Cosmetics manufacturers and consumers are increasingly interested in scientific evidence of the effects of cosmetics. Evonik's newly developed skin microbiome model allows the influence of cosmetic ingredients and products on skin microbes to be scientifically evaluated in laboratory tests for the first time.

Our skin is alive!

The skin microbiome - i.e. the totality of all bacteria, fungi and viruses present there - varies from person to person. It is subject to many internal and external influencing factors: from nutrition to sun exposure. The occurrence of certain classes of bacteria is characteristic of certain skin zones, which can be described as oily, moist or dry. The tests currently used analyse how the ingredients of a cosmetic product affect individual types of bacteria. However, the complex interactions between the microorganisms are not taken into account.

Bacterial diversity for healthy skin

With the new skin microbiome model, Evonik is focussing on precisely these interactions and interdependencies in the laboratory. For this purpose, eight to ten typical skin inhabitants are co-cultivated. This means that the conditions are selected in such a way that all bacterial species can grow and interact. An assessment matrix is then used to categorise the conditions as 'microbiome-promoting', 'microbiome-friendly', 'microbiome-altering' or 'microbiome-disrupting'. Any serious change in bacterial diversity is always considered negative because the protective function of the skin microbiome is based on the natural balance of microorganisms.

Consumers want to know more

Evonik is continuing to work on increasing the complexity of the model. The scientific findings are of enormous relevance for the cosmetics industry market, where scientifically proven promises of efficacy are in high demand.

Source: Evonik