(^8) • MARCH 2020
NEWS
- BITES
BY VERA TWEED
The Hot New Skin
Discovery
You probably know that the microbiome
in your gut is a top influencer of your
health, but did you know that your skin
has its own microbiome? It does, and
giving it the TLC it needs can help keep
your skin in radiant, glowing shape.
“The skin microbiome is its own
world of roughly a thousand species,”
says Paul Schulick, master herbalist and
founder of For The Biome (forthebiome.
com), a company that makes skincare
products to nourish the skin’s microbiome.
Although it’s similar to the gut
microbiome in many ways, the skin
microbiome is even more diverse.
“There are different climates on
your skin, from deserts to rainforests,
and each one invites unique species,”
says Schulick.
The Microbiome & Your Skin
All those skin microorganisms serve
important functions, including: - Balancing pH and supporting the
moisture barrier that protects
against sunlight and other environ-
mental onslaughts. - Producing neurotransmitters such
as oxytocin. - Producing beneficial substances
such as hyaluronic acid (nature’s
moisturizer, plumper-upper, and
fine-line softener).
How to Feed Your Skin
There are several things you can do to
nourish and protect your skin’s
microbiome: - Avoid harsh soaps
or cleansers, as well
as anything that
contains antibacterial
ingredients. - If you use a loofah or
are a fan of dry brushing,
be gentle and brush about once
a week to give your body time
in between to recover. - Shower or bathe with warm—
not hot—water. - For baths, add sea salts with minerals
such as magnesium, or add a half-
teaspoon of rosehip seed oil to a
regular-sized tub. Other microbiome-
supporting oils include amaranth,
chamomile, and sea buckthorn. - In skincare products, look for
ingredients derived from nourishing
sources such as aloe, oats, mushrooms,
honey, and fruit and vegetable
enzymes.
“Look at what you’re about to
put on your skin and ask your-
self, would I be willing to eat
it?” says Paul Schulick, shown
here with his wife Bar-
bi. The couple is best
known for starting
New Chapter vitamins
(which they later
sold). Shulick’s
new line includes
microbiome-
nourishing
serums, masks,
and cleansers. Ph
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