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Other than sudden acne breakouts, a damaged skin barrier is one of our biggest skincare fears. If you're not sure what that is, let us break it down for you real quick: If you become a lil' too excited about piling on active ingredients (i.e.: AHAs and BHAs) without letting your skin adjust first, chances are, your skin will let you know exactly how it feels pretty much immediately.
READ MORE: What Is My Skin Barrier And Why Is It So Important?
Enter: Dryness, heightened sensitivity, redness, itching, and major inflammation. Your complexion may also be more prone to infections and rashes. All of that is the result of a weakened or damaged skin barrier. It's totally correlated with the appearance of breakouts, too; a weakened skin barrier creates a suitable environment for (unwanted) pimples to grow.
If you tick off all the things we just listed above, your skin barrier is probs crying for help. That said, you need to use gentle AF skincare ingredients and products to use. Ahead, we'll introduce you to bifida, an underrated ingredient that might just be the answer to repairing your barrier and keeping your skin in check. We'll also include a mini shopping list at the end to get you started!
Keep on reading to get schooled:
What is bifida?
Bifida ferment lysate, more commonly known as bifida, is a byproduct of fermented bifida bacteria. Before you get weirded out—we do apply snail mucus on our face for glass skin, LOL—it's the good kind of bacteria that's usually included in prebiotic skincare! It's mainly lauded for helping in repairing and strengthening the skin barrier, increasing moisture levels, and reducing acne. It's a good choice for all skin types, especially for those with sensitive skin.
What are the benefits of including bifida in your skincare routine?
- Strengthens the skin barrier. Bifida packs a hell of a punch when it comes to your skin barrier—it helps in strengthening and repairing it by building up its defenses against aggressors like pollution, smoke, stress, and many others.
- Boosts hydration. Bifida helps your skin retain moisture and decrease transepidermal water loss by strengthening the lipids and cells that make up the skin barrier.
- Soothes inflammation. Bifida is also known to calm down redness and irritation caused by overusing actives like AHA, BHA, and the like.
- Reduces signs of aging. Thanks to its ability to help repair the skin barrier, bifida is also able to improve the skin's elasticity. This will help stave off wrinkles and fine lines.
Which skin types can use bifida?
Good news: ALL skin types can incorporate bifida into their skincare routine, but we especially recommend it for sensitive skin and people with dry, dull, and damaged complexions.
What are the best bifida-infused skincare products to use?
OK, now that we've introduced you to bifida, it's time for a mini shopping list to get you started on your journey to a repaired skin barrier and an overall healthier complexion.
PS: We recommend consulting with your dermatologist before incorporating anything *new* into your routine to prevent any irritation or allergic reactions. And as with all other new skincare products you use, it's best to start slow and only use it once a week to let your skin get used to it—yup, you have to really baby your complexion! If you don't notice any negative reactions, you may start to use it more often.
1. ma:nyo Bifida Biome Complex Ampoule
Touted by TikTok and Reddit as the more affordable option to the cult favorite Estee Lauder ANR serum, this ampoule from the Korean brand ma:nyo contains bifida, five kinds of probiotics, and 10 (!) types of hyaluronic acid for a stronger and more hydrated skin barrier.
ma:nyo Bifida Biome Complex Ampoule (30ml), P688, Shopee
2. Mixsoon Bifida Toner Pad
Simplify your routine with these bifida-soaked toner pads from the Korean brand mixsoon. Aside from its star ingredient, it also contains hyaluronic acid, ceramide, and meadowfoam seed oil for visibly plumper and more hydrated skin. Pro tip: Make sure to cut your pads in half so you get more bang for your buck!
Mixsoon Bifida Toner Pad, P990, Shopee
3. Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Rescue Solution
If you find the original Estee Lauder ANR serum to be too thick and heavy for your liking, then we highly recommend its lightweight baby sister, the Rescue Solution. With 15% bifidus ferment, soothing yeast extract, and exclusive peptides, think of this as a pick-me-up after a facial, a glycolic peel, or when you just think your skin needs a little extra glow boost.
Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Rescue Solution (20ml), P5,150, Lazada
4. Abib Jericho Rose Bifida Serum Firming Drop
If you're looking for something more geared towards anti-aging while still harnessing the goodness of bifida, let us turn your attention to this firming serum from the Korean brand Abib. Aside from bifida, its main ingredient is the Rose of Jericho, a plant that thrives in harsh, dry conditions—it's the perfect antidote to dry, sagging skin!
Abib Jericho Rose Bifida Serum Firming Drop, P1,636.99, YesStyle
5. Tocobo Bifida Biome Essence
Another one of the more relatively affordable options on this list, the Tocobo Bifida Biome Essence strengthens the skin barrier with continued use, thanks to its high percentage of bifida. It also contains coconut lactobacillus that helps in calming and balancing the skin.
Tocobo Bifida Biome Essence, P699, Shopee
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Links are updated regularly and as much as possible but note that products can run out of stock, discounts can expire, and listed prices can change without prior notice.
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