Now that you know the importance of our skin’s microbiome and the impact an unbalance one can have on your skin from my last blog (missed it? click here), let’s go back to school for a quick roman numeral lesson. What does the Roman numeral V stand for?

V is the Roman numeral for five.

DERMA-V™ features five ingredients that play an important role in repairing and restoring the skin to optimal health. Let’s take a look at these five unique ingredients:

Our skin, like our gut, is home to trillions of both good and bad bacteria and microorganisms. This collection of bacteria is called a microbiome. Our skin microbiome protects the skin against infection, redness, inflammation, and other skin diseases. When the microbiome is out of balance (too few good bacteria, too few bacteria in general, unhealthy balance of bacteria, etc.), we can see an increase in dryness, irritation, and redness. Disrupting the microbiome can cause flare-ups of conditions like eczema, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and more. What can throw our microbiome out of whack? Everything from pollution, pet dander, diet, lifestyle, and even our genetics. Our microbiome is always on the defense, which is why supporting it with prebiotics is a good idea for everyone.

Prebiotics – what? We’ve all heard about probiotics as they have had much more press. What is the difference between probiotics and prebiotics? Prebiotic feed probiotics, increasing and cultivating the amount of bacteria on our skin and in our body. Whereas probiotics are living microorganisms, prebiotics are stable ingredients that help improve the overall microflora of our skin, fortify and diversify our skin’s microbiome and acid mantle.

Antioxidants play a key role in protecting our DNA from damage caused by free-radical damage. Free-radical damage can be caused by UV exposure, stress, hormonal changes, diet, and genetics. Anti-oxidants are both protective and corrective when it comes to signs of aging and compromised skin – they are a critical component to any skincare routine.

In DERMA-V™ we use 2 key antioxidants. Thermus Thermosphillus helps protect skin’s support structure from destructive enzymes and help maintain a firm feel. A good source of alpha-galactosidase, an enzyme which helps replenish glycoproteins, which skin needs to look healthier. Can neutralize airborne pollutants, making it an intriguing skin care ingredient to see in anti-pollution products. Resveratrol, known as the longevity molecule, is sourced from grape skin, blueberries, raspberries, and various plants including knotweed. It is recognized for its powerful antioxidant and anti-aging properties to strengthen skin’s natural antioxidant defense system to help neutralize free radicals. 

Our skin is constantly at risk of something called Trans-Epidermal Water Loss or TEWL. An increase in TEWL, means dry, dehydrated, lackluster skin. Our skin, like the rest of our body, can’t function properly without adequate hydration. DERMA-V™ features Hyaluronic Acid, Oriza Sativa (purple rice extract), and Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), which all play important roles in maintaining skin hydration, preventing TEWL, and protecting against degradation of existing collagen and hyaluronic acid. Moving throughout the day without hydration support for your skin would be like going on a hike without a bottle of water. Our cells need hydration to be healthy.

While every ingredient in DERMA-V™ plays a role in the skin’s repair process, we’ve added specific boosters that target compromised skin. Teprenone is an ingredient that is proven to stimulate and increase the proteins in our skin that are known to fight DNA damage, inflammation, and free radicals. Think of these repair boosters like the protein shake you drink after a hard workout – an extra boost to help your natural healing process. 

We hear about peptides a lot in skincare – so what are they exactly. There are many different types of peptides out there that have different functions. The peptides used in DERMA-V™ help to limit a process called glycation. Glycation is essentially the breakdown of collagen and elastin. More glycation = damaged skin structure = signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles. 

Each of these five ingredients was carefully selected by Vivier to play an important role in repairing, restoring, and maintaining your healthy skin. Whether your skin is compromised (aka sensitive, reactive, dehydrated) or if you suffer from innate skin issues like psoriasis, dermatitis, or dehydration, DERMA-V™ will quickly bring your skin back to a balanced, hydrated, comfortable state. 

Until next time!

Stay safe, stay healthy.