mentioned, it’s just as easy to be mindful to take your probiotic supplement at a time of day when your stomach acid levels are naturally lower (not mid-or-after mealtime).

To help support healthy digestion, mbg created a targeted four-strain probiotic supplement.* The selected bacterial strains (B. lactis Bi-07, B420, HN019, and L. acidophilus NCFM) are specifically targeted to aid proper digestion and nutrient absorption, while also easing bloat.*

These probiotic strains have been clinically shown to maintain key, daily functions of the digestive system, promote comfort, and elevate your gut microbiome.*

And as reassuring as the science is, these positive user experiences seem to hold even more weight:

Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, and red cabbage all contain sulfur—one of the most abundant minerals in your body, responsible for important functions including repairing DNA and recycling your main antioxidant, glutathione. This antioxidant helps support oxidant balance throughout the body, including your gut, which is important for its integrity and health.

Pro tip: Cooking these vegetables down or having them in soups and stews can help break down some of the fiber and sugars, and make them easier to digest.

Over the past decade or so there has been a rising awareness of the invaluable importance of our gut health and how critical it is to support our gut microbiome. However, many people are still quite unfamiliar with our oral microbiome, the second most diverse microbiome in our bodies harboring over 700 species of bacteria.

The mouth is the gateway into our bodies and the beginning of our gastrointestinal tract. We are learning more and more about how the gut and mouth can impact each other, as well as the mouth-gut axis and how the mouth may be the gatekeeper of our gut health. 

We swallow anywhere from 500 to 1000 times a day, and with each swallow we are potentially seeding our gut with microbes from our oral cavity. If these microbes are negative in nature, this can lead to imbalances, exacerbating issues and influencing overall GI heath.  

But what exactly is the oral microbiome and what can we do to nourish and support it? More importantly, what happens if we do not?

Stress is a part of life. And after a busy day at work, my mind is racing. Even though these thoughts aren’t always inherently stressful or anxious, they can nonetheless become a point of stress if I don’t address them.

If out of control, stress can lead to consistently high levels of the primary stress hormone cortisol and lead to decreased oxygen delivery to your gut. Because of the special connection between your gut and brain—also known as the gut-brain axis—stress can directly affect the health of your gut.

To combat this, I always turn off my phone an hour or two before bed and set it in another area of my house and close out my evening with mindfulness. Not only does this reduce stress, but it sets me up for an uninterrupted night of sleep, which is also important considering a lack of sleep further perpetuates the cortisol cycle that affects your gut.

Meditation is my personal favorite form of mindfulness, but you can switch it up with prayer, journaling, or going on a walk.

While there are endless tools, supplements, and foods that can positively influence your gut health, it’s not always realistic or helpful to incorporate every single one into your daily routine. However, by establishing a few consistent daily practices like these, you can be on your way to a healthy foundation that you can build on, depending on your personal gut goals.

In short, it really depends on a few factors, including your own personal biology and the type of probiotic you’re taking. mindbodygreen’s probiotic+, for example, features four unique probiotic strains, strategically targeted at easing bloat and gas while promoting abdominal comfort and regularity.* Plus, one of the strains improves average gut transit time and promotes healthy daily functions of the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract.*

Based on research, you should generally expect to notice some impact from probiotics within two weeks, with further benefits after about a month.* But, again, those results can vary from person to person. While consulting the science is certainly helpful for predicting efficacy—we also value input from mbg reviewers who have tried our product firsthand. Here, 11 individuals share their own experience with probiotic+ and share just how long it took for the supplement to take effect.*

Ensuring a vibrant, healthy gut microbiome starts with giving your body the best sources and variety of nutrients it requires. This includes eating fermented foods, taking a probiotic (like mbg’s probiotic+ supplement), and including high-fiber vegetables, healthy fats, and lean protein in your diet.*

By making strategic lifestyle and dietary changes, you can positively support the microbes in your gut, and gift your body a much-needed wellness foundation moving onward.*