The Latest Beauty Trend Stinks!

What’s Brewing in Beautyland? 

By BR Amelia

Fermentation isn’t a new thing – it’s a process that cultures all over the world have embraced for thousands of years - but lately I’ve been noticing a resurgence. My local Farmer’s Market has a woman selling kombucha, a friend of mine started brewing her own non-alcoholic health-inducing fermented beverage, even the café up the road is making sandwiches using in-house made sauerkraut. Fermentation is now a cool kid, and not just in food but in skincare too.

Now I’m not saying you should lie back and slather sauerkraut all over your face, or plunge your skin into a pool of kombucha. Fermented skincare is a little more sophisticated than that. You won’t find hunks of kimchi in your cleanser, what you will find is that the beauty companies have taken products that ferment well, like yeast, fruits, rice, plants and herbs, and put them through the fermentation process, which then causes the good stuff in the ingredients to become even more potent. Not only that, but the process can increase the anti-oxidants and amino acids, two things that skin loves. Fermentation can also cause the ingredients to be broken down even further, which makes it more easily absorbed into the skin.

So who’s doing what? And where can we get it?

The Face Shop has a range of skincare products featuring fermentation, including Smim Fermented Concentrate Total Treatment, which features fermented yeast extract and Tibetan mushrooms and claims to brighten, aid in wrinkle resilience and cell regeneration, as well as Smim Fermentation Concentrate Essence, a serum designed to improve hydration and skin tone.

Maiden South Pacific has created Fermented Virgin Coconut Oil, which can be used as a moisturiser, as a makeup remover, and as a lip balm.

EmerginC’s Scientific Organics Eyelight Serum (available mainly through selected salons) is formulated with a range of ingredients, including kombucha, and is designed to target fine lines, wrinkles, puffiness and dark circles under the eyes to create a softer, smoother, younger looking eye area.

SK-II is a world-renowned brand, beloved by many Hollywood stars. It’s whole range came about when it was noticed that while workers in a sake factory had wrinkled faces their hands were smooth and youthful due to being often immersed in fermented yeast. Research led to the isolation of a yeast that could produce a special blend of vitamins, minerals and acids called Pitera, which was then then used to create and launch the SK-II brand.

So what do you think? Could this age-old technique be the best thing to hit beauty? Are you keen to give fermented skincare a go? Or do you think something smells a bit iffy?