According to Ashley Stowers, national educator at CelleClé Skincare, fermented ingredients help treat issues resulting from pollution and excessive technology use. “They’re quickly becoming one of the most versatile actives, proven to be beneficial for everything from dehydration, redness, and irritation to breakouts and signs of premature aging,” she says. Here, she shares what they can do:
- Protect against microbial invasion.
- Minimize redness and irritation caused by chemical aggression.
- Interrupt the dialogue between damaged cells, reducing the spread of inflammation caused by UV, pollution, bacteria, and chemical agents.
- Limit adhesion of hostile flora on the surface of the skin.
- Help prolong cell longevity and viability under stressful and aging conditions.
Many spas are discovering the benefits of fermented ingredients and are using them in their services. Check out a few examples.
ESPA’s Optimal Skin ProMoisturiser, a formula with anti-aging baker’s yeast bioferment to help boost natural defenses, is used at The Spa at Gleneagles (Auchterarder, Scotland) in the Optimal Skin ProFacial ($128, 50 minutes; $143, 60 minutes). The therapy, designed to restore balance and lay the foundation for long-term skin health, begins with a deep brush cleanse and a steam to pave the way for applications of skin-nourishing serum and hydrating ProMoisturiser. The treatment, which also includes a facial and eye-area massage and a hand and arm exfoliation, rebalances, revitalizes, and protects against environmental damage.
At Rituals Aesthetic Skin Care (Burlingame, CA), the Le Mieux Signature Facial ($150, 75 minutes) relies on the brand’s TGF-ß Booster, with numerous yeast and trace-element blend ferments, and EGF-DNA serum, with yeast-ferment filtrate, to accelerate cellular rejuvenation and increase firmness and hydration. A nourishing cleanse and a skin-prepping exfoliation kick things off, and the booster and serum are applied next via massage, getting the blood flowing and increasing collagen production for a healthy glow. A mask and a serum, both with marine collagen, and applications of eye and lip cream and sunscreen add the finishing touches.
Spa-goers indulge in a Japanese healing tradition with the Cedar Enzyme Bath ($109, 90 minutes) at Osmosis Day Spa Sanctuary (Freestone, CA). After slipping into a robe and sipping a cup of warming tea in a private garden, a personal bath attendant guides clients to a wooden tub filled with a soft blend of ground cedar, rice bran, and a biological culture that serves as a catalyst for the fermentation process. The dry soak’s living enzymes stimulate metabolic activity, improving circulation, relieving joint and muscle pain, and deeply cleansing the skin.
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