BRANDS I LOVE AND BELIEVE IN : Amperna Active Probiotic Skincare
My go-to daily probiotic supplement.
It was really the best convergence of events that brought Amperna into my life, and into my skincare regimen. Over the last year, I’ve been on somewhat of a journey of discovery, seeking to harness the power of probiotics — central to my overall health — in my skin care. Each morning, I take a probiotic supplement from Nutrition Now called PB-8 that’s purported to contain 14 billion good bacteria in the form of lacto-bacillus and bifidodbacterium species. (Shouldn’t they call it PB-14 BILLION?!) And, not too long ago, I blogged about a really cool probiotic sleeping mask from dermatologist brand, Dr. Brandt. The Hydro Biotic Recovery Sleeping Mask contains a special probiotic complex that’s intended to "optimize the skin’s ecosystem by balancing naturally occurring flora on the skin’s surface while fortifying the skin barrier." You can read about it here.
For a solid understanding of the role probiotics play in skin health, as with all my research in regards to skin and skin care, I must turn to my muse, Paula Begoun. About probiotics in skin care, Paula says, "Probiotics include various strains of uniquely helpful bacteria that occur naturally on skin and that can be applied via probiotic skincare products. Probiotics work with prebiotics, carbohydrates that serve as a food source so the probiotics can optimally do their job of protecting and nurturing your skin." Paula always nails it.
My idol, my muse — Paula Begoun taught me half of what I know about skincare ingredients.
I’ve been longing for something more than just a probiotic sleeping mask, though.
Like so many of my best skincare discoveries over the last year, I found Amperna thru my Skincarma page. That’s where I met Kiri Yanchenko, the incredibly passionate founder of the Australian probiotic-powered Amperna brand, and a true skincare soul mate.
The Amperna story begins five years ago, when Kiri suddenly began to struggle with adult acne, having had no particular acne issues as a teen. I don’t believe she’s alone, as adult acne is becoming increasingly common and a vexing concern for so many women and men in their 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. Kiri’s case was an acute one, related to specific health issues. She found that the acne treatment products available to her caused her sensitized skin to react even further. To temper her skin’s reactivity, Kiri sought extremely gentle skin care made with powerful actives that would deliver the kind of results she wanted for her skin, but without common irritants like sulfates, parabens and fragrance. Knowing what I know about skin care formulas, until very recently that was going to be next to impossible.
So she set out to create her own skin care with the help of a knowledgable chemist. Developed with an active probiotic complex at the heart of her formulas, Amperna was born.
Meet Amperna, active probiotic skincare from Australia!
I’ve been using the Amperna products now for the better part of a month. Since I have an extensive 10-product regimen (both AM and PM), where I was already using a similar product I replaced it with the overlapping Amperna one. The 10% Pro-Resurfacing Lotion with a high-level 10% glycolic acid has been my go-to chemical exfoliator over the past month. The Amperna Pro+ Vitamin C Hyaluronic Serum has played stunt double for my morning Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid treatments. (I couldn’t part with my fave 100% L-Ascorbic Acid Powder from Deciem’s The Ordinary at night! The results are just too good to be without.) Perhaps the most intriguing product in the Amperna line-up is the Probiotic+ DS Soothing Serum. I wasn’t using anything like it and simply slotted that in at the end of my water-based serum grouping each evening.
After nearly 4 weeks, I can honestly say that my skin has never been less reactive. I wish I were as calm inside as my complexion has been on the outside! 🙅🏼♂️
IMO, the Pro+ Vitamin C Hyaluronic Serum and the Probiotic+ DS Soothing Serum are a power pair that every pro-health skincare routine needs. So many people look at their skincare as “anti-aging,” that is, they’re focused on products that prevent and correct signs of aging — rather than the health of their skin in the first place. These two treatments are ideal, pro-health formulas.
The Pro+ Vitamin C Hyaluronic Serum contains Amperna's probiotic complex powered by Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, which Amperna says “acts as a protective layer on the skin [that] helps boost healthy looking skin and helps calm and soothe skin.” The light, milky serum delivers the good bacteria to my skin that I’ve been longing for. In addition, Kiri and her chemist infused this incredibly well-formulated treatment with Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), and a multitude of skin-replenishing ceramides. While it’s super hydrating and soothing, the star ingredient has to be complexion perfecter Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate — a stable, water-soluble form of Vitamin C with multiple benefits, including potent antioxidant protection, brightening, and treating uneven skin tone. According to Paula, research has also shown that this particular form of Vitamin C may have an effect on acne breakouts. This serum is gold.
For red and rosacea or acne-prone skin, the Probiotic+ DS Soothing Serum is an excellent curative treatment. In addition to Amperna’s probiotic complex, it’s formulated with a blend of copper and zinc to help control the kinds of surface bacteria that acne- and rosacea-prone skins have little tolerance for. Like the Vitamin C serum, it contains replenishing ceramides, antioxidants and humectants. These two lightweight, milky serums perfectly complement each other — one in the AM, one in the PM. They’re an ideal way to incorporate skin-soothing and balancing probiotics into your current skincare regimen — and to intelligently take your routine up a notch.
The Amperna 10% Pro+ Resurfacing Lotion is very well tolerated.
And this brings me to the 10% Pro+ Resurfacing Lotion. I have a love-hate relationship with Glycolic Acid. I love the results it delivers; powerful chemical exfoliation you can’t get from many ingredients. But my skin doesn’t tolerate it well, especially at high results-driven levels like 10%. Often, if I’m not super careful, I’ll get a slight rash or tiny red bumps on my face, particularly on my forehead. Yet, as crazy at it sounds, I do use a 10% Glycolic Acid treatment every day — just not on my face. If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you know I came across a skincare hack for Glycolic Acid several weeks ago. It actually makes the perfect deodorant — zero aluminum, 100% effective! The properties of Glycolic Acid prevent odor-causing bacteria from forming on the skin surface. A swipe of glycolic in your armpits each morning means you’re odor-free for up to 72 hours. I’m not kidding. I started out using the Paula’s Choice Resist Weekly Resurfacing Treatment with 10% AHA. I’ve since graduated to a 5% Glycolic Acid pad from Replenix Acne Solutions. One tiny pad of the Gly/Sal 5-2 Pads is all you need. For more, read my blog review SKINCARE HACKS : Can this cult fave AHA work as a deodorant? here.
This single glycolic infused pad prevents underarm odor for up to 72 hours.
Back to the Amperna Pro+ Resurfacing Lotion! This gentle, lightweight exfoliating treatment is formulated with 10% Glycolic Acid, antioxidants and the brand’s probiotic complex to help calm redness and improve the skin’s texture. It literally balances out the after-effects of the glycolic. Suddenly, I can use a 10% glycolic treatment with all the benefits and none of the redness. #genius
I heart Amperna for that alone.
But really, the Amperna probiotic treatments are exactly what I’ve been looking for. Out of her own unfulfilled skincare needs, Kiri created something magical for the rest of us — a range of powerful, results-driven skincare for sensitive, sensitized, acne-prone, and otherwise reactive skin.
To quote her… “Amperna skincare makes you feel good from the outside, in.”
Yes!
🖤 SKINCARMA
Watch my Amperna brand review on my Skincarma YouTube channel here:
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Use code SKINCARMA10 to receive 10% off Amperna’s active probiotic skincare! Follow the link below to the Amperna site and use my exclusive code: SKINCARMA10
The Ingredient List of Pro+ Vitamin C Hyaluronic Serum:
Aqua, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ceramide 3, Ceramide 6 II, Ceramide 1, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Sodium-L-Lactate, Sorbitan Stearate, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Allantoin, Urea, Menthyl Lactate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Oil, DMDM Hydantoin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Carbomer, BHT, Xanthan Gum.
The Ingredient List of Probiotic+ DS Soothing Serum:
Aqua, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Ceramide 3, Ceramide 6 II, Ceramide 1, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium-L-Lactate, Sorbitan Stearate, Magnesium aspartate, Zinc gluconate, Copper gluconate, Calcium gluconate, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Allantoin, Urea, Hyaluronic Acid, Menthyl Lactate, Titanium Dioxide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Polyacrylate, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Oil, DMDM Hydantoin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum.
The Ingredient List of 10% Pro+ Resurfacing Lotion:
Aqua, Glycolic Acid, Lactococcus Ferment Lysate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerine, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium-L-Lactate, Glycyrrhiza Uralensis (Liquorice) Root Extract, Olive Squalane, Sorbitan Stearate, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Menthyl Lactate, Allantoin, Urea, Magnesium Aluminium Silicate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Titanium Dioxide, Xanthan Gum, DMDM Hydantoin, Sodium Hydroxide, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate.
Amperna products are free of: Sulfates, Parabens, Petrochemicals and Mineral Oils, Vinyls, Phthalates, Phenoxyethanol, Synthetic Fragrance, Synthetic Colours or Bleaches, PPG, DEAS, TEA, Aluminium or Alumina.
