Trending: Fermented Ingredients

Before writing this article, I thought fermentation was similar to pickling- oh my how I was wrong. Typically, when one thinks of things that are fermented a few things come to mind: kimchi, sauerkraut, kombucha, and wine. All yummy things but nothing I would think to put on my face. Thankfully the skincare geniuses have found a way to “break it down” (all puns intended) into serums and creams that are more appealing to apply. First things first, a short lesson in what exactly fermentation is.

Fermentation is a metabolic process where the naturally found enzymes break down the particle into something smaller and new. For instance, grape juice into wine or milk into lactic acid. This process is used widely in the food industry but has now begun to find its way into our skincare- good news for those of us who can’t stomach kombucha or find kimchi too spicy. Think superfoods – ginseng, green tea, mushrooms- and more, all being reformulated to have the biggest impact with a smaller molecular size.

“Fermented ingredients tend to mimic cell functions so that they work symbiotically for better penetration and usability.”