The New Face of Skincare: Three Graces Day Spa (Photograph by Akil Simmons)

For years, the conversation around anti-ageing often centred on injectables, cosmetic procedures and surgery. But today, many people are looking for something different. They still want firmer skin, improved texture and a more youthful appearance, but they’re increasingly seeking treatments that work with the skin rather than dramatically altering it. The result is a growing interest in advanced, non-invasive facial treatments that promise noticeable results without needles, surgery or lengthy recovery times.

According to Aisha Spencer, Spa and Salon Director, Three Graces Day Spa, that’s exactly what she’s seeing among her clients.

“Most of our clients are asking for natural-looking, noticeable results without the downtime, pain or risks associated with surgery or injections. Busy lifestyles mean people can’t afford days off for recovery or bruising.”

The New Face of Skincare: Three Graces Day Spa (Photograph by Akil Simmons)

At the same time, she says, skincare technology has advanced significantly, particularly innovations coming out of South Korea.

“We can now stimulate the skin to repair and lift itself from deep within, delivering real firmness while keeping your natural look completely intact.”

Ms Spencer believes people are beginning to think about skincare differently, not as an occasional luxury, but as an investment in long-term skin health.

“I always compare skincare to dental health. You brush your teeth every day at home, but you still visit the hygienist every six months to keep them healthy. Skin works exactly the same way. Home products are important, but if you want healthy skin as you age, professional treatments every six to eight weeks help maintain its structure, density and overall health.”

The New Face of Skincare: Three Graces Day Spa (Photograph by Akil Simmons)

One treatment attracting attention is the Thesera L Melting Thread Lift Facial, a needle-free treatment developed in South Korea.

Despite its name, Ms Spencer is quick to point out that there are no surgical threads involved.

“The biggest misconception is hearing the words ‘thread lift’ and assuming it involves needles, sutures or pain. This treatment is 100 per cent needle-free, painless and actually very relaxing.”

Instead, the treatment uses silk protein and chitosan — natural, skin-building materials — that are broken down into microscopic particles capable of penetrating the skin without injections.

The New Face of Skincare: Three Graces Day Spa (Photograph by Akil Simmons)

The process begins with a gentle acid blend that removes dead skin cells and temporarily opens tiny pathways within the skin. A liquid thread solution containing microscopic silk protein and chitosan particles is then applied, allowing them to absorb into the dermis, where collagen is produced.

Finally, a firming mask seals everything in, encouraging the skin to tighten while stimulating its own natural collagen production.

Rather than creating an artificial change, the treatment works with the body’s own regenerative processes.

“It’s surprisingly versatile because it works with your body’s natural biology rather than forcing a synthetic change.”

The New Face of Skincare: Three Graces Day Spa (Photograph by Akil Simmons)

She says the treatment is suitable for anyone beginning to notice early signs of ageing, including reduced firmness around the jawline, fine lines, smile lines and a loss of elasticity. It can also be used preventively by younger clients hoping to maintain collagen before more visible signs of ageing appear.

“For clients in their twenties and early thirties, it’s about preventive maintenance. It helps keep the skin dense and slows down natural volume loss before deeper lines begin to form. For clients aged 35 and over, it helps rebuild structural support, firm areas around the cheeks and jawline and soften visible lines.”

She adds that the treatment is suitable for all skin tones and skin types, as well as both women and men. Results can often be seen immediately after treatment, with skin appearing tighter, plumper and more hydrated.

“Clients get an immediate ‘flash lift’ right out of the facial room. But the real magic happens over the following weeks as those absorbed particles signal your body to build fresh collagen.”

A single treatment typically delivers a tightening and brightening effect that can last between one and four months, making it a popular choice before weddings, holidays and other special occasions. A course of four treatments, performed one to three weeks apart, builds collagen over time and can provide firmer skin for six to eight months.

The New Face of Skincare: Three Graces Day Spa (Photograph by Akil Simmons)

While traditional facials remain an important part of a skincare routine, Ms Spencer says advanced treatments offer something different.

“A traditional facial is wonderful for surface maintenance. It cleanses, exfoliates and hydrates the outer layer of the skin. Advanced treatments like the Melting Thread Lift work several layers deeper, targeting the skin’s structural foundation while still providing the relaxing experience of a luxury facial.”

The New Face of Skincare: Three Graces Day Spa (Photograph by Akil Simmons)

For anyone considering advanced skincare for the first time, her advice is to think about skin health as a long-term investment rather than a quick fix.

“Just like you can’t go to the dentist once and expect healthy teeth for ten years, glowing skin requires consistency. Pair your daily home routine with professional treatments every six to eight weeks.”

She also encourages clients to stay well hydrated after treatment.

“Because the micro-threads bind with water inside the skin to create that plump, lifted effect, staying well hydrated and wearing daily sun protection will help your results last even longer.”

The New Face of Skincare: Three Graces Day Spa (Photograph by Akil Simmons)

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Dullness rarely shows up overnight. It
builds slowly, from sun exposure, pollution, and dead cells that don’t shed the
way they should, until one day your skin just looks flat and tired. A detan
face wash is usually the easiest fix to start with, since it works right at
the surface where tan and buildup collect first. The detan face wash with papaya and Vitamin C combines a gentle
enzyme cleanse with brightening actives in one step.

Cleansing sets the stage, but it isn’t
the whole routine. Skin also needs help with tone and pigmentation over time,
which is where a vitamin c moisturizer comes in, clearing
what’s already on the skin while preventing new dullness from settling in.

Why Dull Skin Happens in the First Place

Understanding why my face looks dull
explains a lot about how to fix it. Dead skin cells naturally sit on the
surface for a few days before shedding, but inconsistent or harsh cleansing
lets that layer build up faster than skin can clear it on its own. Add daily
sun exposure without protection, and pigmentation starts forming underneath,
while pollution and dehydration slow cell turnover further. The result is skin
that scatters light unevenly instead of reflecting it, which is what dullness
looks like at the surface level.

1. Removes Daily Tan and Surface Buildup

Because papain works enzymatically rather
than through abrasion, it clears tan and dulling buildup without the redness or
micro-tears that physical scrubs can cause. This matters for sensitive skin
especially, since it often can’t tolerate daily exfoliation but still needs
regular buildup removal.

2. Works as a Genuine Brightening Face Wash

A well-formulated brightening face
wash doesn’t just clean, it actively lifts dullness with each use. Vitamin
C in the formula helps fade the look of dark spots and evens out skin tone
gradually, so the benefit compounds with regular use rather than showing up
after a single wash, a slower but more lasting kind of brightening.

3. Cleans Without Stripping the Skin Barrier

Harsh detan products often rely on heavy
exfoliants that leave skin dry and reactive. A gentler, enzyme-based vitamin
c face wash cleans thoroughly while keeping the skin barrier intact, since
a damaged barrier tends to make dullness and sensitivity worse, not better.
Skin that stays barrier-healthy also absorbs the actives applied afterward more
effectively.

4. Helps With Uneven Skin Tone Over Time

Repeated sun exposure creates patches of
pigmentation that aren’t always obvious day to day but add up to an uneven
complexion. Regular use of a Vitamin C-based cleanser chips away at this
unevenness, which is part of why vitamin c face wash benefits come up so
often in long-term skin tone discussions rather than quick fixes.

5. Suitable for Most Skin Types, Including Oily Skin

Because the base formula is usually
lightweight and non-comedogenic, this cleanser tends to work well across skin
types, including for anyone dealing with vitamin c face wash for oily skin,
since the gel or foaming texture clears excess oil without over-drying.

6. Prepares Skin to Absorb Actives Better

Clean, de-tanned skin absorbs serums and
moisturizers more effectively than skin covered in dead cells. This is an
underrated reason a detan wash matters, since it isn’t just about looking
brighter immediately, it’s about setting up the rest of your routine, including
a Vitamin C moisturizer, to actually work.

7. Supports a Simple, Consistent Anti-Dullness Routine

Dullness treatment doesn’t need five
extra steps or constant product switching. A dull skin treatment built
around a twice-daily Vitamin C cleanse, followed by a brightening moisturizer,
covers most of what skin needs without overcomplicating things.

Ingredients to Look For in Detan Face Wash

Not every cleanser tackles dullness the
same way, and the two ingredients that matter most here work differently. Papaya
contains papain, a natural enzyme that gently breaks down dead skin cells
without the friction of a physical scrub, making it useful for lifting tan and
rough texture without irritation. Vitamin C works at a slightly deeper
level, as an antioxidant that helps interrupt the process behind pigmentation,
which is why it plays such a direct role in even skin tone over time.
Papain clears the surface while Vitamin C works on the tone underneath, and
that combination largely drives the glow-boosting effect people notice with
consistent use.

How to Use a Vitamin C Detan Face Wash

Wet your face with lukewarm water, since hot water strips natural
oils and dries out skin further.
Take a
coin-sized amount of the face wash and work it into a gentle lather
between your palms.
Massage onto
your face and neck in circular motions for thirty to forty-five seconds,
giving the enzymes time to work.
Rinse
thoroughly and pat your skin dry with a clean towel instead of rubbing it.
Follow up with a Vitamin C moisturizer while skin is still
slightly damp, to lock in hydration.

How Often to Use It

Twice a day, once in the morning and once
before bed, is generally enough for most skin types. Using it more often
doesn’t speed up results and can leave skin dry or sensitive, since even gentle
enzymes have their limits. Consistency over weeks matters more than frequency
within a single day.

Conclusion

A detan face wash built around
Vitamin C and papaya does more than freshen up skin for a day. Paired with a
Vitamin C moisturizer, it addresses both the buildup causing dullness and the
pigmentation underneath it, a far more sustainable approach than relying on one
product for a quick fix.

Read iDiva for the latest in Bollywood, fashion looks, beauty and lifestyle news.

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LOOKING in the mirror and feeling like your skin has suddenly aged overnight can be a real confidence knock.

But an Irish skincare expert has revealed how you can find out your skin age — and, even more importantly, how to slow down the ageing process.

A skin pro is helping Irish women find out their skin age and what they will look like in years to come

Sara explained changes that occur during peri-menopause and menopause

Sara O’Hagan has lifted the lid on what’s making our skin look tired and old — and, thankfully, reveals what really works to help tired faces look younger.

With 16 years’ experience in the world of skincare, Sara said most women tell her the same thing: “I just don’t feel like myself anymore.”

Sara told The Irish Sun: “I see so many women in their late 30s and 40s who suddenly feel like their skin has changed overnight.

“They look tired all the time, makeup sits differently, redness becomes more noticeable, and they feel like they’ve lost the glow they used to have.”

A large number of women claimed they feel like they aged overnight Credit: Getty Images – Getty

The skin expert urged everyone to start with a skin analysis

Many women experience increased redness, dryness, dullness, breakouts, while also constantly looking tired and feeling that makeup does not sit properly and constantly looking tired — even when they’re looking after themselves.

Sara said: “For many women, that feeling starts showing up in their skin before they even fully realise perimenopause could be part of it.

“Suddenly their skin becomes dry, dull or reactive. Rosacea flares up more. They’re breaking out again after years of clear skin.

“Makeup doesn’t sit properly anymore. And no matter how much sleep they get, they still feel like they look exhausted.

“A lot of women genuinely feel like they’ve aged overnight. And honestly, it can really knock their confidence. Because it’s not just about appearance.

“It’s that strange feeling of looking in the mirror and not fully recognising yourself anymore.

“I think many women are completely unprepared for how much hormonal changes can affect the skin.”

She said most women expect things like hot flushes or mood changes, but they don’t expect their skin to suddenly feel unfamiliar too.

Sara explained: “The truth is, skin naturally changes during perimenopause and menopause.

“Hormones affect hydration, collagen, oil production, inflammation and skin sensitivity.

“That’s why so many women suddenly notice redness, dullness, fine lines, dehydration or skin becoming much more reactive than before.

“And then begins the cycle so many women fall into — buying more products, trying every trend online, switching routines constantly, hoping the next cream will fix everything.

“But often, all that does is overwhelm already stressed skin even more.”

Cutting down on products and understanding options that benefit the skin is key.

She said: “What women usually need at this stage is actually the opposite. Less panic. Less pressure. Less noise. And more understanding of what their skin needs now.”

Products that contain retinol, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid or peptides should be the focus.

SPF is always needed, whatever the weather.

Sara added: “I always say to clients, ‘Your skin at 45 isn’t supposed to behave like your skin at 25.’

“That doesn’t mean your skin is ruined. It just means it needs different support.”

When it comes to rosacea, the skin condition affects roughly one in 10 people in Ireland.

The first signs of rosacea include redness or a burning, stinging feeling when using water or skincare products.

It can appear across the nose, cheeks, forehead and chin, and can come and go.

Sara said: “Rosacea is more common in Irish women than people realise and it’s not just ‘a bit of redness’.”

The award-winning skin clinician said rosacea is one of the most common — and misunderstood — concerns she sees.

She said: “A lot of them don’t even realise that’s what it is. They think they just have sensitive skin. Or that they blush easily. Or that their skin is always reacting to something.

“But underneath it, there’s often a lot more frustration than people realise. Because rosacea isn’t just a bit of redness.

“It’s the flare-ups before nights out. It’s makeup suddenly not sitting properly.

“It’s your face going bright red after a glass of wine, a hot room, stress, exercise or even just changing weather.”

In Ireland, there are plenty of factors adding to rosacea, including our skin types, weather, heating, temperature changes and lifestyle factors.

Sara continued: “A lot of women are constantly trying to calm their skin down but end up stuck in a cycle of trying random products that either do nothing or make things worse.”

The Dublin-based skin pro admitted that a lot of women in Ireland seem to be “quietly dealing with it on their own”.

Sara said: “One of the biggest misconceptions around rosacea is that you just have to put up with it. You don’t.

“The problem is, many women are treating the redness without properly understanding what’s triggering it or what their skin actually needs.

“Sometimes they’re over-exfoliating. Sometimes they’re stripping the skin barrier.

“Sometimes they’re using products that are far too harsh because they’ve been told online they need strong actives to get good skin.

“Meanwhile, their skin is inflamed, stressed and crying out for support.”

Sara discussed how women with rosacea also face an emotional battle.

She said: “I honestly don’t think it gets talked about enough.

“I’ve had women tell me they dread getting warm in public because they know their face will flare.

“Others avoid photos, nights out or going makeup-free because they feel constantly conscious of their skin.

“That can really chip away at someone’s confidence over time.”

However, rosacea can “absolutely be managed properly” when you understand your skin better.

Sara explained: “For most women, the biggest difference comes from simplifying things, calming inflammation, strengthening the skin barrier and having a proper plan instead of constantly guessing.

“And most importantly, understanding that your skin isn’t ‘bad’. It’s reactive. It’s stressed. It needs support, not punishment.”

She added: “You are not the only one dealing with it and your skin is not beyond help.”

Another issue Sara hears frequently is women who think they have sensitive skin — but that is often not the real problem.

Sara said: “One of the biggest things I hear from women in the clinic is: ‘My skin just reacts to everything.’

“I understand why so many women feel that way. They try a new product and their skin flares. Their cheeks go red after a glass of wine. Makeup suddenly doesn’t sit right anymore.

“Their skin feels dry one week, irritated the next, and nothing seems to calm it down properly.

“So naturally, they start believing they just have very sensitive skin. But a lot of the time, that’s not actually the real issue.

“What I see over and over again is women who are completely overwhelmed by skincare.

“They’ve spent years buying products based on trends, influencers, TikTok recommendations, or whatever someone online swears changed their skin overnight.

“One serum for glow, another for anti-ageing, something else for redness.

“Retinol because everyone says you should use it. Acids because someone said they help texture.

“Before they know it, they’re layering active products onto skin that’s already stressed and inflamed.”

The beauty pro explained this results in the skin reacting, and women assume their skin “can’t tolerate anything”.

Sara said: “The truth is, most women were never properly shown what their skin actually needs at this stage of life.”

Understanding your skin, fine lines and wrinkles, spots, pores, texture, porphyrins, UV spots, moisture and pigmentation is key.

A good place to start is getting a skin analysis that clinically measures the surface and subsurface of the skin.

Sara’s high-tech system at the Skin Glow Clinic will reveal everything from your skin’s age to how you will look in years to come.

It uses state-of-the-art digital imagery, using RGB visible light, PL polarised light and UV spectrum imaging technology, combined with AI and image analysis.

Sara explained: “You can reverse that skin age to a point. If you start doing the right treatments and using the right products, you can absolutely slow the process down.

“Now, we can’t stop the skin ageing — that’s part of life — but we can definitely make the skin look younger.”

Sara added: “A proper consultation, a simple routine and treatments tailored to the skin can make a much bigger difference than constantly chasing trends online.

“Women don’t need perfect skin. Most just want to feel comfortable and confident again when they look in the mirror.

“They want to head out the door without overthinking their face, stop feeling exhausted every time they catch themselves in photos, and feel a bit more like themselves again.

“And honestly, when they finally do, that’s the real transformation.”

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Taking a deep dive into the latest viral skincare routines among young teens reveals a concerning trend that could have long-lasting health implications. Recently, a teenager shared an elaborate, multi-step makeup and skincare routine on social media, showing off the products and techniques used to achieve a seemingly flawless complexion. While such videos often garner thousands of views and new followers, they conceal a darker reality: the overuse of potent skincare ingredients and the psychological toll of striving for perfection at a tender age. It’s crucial to understand that adolescents’ skin differs significantly from adults’. Their skin has a faster cell turnover rate, higher moisture levels, and a delicate protective barrier more prone to damage. Introducing aggressive products like retinol, high-concentration acids, or severe chemicals without professional guidance can irritate, thin, and embolden long-term skin issues. Many young users succumb to the allure of quick fixes presented by social media influencers, unaware of the potential hazards lurking behind seemingly innocent routines. ### What Is “Cosmetic Correctia”, and Why Is It Concerning? Recently coined, “Cosmetic Correctia” describes the compulsive obsession with perfect skin often driven by social media and peer pressure. Dermatologists find that children as young as 8 to 14 start developing unhealthy behaviors, such as excessive product use or avoidance of social activities without makeup, fueled by a desire to meet unrealistic beauty standards. This obsession also correlates with an increase in psychological issues like anxiety, low self-esteem, and body dysmorphia. Children start fearing blemishes or imperfections so intensely that they obsessively apply products or indulge in harmful routines without consulting health professionals. ### The Market’s Explosive Growth and Its Impact The global youth skincare market surpasses billions in revenue, propelled by relentless marketing strategies aimed directly at children and teenagers. Marketers often utilize TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube influencers to promote beauty routines, implicitly correlating skin perfection with popularity and success. A typical TikTok skincare routine, for example, can cost upwards of 125 pounds annually for a teen, owing to the frequent repurchase of trendy serums, masks, and creams. These quick-sell tactics make it easy for young consumers to fall into a cycle of endless shopping, often unaware of the long-term health risks. ### The Dark Side of Popular Skincare Ingredients Many skincare products marketed towards youth contain ingredients that can be dangerous when misused. Retinol, for instance, widely used in anti-aging products for adults, should not be used on young, developing skin. Overuse can cause retinol burns, barrier disruption, and a heightened sensitivity to the sun. Similarly, high concentrations of AHA and BHA acids—which exfoliate the skin—may lead to redness, peeling, and increase photosensitivity, especially when the skin’s natural defenses are not yet mature. A common misconception involves the belief that parfum, preservatives, and synthetic fragrances are harmless; However, these components often trigger allergic reactions and contact dermatitis among sensitive young skin. ### Clinical Evidence and Real Experiences Dermatologists have observed a sharp uptick in cases of acne, contact dermatitis, and even hair loss linked directly to excessive use of over-the-counter products. In one notable case, a 10-year-old child developed severe facial irritation after applying multiple potent acids and retinoids without medical supervision. Parents are increasingly reporting that their children are refusing to socialize or attend school because of self-esteem issues fueled by digital beauty standards. Many families cite that young teenagers are compulsively checking their appearance online, feeling inadequate compared to edited images of influencers. ### Psychological Impact and Social Media Influence The pressure to meet social media beauty standards causes many teens to develop poor self-image and anxiety. Exposure to filtered content and perfect selfies often distorts reality, leading to misguided confidence based on virtual validation. Research highlights that young users who compare themselves to curated images face increases in self-loathing and depressive symptoms. This cycle perpetuates the need for more products and more editing, escalating the cosmetic obsession. ### Responsibility of Marketers and Parents While platforms like TikTok and Instagram claim to regulate sponsored content, hidden advertising still influences minors. Brands must adopt transparent marketing practices and avoid targeted advertising to vulnerable audiences. Parents play a vital role by monitoring social media usage and education. Experts recommend: – Supervising digital consumption and discussing marketing tactics openly. – Encouraging simple, safe skincare routines supervised by dermatologists. – Educating children about natural skin and the dangers of overusing products. – Promoting self-esteem activities beyond appearance, like sports, arts, and face-to-face socialization. ### Practical Steps for Parents Here’s a step-by-step guide to protect your child’s skin and mental health: | Step | Action | |—|—| | Review skincare products | Regularly check products for retinol, strong acids, or fragrance-heavy ingredients; Remove all unnecessary or aggressive products. | Encourage transparency | Talk about the reality of beauty standards and the artificial nature of filters and edits. | Limit social media exposure | Set reasonable boundaries for online time, emphasizing quality over quantity. | Seek professional advice | Consult a dermatologist for any persistent skin issues or behavioral concerns. The key to safeguarding young people from the pitfalls of DIY skincare trends and social media pressures lies in education, supervision, and promoting healthy self-image. Understanding the risks of aggressive ingredients and the influence of curated digital content sets the foundation for making informed decisions that prioritize health over appearance.

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Eternal youth is still a long way off, even for modern science. Yet research continues to find ways to slow the signs of ageing.

Responding to consumer demand for gentler skincare, many biobased anti-ageing products today centre around microbes.

Biotech companies are using microbes to make wrinkle-combatting, elasticity-boosting compounds more sustainably.

The anti-ageing effects of microbes are more than skin deep, too. Cutting-edge research now suggests microbial chemicals could even slow the process of ageing itself.

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Here is why microbial anti-ageing could become a budding beauty trend.

From Botox to biologicals

Mar-a-Lago face, TikTok face, and “undetectable facelifts”. The new vocabulary around beauty reflects a striking fact: the last five years have seen surging demand for plastic surgery.

Consumers are now embracing the knife just like they would an eyebrow brush. Public figures have driven the trend, including social media influencers, Hollywood celebs, and prominent politicians on the US right.

Whatever you make of it, plastic surgery is set to remain a key fixture of the beauty industry.

Yet we are also starting to see an opposite trend. As consumers recoil against more extreme surgical aesthetics, many are now yearning for gentler, preventative forms of beauty.

This “facelift-fatigue” has boosted interest in biological treatments that deliver radiance without knives or needles.

Granted, many biological skincare products are still used alongside – not instead of – injectables and surgical intervention. Yet the tide towards subtler beauty is real.

The desire for gentler beauty complements a longer-term trend toward organic ingredients in cosmetics.

Increasingly, consumers want to replace the petrochemicals and heavy metals that contaminate conventional beauty products with biobased ingredients that are lighter on the environment.

With beauty consumers turning towards subtler beauty and natural ingredients, ingredients makers are expanding their range of biobased ingredients. To achieve this at cost, many are turning to microbes – a new source of gentler beauty.

Industry expands biological offerings

Microbes are useful to the beauty industry because of their natural chemical capabilities.

Thanks to their metabolisms, these creatures can produce many complex chemicals more efficiently than man-made machines and synthetic chemical processes alone, particularly when their genetics are carefully fine-tuned to do so.

Provital is one of the companies taking advantage of these natural traits. Its PureBlome anti-ageing ingredient contains a microbial ferment from Bacillus velezensis, a bacterial species found on the hyssop flower. A ferment is just a chemical byproduct that results from a microbe digesting its food.

Aside from the Bacillus ferment, Provital’s formulation contains Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Levulinic Acid, and Glyceryl Caprylate.

Skincare manufacturers can use the product to give their consumer-facing formulations an anti-ageing boost. According to the company, clinical tests show PureBlome can create a 14% increase in collage, a 25% increase in elastin, and a 37% reduction in by-products related to advanced glycation end-products (cell-damageing chemicals).

The power of ferments

The UK’s Uniproma is another biotech company focused on bringing microbe-produced anti-ageing to the market.

The company has a long list of microbe-fermented oils, including those based on meadowfoam seed, grape seed, rosehip and the prinseopia. All harbour anti-ageing properties.

Microbes offer beauty ingredient manufacturers a gentler way of enhancing the beauty benefits inside plants. As they digest the organic matter, the microbes shrink the molecular mass of active chemicals, making it easier for the skin to absorb them. Microbial digestion can also increase the amount of active ingredients found inside plant material.

The company also uses microbes to further break down their fermented oils, creating even more refined products. For example, Uniproma uses a microbe to break down its meadowfoam seed oil into the Sunori M-MSF – an anti-oxidant-rich ingredient the company sells as a non-greasy moisturiser oil.

According to Uniproma, fermented beauty has many benefits aside from the ability to concoct specialty chemicals at cost. Unlike other chemical industry processes, microbial fermentation does not involve high heat. This helps preserve sensitive natural compounds. This low-temperature approach is also more eco-friendly because it uses less energy.

Living skin-yoghurts

Microbes could even have more direct benefits for skin, as living anti-ageing agents.

The skin microbiome is a dynamic ecosystem of microorganisms that lives on the skin and supports its functions.

A well-balanced community of skin microbes can make the difference between dull, aged skin and a radiant complexion.

Species work together to defend against pathogens, boost immunity, and enhance the skin barrier against pollutants or harsh skincare products.

Aging can disrupt the delicate balance of skin microbes, which accelerates ageing and weakens the skin’s defences.

Topical skin products containing live cultures could revive a weakened microbiome. We could think of this as a microbiome-enhancing ‘skin-yoghurt’ that would deliver these living microorganisms directly onto the skin, helping maintain its functions.

While some companies sell prebiotic skincare – which feed microbes already present on the skin – there are technical problems to developing a microbiome cream that actually delivers live bacteria.

To have certain effects, a microbiome has to contain the right species into the right ratios.  If numbers of microbes wax and wane, it can damage efficacy. Finding a way to stabilise these living communities for long periods will be crucial to formulating a microbiome product that delivers actual bacteria.

Life-giving “vitamins”

The potential for microbes in anti-ageing goes beyond topical treatments, however. Biotech firms are now tapping into the market for nutricosmetics, which believes that beauty is what you eat.

Nutricosmetics sees nutritional health as the number one variable in anti-ageing. It aims to actively slow the ageing process through carefully formulated diets and supplements.

One area of nutricosmetic research centres on a group of compounds called ‘longevity vitamins’. Some scientists say these can help slow the ageing process but that they must be taken in through diet.

One type of longevity vitamin is ergothioneine, which fights against the reactive oxygen species associated with ageing, like wrinkles, frailty, and cognitive decline. They are most effective in older populations.

Microorganisms could be the key to commercialising ergothioneine. The chemical is found in certain mushrooms and a few organisms, but only in negligible amounts. Extracting from natural sources would not be commercially viable.

Recently, however, Japanese researchers at chemicals trading firm NAGASE reported on a new biobased method that could drastically bring down manufacturing costs. It uses engineered microorganisms to produce the chemical in the lab.

The microbes can make high volumes of ergothioneine in their bodies which can later be extracted. They are highly productive thanks to genetic modifications and optimising procedures that make their bioreactors an ideal place for them to grow.

When ergothioneine research started at NAGASE in 2014, a kilogram cost nearly US$1 million. The costs of making the chemical could go down by up to 99% thanks to the new biomanufacturing method.

Particles of youth

Microbes are also showing powerful anti-ageing effects in rodent trials.

In April, a group of scientists published in Nature on the anti-ageing effects of extracellular particles from the bacteria Limosilactobacillus fermentum.

The scientist measured an increase in skin thickness in mice given the particles. They also observed maintenance of healthy collagen fibres as well as a slow-down in cognitive decline.

Mice metabolisms are different from ours, so human trials will be needed to prove whether these particles could really benefit us.

However, the paper does show how microbial treatment may have the capacity to blur the line between cosmetics, biological enhancement, and pharmaceuticals.

What defines research into longevity vitamins and these extracellular particles is their emphasis on actually slowing the biological clock, not just slowing the signs of ageing.

At this point, biobased beauty ceases to be purely cosmetic. Rather than surface-level interventions, chemicals derived from microbes could offer powerful ways to intervene on fundamental biological mechanisms.

The new face of beauty

Microbes are the swiss army knife of biobased anti-ageing, playing multiple roles across the  natural beauty niche.

These creatures can intensify the beauty-enhancing properties of botanical ingredients by chemically altering them. What’s more, microbial ferments offer a greener way to manufacture products without harsh synthetics or solvents. Their ability to replicate rare wild botanicals indoors also means the beauty industry can avoid unsustainable harvesting.

We also find microbes in the most advanced frontiers of anti-ageing research. Microbiome treatments could become the future of topical skincare, while microbial biomanufacturing could bring down the costs of nutricosmetic supplements that promise to slow the ageing process itself.

Beauty in the early 2020s has been defined by the rise of plastic surgery. Yet when the pendulum swings back to more natural beautification, it’s certain that microbes will be at the centre of it all.

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