Civilization has long been associated with a sense of “clean” that requires us to rid ourselves of nature and place ourselves on a pedestal above all other life. We soap down daily, stripping oiliness from our skin, and disinfect to kill 99.9% of all known germs… If we could blitz 100% – no doubt – humanity in general would be pleased.

Are there consequences to these actions?

The answer – A DEFINITIVE YES!

Over the millions of years that humans (and all of life on earth) have existed, we have never done it alone; our very existence relies on thousands of unseen interactions with the microbial world around us. From microbes in our guts that turn amino acids into essential vitamins, to those that work closely with the cells on the surface of our skins in order to balance our immune response, we depend heavily on the microbial world. Even our moods are linked to the chemical messages that exist within our bodies because of microbes.

Science is only clipping the very tip of the massive and complex iceberg that is the microbiome, and what it is fast discovering is that we are successfully destroying the balance that evolution has expertly curated. Through our perception of cleanliness to the processed food we eat and our avoidance of the natural world around us, we’ve either destroyed or lost many of our essential microbe partners. This is evident through the increase in skin disorders such as eczema, acne and dermatitis, and the rise of lifestyle-related illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension and depression. By breaking our microbial partnerships, we’ve broken systems that have existed for millennia. Now we will have to work hard to get the balance back.

Esse aims to promote awareness around the value of recognising and maintaining a healthy microbiome and offer the opportunity to Rewild your skin’s microbiome with probiotic microbes so that you can wear your best skin with confidence.

Each product is developed to address a specific skin concern, therefore no two products are the same. However, apart from each product’s tailored ingredients, there are two ingredients that are included in all Esse products. These are probiotics and prebiotics. They are the foundation upon which Esse products are developed, and what sets Esse apart from regular skincare brands.

Defining Pre-and Probiotics

Prebiotics and probiotics have a symbiotic relationship. Probiotics are live micro-organisms (bacteria) that have proven health benefits when either consumed or applied to the skin. These live organisms help to restore the body and skin’s natural balance, which is why they are included in food items such as yoghurt, and skincare products such as Esse Probiotic Serum. Prebiotics, simply put, are food for the probiotics, which feed on the prebiotics to remain active and working at optimal capacity.

Internally, these bacteria are collectively called gut flora or gut microbiota. Consuming a balanced amount of both prebiotics and probiotics keeps the gut healthy, preventing a bacterial imbalance by keeping pathogens at bay with their protective functionality.

Externally, skincare products that contain probiotics – either live or inactivated – provide the skin with a defence mechanism that is comprised of beneficial microbes, which increase their population on your skin’s surface, thereby preventing pathogens (or bad microbes) from taking up residence on your skin. These little bacterial soldiers are an essential part of the epidermis, and without them, you are left exposed to any number of potential germs and pathogenic bacteria, which can lead to negative skin reactions, and even illness.

In order to provide the skin with natural treatments that don’t cause irritation or strip the skin of its natural barrier function, we only use approved and certified organic ingredients, so our customers can rest assured that they are not exposing themselves to harmful or toxic chemicals. Natural botanicals form a large proportion of the ingredients that we use, each with their own unique skincare benefits and natural fragrances. These ingredients are selected for their specific skin concern benefits. For example, Esse has developed serums for rehydrating skin. Other skin concerns, such as acne, ageing skin, sensitivity, pigmentation, dryness and oily skin, are also catered for.

So, to answer the question, “What’s in a drop?”, millions of probiotics and beneficial ingredients that serve to treat your particular skin concern, without the harsh additives included in many regular skincare and beauty products. Whilst these may provide short-term results, science and nature provide solid evidence that natural products are far healthier for the body, which obviates the possibility of an allergic reaction or a severe condition that is triggered by harsh synthetics.

In conclusion, a little (drop) goes a long way!

Truly reactive skin is easily aggravated, and is described as environmentally sensitised or vaso-reactive.

Sensitivity is generally the result of an impaired barrier function, which results in nerve endings being more prone to irritation, and a hyperactive immune response. How the skin responds to triggers can include symptoms of swelling/oedema, redness, blemishes, stinging or tingling, itching and dry, scaly patches.

How do you know if you have sensitive or reactive skin?

• Skin might feel dry and itchy for no apparent reason
• Skin might sting and tingle when applying products
• Skin might be reactive or easily stimulated by heat and/or friction
• You may be prone to breakouts and develop rashes easily

Sensitive skin can be greatly improved by following some easy steps that don’t need to be expensive or time consuming.

What can you do to reduce and prevent skin sensitivity?

• Strengthen barrier function by supporting a healthy skin microbiome, choose pH balanced products that do not contain harsh preservatives.
• Supplement your skincare routine with pre- and probiotics.
• Avoid all foaming products – use a cream-based cleanser and don’t cleanse in the morning.
• Avoid fragrances – these are often synthetic and can trigger an exaggerated immune response.
• Avoid synthetic and chemical ingredients – these can harm beneficial skin micro-organisms and are not compounds that skin would be exposed to naturally.
• Avoid alcohols and astringents in products – these act as anti-bacterial agents, disrupting the skin’s microbiome.
• Avoid extreme temperature or climate changes.
• Manage your environment, lifestyle, diet and water intake – skin health is better managed holistically.

All that’s left to do is to head over to our store locator and find your nearest Esse stockist for a free skin analysis.  The time for great skin is now.