Beneath your glassy layers of serums and creams, there’s an invisible world teeming with complex microorganisms: the skin microbiome. Known for its essential role in influencing overall skin health, it’s also inspired us to create microbiome-friendly skincare products loved by the Haruharu Wonder community. If you’re searching for probiotic skincare or curious to learn more about how your skin’s ecosystem really works, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s dive in.
What is the skin microbiome?
Take trillions of microorganisms, spread them across the surface layer of your skin, and you have your microbiome. Not to be confused with the skin barrier (the protective layer of ceramides, lipids, and fatty acids that acts as your skin’s first line of defense), the microbiome of the skin is a living ecosystem that does everything from help fight infection to impacting inflammation.
Put simply, your skin’s microbiome works together with your skin barrier to keep the bad stuff out and the good stuff in. And just like your skin barrier, it has a delicate balance to maintain. In skincare, we often refer to it as a balance of “good” and “bad” bacteria that you want to keep in balance so that the “bad” bacteria doesn’t take over. When your skin microbiome is healthy, your complexion will reflect that. And when it’s thrown out of balance by internal or environmental factors, it can result in skin conditions like acne or eczema. Because many of the microorganisms in your microbiome support skin barrier function, a compromised microbiome can also lead to a compromised barrier.
What are the benefits of probiotics for your skin microbiome?
Whenever the skin microbiome comes up, you’ll usually hear it linked to probiotic skincare. That’s because much of the research we have about actually centers around the gut microbiome: the ecosystem of bacteria and microorganisms that populate your gut and regulate digestion and other essential functions. A balance of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics is essential to a healthy gut microbiome. The difference between these three categories? Prebiotics are high-fiber foods that the bacteria in your gut love feeding on, probiotics are live “good” bacteria (found in fermented foods like yogurt and kimchi), and postbiotics are the key byproducts made from prebiotic and probiotic activity. Studies have shown that increasing pre-and probiotic intake can positively benefit the gut microbiome, which brings us to our current fascination with all things microbiome- and probiotic-related.
An important note: While studies have been done on the impact of gut health on skin health, we still lack scientific research on exactly how probiotic skincare can impact the skin’s microbiome. While we personally love the results of our probiotic-packed formulas, we’re still staying tuned for science to reveal the true potential of probiotics for skin. Until then, we suggest treating these formulas as one piece of a larger puzzle in caring for your unique skin type. The good news: They come with a lot of other proven benefits, so either way, it’s a win-win for your routine.
Our Microbiome-Friendly Skincare Picks
These three Haruharu Wonder skincare picks harness the power of fermented ingredients and probiotic-friendly peptides to level up your skincare routine. Best of all, they work well for a wide range of skin types and are gentle enough to be used daily, in both your morning and evening lineup.
Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner for Sensitive Skin
This best-selling toner is alcohol-free, fragrance-free, and one of our most popular products for sensitive skin. It features a refreshing watery texture that floods your complexion with instant hydration from hyaluronic acid and glycerin. Moisture isn’t the only benefit; we packed it with fermented black rice extract, one of the hero ingredients in our line that’s naturally rich in probiotics and helps deliver antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits to your skin. While rice extract is a traditional K-beauty hero, we love taking it a step further with fermented rice for even more ingredient benefits. In testing, this formula has been clinically proven to improve skin moisture by 57.65% and skin texture by 11.16%.* (See what we mean about those extra benefits?)
*According to a clinical study conducted on 20 subjects after two weeks of use.
Probiotics Barrier Essence
Next, pick up our Probiotics Barrier Essence for even more concentrated hydration—clinically proven to improve the skin barrier by 21.001% and moisture by 33.695%.** This milky toner features a creamy (never greasy or sticky!) texture that’s a shortcut to glass skin. We named it our Probiotics Barrier Essence because the formula is an absolute probiotics powerhouse; not only does it feature our signature fermented black rice extract, it also contains a postbiotic ingredient (Bifida ferment filtrate) and microbiome-friendly Galactomyces ferment filtrate, as well as barrier-supporting ceramides and fatty acids. Together, they keep your complexion looking healthy, plumped, and smooth. Pro tip: Layer it over our Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner for double the hydration and additional skin nutrients.
**According to a clinical study conducted on 20 subjects after two weeks of use.
Centella Phyto & 5 Peptide Concentrate Cream
To round out your routine, reach for this cloudlike, visibly smoothing moisturizer. It’s packed with peptides, a postbiotic and popular food source for probiotics in your gut microbiome. Peptides are a well-loved ingredient in skincare for their firming benefits, and we’ve paired them with caffeine, adenosine, soy protein and squalene in this formula. This gentle, multi-targeted cream is clinically proven to improve wrinkles by 29.46%, skin density by 7.68%, and moisture by 41.4%.*** Plus, it feels amazing and leaves your face looking and feeling bouncy without using harsh ingredients.
***According to a clinical study conducted on 21 subjects after four weeks of use.
From barrier health to a balanced microbiome, skincare is all about finding the right balance for you. Which skincare FAQs do you want us to answer next? Send us a message @haruharuwonder_official, and you might see a familiar blog topic soon.
Meet the Author
Haruharu Wonder contributor Sarah Y. Wu has a decade of experience in the industry as a beauty editor, copy director, and brand consultant. Her bylines have appeared in outlets including Teen Vogue, Forbes, Allure, Marie Claire, Glamour, NYLON, Bustle, The Zoe Report, Vogue, WWD, and Byrdie. She’s also the copywriter and copy director for some of your favorite skincare, fragrance, and makeup brands. While she’s tried thousands of products over the course of her career, she’ll always save a spot in her beauty routine for Haruharu Wonder’s Black Rice Bakuchiol Eye Cream and Centella Sunflower Makeup-Melting Cleansing Balm. Connect with her on Instagram @say.wu.
If You’re Searching for Microbiome-Friendly Skincare, Start Here
Beneath your glassy layers of serums and creams, there’s an invisible world teeming with complex microorganisms: the skin microbiome. Known for its essential role in influencing overall skin health, it’s also inspired us to create microbiome-friendly skincare products loved by the Haruharu Wonder community. If you’re searching for probiotic skincare or curious to learn more about how your skin’s ecosystem really works, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s dive in.
What is the skin microbiome?
Take trillions of microorganisms, spread them across the surface layer of your skin, and you have your microbiome. Not to be confused with the skin barrier (the protective layer of ceramides, lipids, and fatty acids that acts as your skin’s first line of defense), the microbiome of the skin is a living ecosystem that does everything from help fight infection to impacting inflammation.
Put simply, your skin’s microbiome works together with your skin barrier to keep the bad stuff out and the good stuff in. And just like your skin barrier, it has a delicate balance to maintain. In skincare, we often refer to it as a balance of “good” and “bad” bacteria that you want to keep in balance so that the “bad” bacteria doesn’t take over. When your skin microbiome is healthy, your complexion will reflect that. And when it’s thrown out of balance by internal or environmental factors, it can result in skin conditions like acne or eczema. Because many of the microorganisms in your microbiome support skin barrier function, a compromised microbiome can also lead to a compromised barrier.
What are the benefits of probiotics for your skin microbiome?
Whenever the skin microbiome comes up, you’ll usually hear it linked to probiotic skincare. That’s because much of the research we have about actually centers around the gut microbiome: the ecosystem of bacteria and microorganisms that populate your gut and regulate digestion and other essential functions. A balance of prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics is essential to a healthy gut microbiome. The difference between these three categories? Prebiotics are high-fiber foods that the bacteria in your gut love feeding on, probiotics are live “good” bacteria (found in fermented foods like yogurt and kimchi), and postbiotics are the key byproducts made from prebiotic and probiotic activity. Studies have shown that increasing pre-and probiotic intake can positively benefit the gut microbiome, which brings us to our current fascination with all things microbiome- and probiotic-related.
An important note: While studies have been done on the impact of gut health on skin health, we still lack scientific research on exactly how probiotic skincare can impact the skin’s microbiome. While we personally love the results of our probiotic-packed formulas, we’re still staying tuned for science to reveal the true potential of probiotics for skin. Until then, we suggest treating these formulas as one piece of a larger puzzle in caring for your unique skin type. The good news: They come with a lot of other proven benefits, so either way, it’s a win-win for your routine.
Our Microbiome-Friendly Skincare Picks
These three Haruharu Wonder skincare picks harness the power of fermented ingredients and probiotic-friendly peptides to level up your skincare routine. Best of all, they work well for a wide range of skin types and are gentle enough to be used daily, in both your morning and evening lineup.
Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner for Sensitive Skin
This best-selling toner is alcohol-free, fragrance-free, and one of our most popular products for sensitive skin. It features a refreshing watery texture that floods your complexion with instant hydration from hyaluronic acid and glycerin. Moisture isn’t the only benefit; we packed it with fermented black rice extract, one of the hero ingredients in our line that’s naturally rich in probiotics and helps deliver antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits to your skin. While rice extract is a traditional K-beauty hero, we love taking it a step further with fermented rice for even more ingredient benefits. In testing, this formula has been clinically proven to improve skin moisture by 57.65% and skin texture by 11.16%.* (See what we mean about those extra benefits?)
*According to a clinical study conducted on 20 subjects after two weeks of use.
Probiotics Barrier Essence
Next, pick up our Probiotics Barrier Essence for even more concentrated hydration—clinically proven to improve the skin barrier by 21.001% and moisture by 33.695%.** This milky toner features a creamy (never greasy or sticky!) texture that’s a shortcut to glass skin. We named it our Probiotics Barrier Essence because the formula is an absolute probiotics powerhouse; not only does it feature our signature fermented black rice extract, it also contains a postbiotic ingredient (Bifida ferment filtrate) and microbiome-friendly Galactomyces ferment filtrate, as well as barrier-supporting ceramides and fatty acids. Together, they keep your complexion looking healthy, plumped, and smooth. Pro tip: Layer it over our Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner for double the hydration and additional skin nutrients.
**According to a clinical study conducted on 20 subjects after two weeks of use.
Centella Phyto & 5 Peptide Concentrate Cream
To round out your routine, reach for this cloudlike, visibly smoothing moisturizer. It’s packed with peptides, a postbiotic and popular food source for probiotics in your gut microbiome. Peptides are a well-loved ingredient in skincare for their firming benefits, and we’ve paired them with caffeine, adenosine, soy protein and squalene in this formula. This gentle, multi-targeted cream is clinically proven to improve wrinkles by 29.46%, skin density by 7.68%, and moisture by 41.4%.*** Plus, it feels amazing and leaves your face looking and feeling bouncy without using harsh ingredients.
***According to a clinical study conducted on 21 subjects after four weeks of use.
From barrier health to a balanced microbiome, skincare is all about finding the right balance for you. Which skincare FAQs do you want us to answer next? Send us a message @haruharuwonder_official, and you might see a familiar blog topic soon.
Meet the Author
Haruharu Wonder contributor Sarah Y. Wu has a decade of experience in the industry as a beauty editor, copy director, and brand consultant. Her bylines have appeared in outlets including Teen Vogue, Forbes, Allure, Marie Claire, Glamour, NYLON, Bustle, The Zoe Report, Vogue, WWD, and Byrdie. She’s also the copywriter and copy director for some of your favorite skincare, fragrance, and makeup brands. While she’s tried thousands of products over the course of her career, she’ll always save a spot in her beauty routine for Haruharu Wonder’s Black Rice Bakuchiol Eye Cream and Centella Sunflower Makeup-Melting Cleansing Balm. Connect with her on Instagram @say.wu.