Interactions Between Cosmetics and the Skin Microbiome

Abstract

The skin is the largest organ in the human body, and the skin microbiome is a key regulator of skin health. It can address many issues such as dysbiosis, dryness, or skin sensitivity. At the same time, cosmetics can effectively adjust and improve appearance. This article explores the impact of the interaction between the skin microbiome and cosmetics, for instance, changes that occur on the face after cleansing, etc. Different effects are observed among different groups of people, divided into those with healthy microbiota and those with imbalanced microbiota. There are significant differences in the use of cosmetics between these two groups. People with skin disorders need cosmetics containing ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids more. Among them, the proportion of ceramides is the highest, accounting for 50% as it has the functions of stabilizing and filling. It can help the skin form a dense and orderly double-layer lipid membrane. Healthy skin is like “soil”, and the role of cosmetics is to “fertilize”. It can also solve many fundamental problems based on this relational foundation.