PRODUCT REVIEW: BIOPHILE ROOT BIONIC REFINING ESSENCE – THE BEST PROBIOTIC SERUM TO RESTORE SKIN'S MICROBIOME
BIOPHILE | ROOT BIONIC REFINING ESSENCE
This review was originally part of my blog article titled, Brands I Love: Biophile Award-Winning Probiotic Skincare and the Best Facial Serum to Support Skin’s Microbiome. You can catch the full piece here.
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I’ve learned so much from the founder of Biophile Skincare, including the importance of our skin’s microbiome to skin heath. Based right here with me in Brooklyn, Biophile is the brainchild of Alison Cutlan — a brilliant biologist and former colleague of mine from Kiehl’s.
Alison and I have been spending a lot of time together the past few weeks and every time we meet up, I feel like I’m in science class. In fact, we recently filmed a wonderful session in her Biophile labs in which we talk in depth about the skin barrier and how ingredients penetrate the skin barrier — why they do, and why they don’t.
You can catch it on my YouTube channel here.
Each of the three products in the Biophile range is a powerful nutritional formula that works synergistically with the skin to nourish and promote optimum skin health by supporting the microbiome. And, each of the formulas is self-preserving — an extra-ordinary feat that raises the Biophile formulas to what I believe to be the next level of clean skin care.
Biophile’s Root Bionic Refining Essence is a concentrated treatment that helps to deeply hydrate, smooth, and refine skin texture. Root Bionic Refining Essence is considered step one in Biophile’s three-step regimen.
Ninety-one percent fermentation-derived, it’s formulated with what the brand calls its roots biotic broth™ — a rich, bio-fermented blend of burdock, ginger and licorice root extracts.
The lightweight, watery treatment has a gentle exfoliating effect on the skin that’s ideal for daily use to refine the complexion without overdoing it — something that can lead to sensitization. If you’re in the habit of using a more powerful AHA-powered acid toner, you know what I’m talking about.
In addition to Alison’s proprietary fermented broth, the Root Bionic formula contains three humectants, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin and Hyaluronic Acid, to help hydrate skin and prevent needless water loss.
What is the microbiome?
I found an insightful article on the NIH website simply titled, The Skin Microbiome. This segment is helpful in understanding what the skin’s microbiome is and its role in the health of the skin:
An enhanced understanding of the skin microbiome is necessary to gain insight into microbial involvement in human skin disorders and to enable novel promicrobial and antimicrobial therapeutic approaches for their treatment.
The skin is an ecosystem composed of 1.8 m2 of diverse habitats with an abundance of folds, invaginations and specialized niches that support a wide range of microorganisms. The primary role of the skin is to serve as a physical barrier, protecting our bodies from potential assault by foreign organisms or toxic substances. The skin is also an interface with the outside environment and, as such, is colonized by a diverse collection of microorganisms — including bacteria, fungi and viruses.
WATCH AS BIOPHILE FOUNDER ALISON AND I TALK ABOUT THE SKIN BARRIER AND INGREDIENT PENETRATION IN OUR SERIES
SKINCARMA X BIOPHILE: STRAIGHT FROM THE LAB
NOW PLAYING ON MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL HERE.
About that gentle exfoliation. In Biophile’s Root Bionic Refining Essence, it’s achieved by the inclusion of Willow Bark Extract, a natural substance that’s metabolized in the body to create Salicylic Acid, as well as two Polyhydroxy Acids — Lactobionic Acid and Gluconolactone.
PHA’s are increasingly finding their way into skin care. Along with Bakuchiol, PHA’s were the rockstar ingredients of 2019. I consider them the kinder, gentler siblings of the more popular and far more potent AHAs, Glycolic Acid and Lactic Acid.
The Biophile refining essence is super lightweight — nearly as light as water — and very easily layered. Since it’s clean and bio-fermented, it’s one of the best exfoliating treatments I’ve come across.
Root Bionic Refining Essence was an award nominee for best sustainable packing at the 2019 IndieBeautyExpo.
SHOP THE BLOG: Purchase the Biophile Root Bionic Refining Essence for $78 here.
The Ingredient List of the Biophile Root Bionic Refining Essence:
Bifida/Lactobacillus/Arcticum Lappa (Burdock)/Zingiber Officinalis (Ginger)/ Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract Ferment Lysate Filtrate*, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Gluconolactone*, Propanediol*, Lactobionic Acid*, Betaine, Sodium Lactate*, Glycerin, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Extract, Inulin, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Sodium Hyaluronate*, Aqua, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract, L-arginine [*91% bio made (fermentation derived)].
