You’ve probably heard by now about the wonders that fermented ingredients can do for you, inside and out. Eating fermented foods is good for your gut environment and flora because they contain those pro-biotics you’ve also likely heard an earful about! Those good bacteria can improve digestion, reduce inflammation, boost immunity, and help manage a healthy weight.

Well, good news, fermented ingredients are also great for skin! The fermentation process concentrates nutrients and allows them to be more easily absorbed by the skin’s upper layers. Fermented herbs, fruits, and other plants can be found in cleansers, moisturizers, and masks to treat problems like dry skin and the effects of premature aging.

Check out some of the following wonder ingredients found in coveted skincare products.

Pitera™

Scientists of SK II, a maker of top quality, cult favourite skincare products, when touring a Japanese sake brewery discovered the soft, youthful appearance of the tochi masters’ hands that were constantly drenched in the fermentation process. Through this, they developed Pitera™, a nutrient-rich ingredient in their skincare products.

Find it in: You’ll want to try these high quality masks and skin care products in SK II’s celebrity-favourite line. The Facial Treatment Essence looks and feels like water and provides hydration and promotes cell renewal. It contains over 90% Pitera™ and is packed with vitamins, amino acids, minerals, and organic acids, for anti-aging, smoothing, brightening, and moisturizing effects.

Yerba Santa

The leaves of this herb are traditionally used in medicine. Yerba Santa is used to aid respiratory conditions, fever, dry mouth, muscle spasms, and to loosen phlegm. As a topical treatment, it can treat bruises, wounds, bites, and relieve joint pain. It is also fermented and used in skin products.

Find it in: Peter Thomas Roth Viz-1000. Along with several other natural ingredients like honey, algae, and olive oil extract, this moisturizing complex uses fermented Yerba Santa, which mimics glycoproteins to help skin retain moisture. The formula also has a super-concentrated hyaluronic acid complex to create an invisible veil of hydration, smooths fine lines, and it restores a youthful radiance.

Pear Juice

Fermentation increases the nutrient and antioxidant concentration and content of an ingredient. Like how wine has a higher antioxidant content than grapes, so too does fermented pear juice than a fresh pear. Fermented juices are therefore an excellent ingredient for skin care.

Find it in: Koh Gen Do Macro Vintage Royal Massage Milk. A serum-like massage cream that has wonderful anti-aging properties that quenches the skin. It absorbs quickly, and the pear juice nourishes the skin while boosting antioxidant protection power.

Honey

Honey is very nutritious to eat because it contains antioxidants, nutrients, and can help improve cholesterol levels. It can also do amazing things for the skin. (Thank-you, once again, for everything, bees!) One Korean beauty secret is using honey on the skin, leaving it hydrated, dewy, and plump. And fermented honey adds further nourishment to the skin, naturally.

Find it in: Origins Clear Improvement™ Charcoal Honey Mask. It gently purifies and detoxifies with the power of bamboo charcoal to deep clean and draw out impurities, and golden wildflower and fermented honey nourish all skin types.