Expert Tips
Expert Advice on the Skin Microbiome, The Essence, and Seasonal Skincare with Founder Larry Weiss
Expert Tips
Expert Advice on the Skin Microbiome, The Essence, and Seasonal Skincare with Founder Larry Weiss
Published October 18th, 2024Interview by Symbiome. Answers by Larry Weiss. A: I founded Symbiome in 2017 because the skincare products we buy should do more than just improve our appearance. They should enable cellular repair, restore our resilience, and improve our health. In our modern industrialized world, we have lost almost 80% of the microbial diversity and about 25% of the metabolic contribution of our microbiome – a loss linked to the increasing burden of skin inflammation and inflammatory diseases. With this understanding, Symbiome developed the next generation of skincare informed by our advanced research on the ecosystem of microbes on our skin. Our team of dedicated microbiome scientists, in collaboration with world-class academics, have translated years of microbiome research into our precision Postbiomic™ ferments derived from sustainably harvested Amazon rainforest botanicals to restore the functional and metabolic contribution our microbiome has lost. We formulate these unique ingredients into beautiful, luxurious, natural, and organic skincare products that guarantee you see and feel results. A: The short answer is it’s you! It is as much you as any other body part. Until recently, it has been invisible. Over the past 25 years, the rapid development of tools to sequence DNA and RNA has dramatically changed our understanding of this beneficial relationship to the microbial world. And in a very real sense, we are part of a microbiome. We are a symbiome—a living, coevolving community in which our health, the health of our microbiome, and the larger community are linked and dependent. A: There is a direct relationship between our skin microbiome's health and our skin's appearance. Claims of “microbiome-friendly” are based on laboratory testing that has yet to be clinically validated. Until we understand this relationship better, the best recommendation is to be good stewards of our microbiomes. This means less is more. Avoid ultra-processed cosmetics with long ingredient lists the same way you avoid ultra-processed foods with ingredients that don’t look like food. Every ingredient is a potential allergy, sensitizer, or irritant, so prioritize minimally formulated products with short ingredient lists. This is especially the case if you have sensitive skin. Fermentation is the connective tissue of life, and the benefits of fermented foods are well established. Eat more fermented food, and look for cosmetics with fermented ingredients. Symbiome products are formulated with biodynamically cultivated and precision-fermented organic Amazon Rainforest botanicals with a long history of traditional use. Finally, pay attention to both your skin and your gut. When your skin and gut microbiome are balanced and healthy, you will look and feel healthy. A: The Essence Mist is a significant advancement in our ongoing journey to restore lost microbiome function and combat free radical damage and aging. With a proprietary blend of Postbiomic™ microbial lysates and enzymes, we mimic the robust antioxidant function that pre-industrialized human populations once had to mitigate sunburn and cellular deterioration.A: In the pre-industrialized era, our skin microbiome was more diverse. It blanketed our skin with a natural antioxidant system that protected it from the harmful effects of UV and oxygen. However, in the modern, industrialized world, our skin microbiome has lost this protective blanket. At the same time, other sources of environmental stress—referred to as our “exposeome,” including pollution, ultra-processed foods and cosmetics, travel, and our stressful modern lifestyle—have significantly increased. Consequently, our skin is less resistant while exposed to unprecedented levels of environmental oxidative stress, significantly increasing inflammation, sun damage, dark spots, wrinkles, and other signs of aging.A: When applied, the Essence Mist Postbiomic™ formula immediately reduces damaging reactive oxygen species (ROS). It provides a soothing, cooling, and refreshing sensation for dry, stressed, or sun-exposed skin and skin affected by harsh weather or pollution. The Essence Mist helps reduce oxidative tissue damage and prevents senescent cell accumulation that contributes to signs of skin aging, such as dullness, dark spots, and wrinkles. Symbiome’s Biointact™ Stem Cell Conditioned Media, hyaluronic acid, and fermented Aloe Vera accelerate skin turnover, reduce the dryness, redness, and irritation in stressed or sensitive skin, and support your skin’s natural ability for repair and regeneration. A: All of Symbiome’s products share a common formulation philosophy that prioritizes the longevity, radiance and health of your skin. The collection is minimally formulated, using fewer than 10 biologically intact, supercharged ingredients per product. Created via Advanced Stem Cell Media Technology, BioIntact™ Emulsion, and Postbiomic™ Fermentation. A: We are committed to bringing the latest microbiome research from the lab to the community with transparency, humility, and integrity. Our goal is to understand the role of the microbiome in health and disease, to translate this knowledge into products with beneficial side effects that restore our resilience and health, enabling us to make better decisions for ourselves, our families, and our communities. There is work to be done—let’s get healthy together.Explore the Symbiome collection.
Q: Why did you start Symbiome?
Q: What is the microbiome?
Q: What is the microbiome’s relationship to our complexion and the way the skin looks?
Q: We have a new launch: The Essence Mist. What spurred the development of this product, and what makes it different and revolutionary?
Q: You said that preindustrialized populations don’t sunburn. What has changed?
Q: What can people expect from The Essence?
Q: How does The Essence fit into the other products at Symbiome?
Q: Given this knowledge and discovery, what does this mean for the future of skin and skin care?
Published October 18th, 2024Interview by Symbiome. Answers by Larry Weiss. A: I founded Symbiome in 2017 because the skincare products we buy should do more than just improve our appearance. They should enable cellular repair, restore our resilience, and improve our health. In our modern industrialized world, we have lost almost 80% of the microbial diversity and about 25% of the metabolic contribution of our microbiome – a loss linked to the increasing burden of skin inflammation and inflammatory diseases. With this understanding, Symbiome developed the next generation of skincare informed by our advanced research on the ecosystem of microbes on our skin. Our team of dedicated microbiome scientists, in collaboration with world-class academics, have translated years of microbiome research into our precision Postbiomic™ ferments derived from sustainably harvested Amazon rainforest botanicals to restore the functional and metabolic contribution our microbiome has lost. We formulate these unique ingredients into beautiful, luxurious, natural, and organic skincare products that guarantee you see and feel results. A: The short answer is it’s you! It is as much you as any other body part. Until recently, it has been invisible. Over the past 25 years, the rapid development of tools to sequence DNA and RNA has dramatically changed our understanding of this beneficial relationship to the microbial world. And in a very real sense, we are part of a microbiome. We are a symbiome—a living, coevolving community in which our health, the health of our microbiome, and the larger community are linked and dependent. A: There is a direct relationship between our skin microbiome's health and our skin's appearance. Claims of “microbiome-friendly” are based on laboratory testing that has yet to be clinically validated. Until we understand this relationship better, the best recommendation is to be good stewards of our microbiomes. This means less is more. Avoid ultra-processed cosmetics with long ingredient lists the same way you avoid ultra-processed foods with ingredients that don’t look like food. Every ingredient is a potential allergy, sensitizer, or irritant, so prioritize minimally formulated products with short ingredient lists. This is especially the case if you have sensitive skin. Fermentation is the connective tissue of life, and the benefits of fermented foods are well established. Eat more fermented food, and look for cosmetics with fermented ingredients. Symbiome products are formulated with biodynamically cultivated and precision-fermented organic Amazon Rainforest botanicals with a long history of traditional use. Finally, pay attention to both your skin and your gut. When your skin and gut microbiome are balanced and healthy, you will look and feel healthy. A: The Essence Mist is a significant advancement in our ongoing journey to restore lost microbiome function and combat free radical damage and aging. With a proprietary blend of Postbiomic™ microbial lysates and enzymes, we mimic the robust antioxidant function that pre-industrialized human populations once had to mitigate sunburn and cellular deterioration.A: In the pre-industrialized era, our skin microbiome was more diverse. It blanketed our skin with a natural antioxidant system that protected it from the harmful effects of UV and oxygen. However, in the modern, industrialized world, our skin microbiome has lost this protective blanket. At the same time, other sources of environmental stress—referred to as our “exposeome,” including pollution, ultra-processed foods and cosmetics, travel, and our stressful modern lifestyle—have significantly increased. Consequently, our skin is less resistant while exposed to unprecedented levels of environmental oxidative stress, significantly increasing inflammation, sun damage, dark spots, wrinkles, and other signs of aging.A: When applied, the Essence Mist Postbiomic™ formula immediately reduces damaging reactive oxygen species (ROS). It provides a soothing, cooling, and refreshing sensation for dry, stressed, or sun-exposed skin and skin affected by harsh weather or pollution. The Essence Mist helps reduce oxidative tissue damage and prevents senescent cell accumulation that contributes to signs of skin aging, such as dullness, dark spots, and wrinkles. Symbiome’s Biointact™ Stem Cell Conditioned Media, hyaluronic acid, and fermented Aloe Vera accelerate skin turnover, reduce the dryness, redness, and irritation in stressed or sensitive skin, and support your skin’s natural ability for repair and regeneration. A: All of Symbiome’s products share a common formulation philosophy that prioritizes the longevity, radiance and health of your skin. The collection is minimally formulated, using fewer than 10 biologically intact, supercharged ingredients per product. Created via Advanced Stem Cell Media Technology, BioIntact™ Emulsion, and Postbiomic™ Fermentation. A: We are committed to bringing the latest microbiome research from the lab to the community with transparency, humility, and integrity. Our goal is to understand the role of the microbiome in health and disease, to translate this knowledge into products with beneficial side effects that restore our resilience and health, enabling us to make better decisions for ourselves, our families, and our communities. There is work to be done—let’s get healthy together.Explore the Symbiome collection.