Bacteria are everywhere around us, and in nature, they play a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. All living organisms, including humans, have a microbiome that functions as an integral part of the immune system. However, the growing trend of killing all bacteria with sanitizers, cleaners, and antibiotics is as unwise as using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Killing even the good bacteria to prevent the bad ones is often excessive and ineffective. While sanitizing and antibiotics are sometimes necessary to combat aggressive pathogens or protect a weakened immune system, overuse can harm our microbiome and disrupt the balance of good microorganisms, which is why such measures should be used only when needed. A healthy microbiome can help fend off bad bacteria which can help reduce the need for frequent sanitizing and antibiotic use, resulting in a stronger microbiome and this way creating a positive cycle.
In a world increasingly filled with synthetics, microplastics, ultra-processed ingredients, and pollution, it’s crucial to nurture and protect our microbiomes. By nourishing them with prebiotics and enhancing them with probiotics, we can support our body’s natural defenses. Since the start of our journey in 2019, we chose to deep-dive into this exciting field and make our soaps probiotic to help boost the microbiome of your skin, scalp, and home, while at the same time benefiting the wastewater systems and oceans.
Follow us on Instagram for more tips on how to care for and enhance your microbiome, as well as updates on new exciting research on the importance of the microbiome. Below, you can read more about the specific benefits of the probiotics in our soaps for your skin, scalp, and home.
Probiotics in Skincare
Probiotics in skincare can support the skin’s natural microbiome by promoting strength, balance, and a soothing effect on the skin. The positive microorganisms can help maintain a balanced skin microbiome by outcompeting harmful bacteria and producing antimicrobial peptides that can inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms. By fostering a balanced microbiome, probiotics contribute to strengthening the skin barrier, creating a protective layer that can reduce the penetration of pollutants. Additionally, probiotics can help calm inflammation in the skin and prevent pollutants from triggering inflammatory responses by strengthening the natural skin barrier.
Probiotics can support the skin’s natural microbiome by promoting strength, balance, and a soothing effect on the skin. These beneficial microorganisms can contribute to maintaining a healthy balance by outcompeting harmful bacteria, helping to prevent the overgrowth of pathogens that could negatively affect the skin. Probiotics also produce antimicrobial peptides, which can inhibit the growth of harmful microorganisms. By fostering a balanced microbiome, probiotics can contribute to strengthening the skin barrier, which serves as a protective layer against pollutants and irritants. This balance promotes healthier skin, better able to resist irritation and damage from environmental stressors.
Additionally, probiotics help calm inflammation in the skin by supporting the natural skin barrier. With a balanced microbiome and a fortified skin barrier, probiotics can help reduce the penetration of pollutants and allergens that can trigger inflammatory responses. This can contribute to maintaining a smooth, even complexion and potentially help protect the skin from premature aging and other conditions caused by environmental stress. By integrating probiotics into your skincare routine, you can enhance the skin’s natural defenses, reduce inflammation, and potentially create a healthier, more resilient complexion.
Probiotics in Cleaning
Our probiotic cleaning soaps harness the power of beneficial bacteria to help maintain a natural balance of microorganisms in your home.
By introducing good bacteria into your environment, probiotics can create conditions more similar to healthy ecosystems, where microorganisms work in harmony. These beneficial microbes can play an active role in supporting a healthy environment by outcompeting harmful bacteria, preventing the growth of pathogens, and breaking down pollutants and organic matter that can accumulate on surfaces.
Unlike traditional cleaners, probiotic soaps leave behind a layer of beneficial bacteria that can continue to work after cleaning. These bacteria can stick to surfaces, helping to protect them from the growth of unwanted bacteria and pathogens, creating a lasting effect beyond the immediate cleaning process. The presence of these good bacteria on surfaces can provide ongoing protection, breaking down contaminants, and preventing the build-up of harmful microbes over time.
In addition to cleaning, probiotic soaps can contribute to maintaining a balanced microbiome in your home, promoting a healthier and more natural environment where beneficial bacteria thrive, and harmful bacteria are kept in check.
Discover our natural and effective cleaning DIY Recipes using Indo Naturals cleaning soap cubes.
Our Probiotic Soaps
You might wonder how probiotics can survive in our soaps. Microorganisms can be incredibly resilient and can thrive in some of the most extreme environments. From the deepest parts of the ocean to dark cave systems, scorching heat, and even outer space, they have adapted to survive under immense pressure, extreme temperatures, and harsh conditions.
Our probiotic soaps are developed in collaboration with our research partner, who cultivates a unique blend of 19 probiotic strains using the consortium method. The consortium method allows different microorganisms to work together in a mutually beneficial way. Some strains can support each other’s survival and enhance their overall effectiveness, which is particularly important in challenging environments like soaps. This process allows the microorganisms to grow together in harmony, forming a powerful, symbiotic culture. Each strain brings its own unique strength to the mix, allowing the diverse group to better withstand challenging conditions like those found in soap. The probiotics are added in both liquid form and in a ceramic powder form which helps encapsulate the probiotics, contributing to protecting them from harsh conditions.
The synergy between these microorganisms and the way they are cultivated and used ensures that the probiotics can survive and remain effective in our products, providing lasting benefits for your skin.
We are currently looking into developing more natural products with this probiotic culture. Stay tuned by following us on Instagram and subscribing to our newsletter at the bottom of the page.
Sources
Probiotics in Skincare:
Gallo, R.L. and Nakatsuji, T. (2011) 'Microbial symbiosis with the innate immune defense system of the skin', Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 131(10), pp. 1974–1980.
Naik, S. et al. (2015) 'Commensal–dendritic-cell interaction specifies a unique protective skin immune signature', Nature, 520(7545), pp. 104–108.
Scharschmidt, T.C. and Fischbach, M.A. (2013) 'What lives on our skin: ecology, genomics and therapeutic opportunities of the skin microbiome', Drug Discovery Today: Disease Mechanisms, 10(3–4), e83–e89.
Sanford, J.A. and Gallo, R.L. (2013) 'Functions of the skin microbiota in health and disease', Seminars in Immunology, 25(5), pp. 370–377.
Grice, E.A. and Segre, J.A. (2011) 'The skin microbiome', Nature Reviews Microbiology, 9(4), pp. 244–253.
Probiotics in Cleaning
Bamford, N.C. & Iseman, R.L., 2018. The role of probiotics in environmental and surface cleaning: A review of current trends. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(4), p.644.
Stewart, M. et al., 2020. Probiotics in cleaning: Leveraging beneficial microorganisms to break down pollutants and protect surfaces. Journal of Environmental Microbiology, 42(2), pp.42-48.
Hernandez, J.M., et al., 2017. Probiotic cleaning solutions for commercial spaces: An emerging trend in hygiene. Environmental Health Perspectives, 125(8), pp.123-131.
Parvez, S., Kang, M., Chun, S., et al., 2015. Probiotics and their fermented food products are beneficial for health. Journal of Microbiology & Biotechnology, 25(9), pp.1365-1376.
