Why Fermented Skincare Is Your Next Beauty Obsession

Let's admit it: In the world of skincare, it's hard to keep up with all the latest trends. It seems like there's always a new cure-all product, acid, or natural remedy meant to solve all your skincare woes, from acne to dry skin to fine lines. Thus, I was both intrigued and overwhelmed when I discovered that there's a world of skincare that I had yet to learn about: Fermented beauty. Having only understood fermentation in terms of kombucha, alcohol, and science experiments, I turned to acclaimed (and Instagram famous) dermatologist Dr. Lindsey Zubritsky.

What Is Fermented Skincare?

"Fermentation is a term we are all familiar with―it's the same process used to create kombucha and kimchi," she explained, "but it is also used in the skincare world to make highly effective ingredients and products. As it relates to skincare, fermentation breaks down natural molecules and makes them smaller, so it’s easier for them to absorb deeper into your skin’s surface. In skincare, these smaller molecules become more potent and precise for optimal bioavailability, which allows ingredients to penetrate the skin deeper and absorb readily. With an increase in bioavailability and smaller molecule size, all the skincare ingredients used in fermented skincare and their benefits are significantly amplified."

In other words, fermented skincare products are stronger versions of their non-fermented counterparts. If you're using a product containing fermented Vitamin C, for instance, you can expect that the Vitamin C in it will be two, three, or even four times stronger than you're used to. This means that fermented skincare can produce incredible, expedient results, but it also means that we all need to be careful and ensure we're using the right products, in the right amount, to address our skin concerns. 

Wondering what fermented beauty products are right for you? Read on for explanations and product recommendations that will help you harness the power of fermented skincare to meet your unique needs, no matter what they are. 

For Skin Brightening

Dr. Zubritsky touts Vitamin C as a way of "restoring radiance and luminosity, leaving skin with brighter and more hydrated skin, with improved tone and texture." In particular, she recommends Ferver Skincare's Fermented Prebiotic Glow Serum, whose dosage is four times (!!) more powerful that normal Vitamin C products. You can shop this serum, and other fermented Vitamin C products, below.

For Acne-Prone Skin

Exfoliation has long been a helpful method of reducing and preventing acne, but you don't need to rely on rough exfoliating scrubs for smoother skin. Dr. Zubritsky also recommends alpha hydroxy acids (also known as chemical exfoliators or AHAs), like lactic acid, which she says "work to promote skin cell turnover and help to dissolve the glue that holds together our dead skin cells, encouraging exfoliation." Products containing fermented AHAs pack several times the punch, which is handy so long as you don't overdo it―especially if you're concerned about hyperpigmentation, dryness, or if you have sensitive skin. "I’d recommend incorporating this into your routine starting with one day a week," Dr. Zubritsky advises, "and build up to daily use if tolerated or if needed."

For Dry Skin

Lately, it seems like hyaluronic acid is all the skincare community wants to talk about, so it's no wonder that brands have explored formulas incorporated fermented versions of this popular ingredient. The acid promises to deliver plumper, more hydrated skin, but Dr. Zubritsky says that the efficacy of this depends on the formula. 

"Hyaluronic acid can be tricky to formulate, since sometimes the molecule is too large to penetrate the skin surface," she says. "Through fermentation, the hyaluronic acid molecule is small enough to penetrate deep into the skin, allowing for ample hydration both on the surface of the skin on the outer layers as well as the deeper layers."

For Fine Lines

Collagen, like hyaluronic acid, is one of the buzziest ingredients in the skincare world, and it, too, can be challenging to take effect. Like hyaluronic acid, Dr. Zubritsky says, "the collagen molecule is too large to penetrate the skin's surface." However, when fermented, the molecule shrinks, leaving users with noticeably plumper, firmer skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles to a greater extent than non-fermented collagen products.