Known for their beneficial action on intestinal flora, prebiotics are also precious natural beauty allies for our skin microbiome. Don't panic, we'll explain everything!

Without further ado, discover all the benefits and secrets of prebiotics on the health of our hair and skin. 

 

Prebiotics: natural cosmetic active ingredients with numerous benefits

Have you ever heard of cosmetics with prebiotics? You may know of them in the form of cleansers, serums, oils, masks or face creams! But what are prebiotics really!?  

What are prebiotics?

Prebiotics are powerful active ingredients, often complex sugars obtained by enzymatic fermentation that are like food for the bacteria in our skin microbiome. You may not have known it, but all over our skin and inside our bodies we carry bacteria that are beneficial to our health. These non-pathogenic surface bacteria on our skin and scalp are part of what we call the cutaneous microbiota. Finally, we can also find one of the best-known, the intestinal microbiota, also known as intestinal flora. This flora alone weighs one to two kg. That's a lot of beneficial bacteria! These bacteria are vital and essential to our good health. For example, the bacteria of our cutaneous microbiome will be beneficial in protecting our skin. Like a veritable guardian and shield, the microbiota will protect us from all bad bacteria. Occasionally, however, "bad" bacteria can overtake "good" bacteria and take advantage of the opportunity to proliferate. As a result, our skin's entire balance is upset. Imperfections and overproduction of sebum can follow. To restore the balance of our skin microbiota, soothe and brighten our skin, we recommend our vegan skincare products containing prebiotics! What's the difference between prebiotics and probiotics?

What's the difference between prebiotics and probiotics?

Prebiotic, probiotic and even postbiotic - don't worry, it's easy to get these terms confused. Now you'll be able to surprise your friends and family by knowing the difference. 

- A prebiotic is food for the good bacteria we already have in our microbiome. Like a super cocktail of vitamins and active ingredients, a prebiotic stimulates bacterial growth and activity. Thanks to prebiotics, bacteria will be in top form to perform all their functions and provide all their benefits for our health and beauty. You'll find a prebiotic in our Yodi shampoos and cleansers!

- In dermo-cosmetics, a probiotic is a good non-living bacterium that helps develop a beneficial environment for our skin. We can't yet incorporate living organisms into facial skincare products for conservation reasons. However, in the food industry, probiotics are generally alive. Take Kefir and Kombucha, for example. These delicious fizzy drinks are genuine health beverages with multiple roles and benefits for digestion and the immune system. If you're curious about a good recipe for making fruit kefir, we'll give you our tips and list of ingredients below.

- A postbiotic is a probiotic waste product that helps recreate an ecosystem favorable to the development of our good bacteria. We can compare it to potting soil for plants.

 

What are prebiotics good for?

Prebiotics boost our skin microbiota. Our good bacteria will then be able to carry out their defense function to protect your epidermal barrier over the long term. Our Yodi cleansers with prebiotics respect the skin's balance without damaging it, or gently restore an imbalance. In food, prebiotics are used to support digestion and the immune system. 

 

When should you take prebiotics?

Like a cocktail of super-vitamins for our bacteria, prebiotics are our allies for beautiful hair and skin. They are harmless, so there's no risk in using your Yodi facial cleanser or oil serum every day. The prebiotic will even awaken the beauty of your skin and hair day after day. So you can use your Yodi cleansers and shampoos as you like.

Where can I find prebiotics?

Prebiotics can be found in dietary fibers. For example, in plant cells, which are located in the cell wall, more precisely called the cytoplasm (the interior of the cell). Fiber is present in all plant-based foods, for example in fruit and vegetables, legumes and cereals. It should be noted, however, that their content can vary considerably from one plant to another. If you would like to enrich your diet with fiber, here is our selection of plants to choose from:  

- banana: to facilitate digestion, we recommend eating it ripe, as it will be easier to digest.

- chicory: opt for chicory leaves in salads, for example!

- artichoke: time to find a delicious recipe!

- leek: easy to digest, naturally rich in fiber.

- asparagus: the super-vegetable with the highest antioxidant content.

- garlic: detoxifies the liver and contains adenosine, a powerful vasodilator that boosts blood circulation.

-Onion: rich in fiber, our trick to avoid crying is to peel them under cool running water.  

 In dermo-cosmetics, you'll find prebiotics in our vegan shampoos and facial cleansers and in our face care products with plant Retinol. These active-ingredient-rich products are also preservative-, allergen- and sulfate-free. With their ultra-minimalist, gentle composition (maximum 11 ingredients of natural origin), these products rise to the challenge of being both effective and protective. Don't hesitate to carry out your free hair and/or skin diagnosis. They're just a few clicks away on our Yodi website. Tell us what's on your mind, and we'll find out about your hair and skin type in less than a minute! These personalized diagnoses have been designed to help you find a natural, vegan routine that's right for you!

 

Prebiotics in cosmetics

As you now know, prebiotics are renowned for protecting and ensuring the beauty of our skin and hair. They can also help to naturally regulate. Our shampoo powders regulate excess sebum and soothe your scalp. The same goes for your skin! For both dry, sensitive and oily skin, prebiotics have healing and regulating properties. It will help restore your skin's balance. Skin won't tug and will be soothed. For skin with oily or acne-prone tendencies, the prebiotic in Charbon Purifiant facial cleanser will help heal small imperfections and promote natural skin renewal. Prebiotics also play a role in keeping skin hydrated. You can also find a prebiotic in our oil serum, Rétinol-like végétal. This oil is a 3-in-1 treatment for the face, eye contour and décolleté. Its formula, made with 100% ingredients of natural origin, nourishes, regenerates and fights the signs of aging.

What role do prebiotics play in cosmetics?

For the skin:
As you've learned, prebiotics reinforce the good bacteria present on our skin. This will enable them to fulfill their defense role and preserve your epidermal barrier over the long term.

Prebiotics also act on healing and hydration, correcting problems such as pimples and irritation. Facial cleansers with prebiotics are therefore the perfect option for sensitive, reactive skin prone to minor imperfections (mild acne, for example).

With each application, your skin will be protected from all external aggressions. It will also be healthier, softer, hydrated and more radiant! 

For hair : 

As you've noticed, prebiotics have many benefits for the skin, and the same goes for our hair. A balanced scalp is essential for beautiful hair. In fact, if the scalp is healthy, our hair will grow stronger and shinier. You may not be aware of it, but all our hair lengths and ends are dead cells. Only our scalp cells are really alive! So it's all about the scalp. The prebiotic in Douceur de Lait d'Amande and Nutritive Argan vegan shampoos is perfectly suited to the scalp. Prebiotic alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide is the prebiotic with the most benefits for our scalp. In fact, it rebalances and soothes excess sebum and irritation, for example. Thanks to our shampoos containing this prebiotic, your hair will be stronger, shinier and the scalp will be protected. Your hair will also be moisturized.

 

Our natural products enriched with prebiotics

For the skin : 

- Trio d'Huiles face powder cleanser, the prebiotic helps soothe and protect the skin. It helps to calm tightness and make skin less reactive. This cleanser is therefore perfect for dry, sensitive and ultra-reactive skin.

- Vitamin C & Hibiscus Flower Powder Facial Cleanser, the prebiotic in this product, helps to balance the skin. It protects the skin and aids healing. The result is clearer, more luminous skin. This active-ingredient-rich treatment is perfectly suited to normal skin, which can be dull.

- Purifying Charcoal Powder Facial Cleanser, the prebiotic will boost the healing of blemishes and also help regulate excess sebum. In fact, it's the perfect option for oily skin that can suffer from blackheads and acne.

- Rétinol-Like Végétal oil serum, the prebiotic plays a role in regulating the cutaneous microbiota and reinforces the skin's protective function.  

-The SHAKE IT with plant charcoal and Bakuchiol also contains prebiotics to protect blemished skin, which is often fragile and sensitive.

For hair :

- Douceur de Lait d'Amande shampoo powder contains a prebiotic that helps protect the scalp. It also helps regulate sebum production. The result is stronger, fuller, shinier hair. Hair will also be less greasy, and shampoos can be spaced out. 

- Nutritive Argan shampoo powder, the prebiotic, protects the balance of the scalp and contributes to the beauty of your hair.

The recipe for our Fruit Kefir, a natural probiotic: 

The ingredients you would need for 1L of drink:  

- 2 large tablespoons organic light cane sugar 

- 1 whole organic dried fig 

- 2 slices organic lemon

- 3 tablespoons kefir grains, preserving water removed 

 Do not use metal utensils, as they may damage your kefir grains. Prefer wooden or plastic utensils. 

Recipe steps : 

1. Pour kefir grains WITHOUT preserving water into a large glass jar with all ingredients. Shake with a plastic or wooden spoon to coarsely dissolve the sugar. 
2. Leave the jar at room temperature, with a cloth held in place by a thick rubber band at the top to allow air to circulate but not midges to enter. 
3. Wait 1 to 2 days, when the figs have risen to the surface and the liquid is no longer sweet to the taste, but just tangy, discard the fruit and filter the remaining juice. Ideally, this is done through a cheesecloth or plastic strainer. The juice should be decanted into bottles that close tightly and withstand pressure. This will produce gas as fermentation takes place. 
4. Rinse the kefir grains and reuse them directly to make a new drink, or store them in a jar with water and a teaspoon of sugar in the fridge. Remember to change the sugar water every week, otherwise your kefir may die from lack of food.