Fermentation – the secret to glowing skin?

There is nowadays a lot of talk about fermented products – the popularity of sauerkraut, kimchi and kombucha is growing rapidly.

Could fermentation also help with skin well-being?

In fact, fermentation has already gained great popularity in cosmetics as well. Almost every quality brand has included some individual fermented ingredients, which are typically obtained from pre-manufactured extracts, often by an accelerated fermentation with ultra-high temperature (UHT).

What is slow full-fermentation of the product?

What is unique about Circulove face care products is that each and every active ingredient is fermented, including oils. This gives the product a unique but natural suitability for the skin. In accordance with Nordic tradition, Circulove uses only fresh plants, herbs and berries, and only the purest botanical oils for fermentation.

Circulove products are made in small batches in Finland, which enables slow 3-5 week long fermentation process, and clean artisan-based skin care products that are suitable for even the most sensitive skin. This could be compared to the production of vintage wine; slower process leads to better quality.

Circulove does not add separate cosmetic probiotics to the product, but these are used just as part of the actual fermentation process, in which natural probiotics and postbiotics continue to develop as the fermentation progresses.

What are the benefits of fermentation in skincare?

Fermented biotics is a completely new, holistic approach to skincare. We look at the skin as a micro-ecosystem where the skin lives in close conjunction with microbes that support its function. Fermentation refers to lactic acid fermentation, in which the raw materials are acidified eg by Lactobacillus bacteria in an oxygen-free state.

Simply put, in fermentation the ingredients are chopped into a smaller form, allowing the skin to make better use of the active components. As an outcome, also new compounds are formed, such as skin-treating amino acids, fatty acids, peptides, vitamins, probiotics, postbiotics, and protecting antioxidants.

Fermentation also causes a smaller carbon footprint, as nothing is wasted.
Fermentation increases the shelf life and efficiency of natural cosmetics. In addition, fermentation provides a natural pH-balance for the skin. Fermented products are ideal for sensitive skin, rash, acne and to prevent premature aging of the skin.

Fermentation increases the shelf life and efficiency of natural cosmetics. In addition, fermentation provides a natural pH-balance for the skin. Fermented products are ideal for sensitive skin, rash, acne and to prevent premature aging of the skin.

Amino acids, especially peptides, created by fermentation support skin cell regeneration and improve the collagen synthesis of the skin, which otherwise decreases with age. The amount of collagen in the skin begins to decrease at around the age of 30 and peptides are a great collagen supporting agent, but at the same time they pose a challenge in cosmetics because they are difficult to absorb by the skin. Thanks to fermentation, the skin will now be better able to benefit from peptides.

Expert: Anu Ruohosto, Vitae Clean Cosmetics