Tips for rewilding the skin in a modern world
Modern lifestyles have disconnected humans from the natural world, with heightened stress and exposure to pollution being part of our daily lives.
One unfortunate result of modern living has been the disruption of the skin’s microbiome.
“There’s been a long-held misbelief that being ‘clean’ actually means ridding ourselves of nature, rigorously cleaning our skins with soaps that strip away the natural oils,”
explains Trevor Steyn, founder of probiotic skincare brand, Esse.
“However, what is fast being discovered is that we’re effectively destroying the important microbial balance crafted by evolution over centuries. Through processed living, we’ve lost or destroyed many of our essential microbes. Rewilding is a way to restore the skin’s microbiome, to re-establish that healthy balance.”
Why do we need to rewild our skin?
Steyn uses an agricultural analogy to help clarify the value of a healthy skin microbiome. With a monoculture – such as a wheat field – there is little diversity in the ecosystem and the crop requires constant human intervention to remain stable. Weeding, irrigating and fertilising are vital, otherwise the crop could quickly be overrun by unwanted invasive weeds. In a natural forest, however, the diverse ecosystem provides protection from such invasives, and the system continues to thrive without any intervention.
The same principle applies to skin.
“When we constantly strip skin of microbes, it has no protection against pathogenic species, which will easily establish themselves,”
says Steyn.
“This has become increasingly evident in today’s prevalence of skin disorders such as eczema, acne, psoriasis and dermatitis. By rewilding the skin, we provide a healthy diversity and a protective microbiome."
How do we rewild our skin?
Fortunately, nature seeks to restore this balance and it is possible to achieve a healthier microbiome over time.There are ways in which we can encourage the rewilding process:
1. Omega-rich diet
Omega fatty-acids support the production of healthy sebum, which is needed for feeding the skin’s microbiome. By consuming omega-rich foods such as eggs, fresh fish and seeds, you can help your body support the growth of healthy microbes. Omegas can also be taken in supplement form, although they’re best consumed from natural produce.
2. Get outside
Skin diseases like acne and eczema are almost non-existent in hunter-gatherer communities, where there is constant human interaction with nature. Re-connecting with the natural world is an important part of skin rewilding as it reseeds the skin with good microbes. Vitamin D from the sun is also central to skin health. In addition to rewilding, getting immersed in nature is beneficial for mental health, lowering stress levels and improving your mood.
3. Be conscious of your skincare
First, do no harm: When choosing skincare products, prioritise those that are microbiome friendly, to avoid polluting the ecosystem on your skin. To actively improve the state of your skin, consider probiotic skincare. Probiotics out-compete pathogenic microbes, produce moisturising factors, maintain skin pH and reduce sensitivity and inflammation. All these factors reduce the rate of skin ageing and result in an overall healthier skin. Esse’s skincare range seeds the skin with probiotics and feeds beneficial microbes with prebiotics to shift the skin’s ecology towards a healthy balance.
To find out more about rewilding your skin using bio-clinical skincare range, Esse, visit Esse's Website
Why is Esse different?
Modern living is taking it out of us, and it shows in our skin. Antibiotics, disinfectants, chemical-based cosmetics and pollutants are stripping our skin of their natural microbes leading to premature aging and reduced skin health. Esse seeks to rewild the skin by creating an environment that allows your natural microbial diversity to return. To do this, we use pre- and probiotic actives in highly advanced organic formulas specifically designed to support your skin microbiome.
But more than this, Esse is committed to providing skincare that is ethical and sustainable for the environment and for the people using it. Simply because it’s the right thing to do. When using Esse, you have peace of mind knowing it is:
- Certified organic by EcoCert.
- It is ‘no harm’ with accreditation from PETA and Beauty Without Cruelty.
- It is certified by the Vegan Society.
- It is plastic- and carbon-neutral.
