‘Probiotic’ seems to be the latest buzzword in skincare, but it can be difficult to determine which brands offer the most effective formula, and which ones are just trying to profit off of putting the word on their bottle…
However, when you happen upon the good ones, it shows – quite literally. According an article by the AAD, when probiotics are applied to the skin, some strains have the ability to improve its texture and condition by working as a calming agent and protective shield from things like acne, redness, and inflammation. Meanwhile, other probiotic strains have antimicrobial properties, meaning they kill bad bacteria that could cause skin reactions.
I’ve been experimenting with a few probiotic systems recently, including Tula’s (not so much a fan), and LaFlore (huge fan). The most recent one I’ve been testing is Nayelle’s probiotic regimen. Here’s a little bit around what makes their skincare products unique, along with my review and results after using it for five weeks.
Nayelle Probiotic Skin Care
Nayelle’s 4-Step Probiotic Rejuvenating Regime focuses on five key natural and organic ingredients, each designed to benefit skin at a cellular level, including:
- Snow Muchroom Extract – An amazing moisturizer, found to be 5x more hydrating than Hyaluronic Acid. Also rich in Vitamin D.
- Glacial Marine Clay – Draws out impurities and detoxifies skin while increasing blood circulation, speeding up skin’s healing process, and restoring skin’s natural pH levels.
- Goat Milk Kefir – Rich in probiotics (lactobacillus) that help strengthen and nourish the skin. Also helps skin to uphold moisture, and helps protects the skin against damaging UV rays.
- Sea Kelp Probiotics – Protects from free radicals, regenerates skin cells, moisturizes and nourishes the skin.
- Jojoba Oil – Anti-oxidant, skin calming and hydrating thanks to its rich Vitamin E and natural mineral content.
Together, these ingredients provide your skin with “bio-active probiotic technology” through a blend of vitamins, peptides, antioxidants, essential fatty 3-6-9 acids and minerals that promote collagen and elastin.
“Quality ingredients in proper ratio-formulated Probiotic technology is the only way to guarantee effectiveness.” – Nayelle
In addition to the five natural ingredients above, Nayelle’s claims to use 100% natural, pure ingredients in their formulas, with zero chemicals or fillers (i.e. inactive ingredients that don’t do a thing for your skin). Their products are also gluten free, fragrance free, propylene glycol free, paraben free, 100% cruelty free (Leaping Bunny Approved), and 100% Canadian owned & operated.
Nayelle also goes as far as to have their products tested at an independent government certified laboratory to prove that their products are safe, non-irritating, hypoallergenic, and good for all skin types – including sensitive, combination, acne prone and aging skin – as well as to ensure that they’re effective in improving hydration and increasing production of collagen & elastin.
My Nayelle Skincare Review & Results
The Nayelle skincare regime consists of 4 steps – a cleanser, clay mask, and probiotic day and night creams – all of which are designed to work together to restore our skin’s natural microbiome with healthy bacteria. I began the full regimen back in October and continued into the first few weeks of November (just as the weather started to transition to the colder, drier side, which allowed me to test the moisturizers in both climates). Here’s my review of each of the products in their system.
Nayelle CLEANSE Glacial Cleanser
The Nayelle CLEANSE Glacial Cleanser is the first product I tried, and the first I fell in love with. While the cloudy, grey formula may look rather…unexciting…in my eyes, it is the perfect cleanser. For one, it’s the first I’ve ever come across that provides a significant amount of exfoliation without being too rough/abrasive, but also not too gentle/ineffective. The bamboo particles are well dispersed and grainy enough to keep my dry flakes away, without overdoing it. I can use it daily, no problem. Two, its slightly creamy, lightly foaming formula effectively removes all my makeup, dirt, oil, etc without leaving my skin feeling stripped or tight afterwards thanks to sea kelp, organic aloe vera extract, jojoba oil and water extract of eco-certified snow mushroom. My only issue? The seemingly not-so-‘pure‘ ‘ingredients at the top of the list – Cocamidopropyl Betaine and Cetearyl Alcohol in particular. Both are derived from natural ingredients, but have been known to cause allergic skin reactions for some people.
Ingredients: Aqua, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Magnesium Silicate, Bambusa Arundinacea (Bamboo) Stem Extract, Sea Silt, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Lauryl Glucoside, Stearyl Citrate, Dehydro Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil.
Nayelle PURIFY Glacial Oceanic Clay Mask
Nayelle’s PURIFY Glacial Oceanic Clay Mask contains what Nayelle calls an ‘exclusive mineral rich clay’ that’s composed of 60 rare earth minerals with sea ions, making it a sure stand-out among the average clay masks on the market. It’s also formulated to not only detoxify and purify the skin, but also deeply hydrate the skin, making it ideal for even dry and sensitive skin types. The formula smooths on the skin easily and drys within just a few minutes. You can literally see the oil getting absorbed by the mask, in the form of tiny dark spots. Another thing that I love about it is that it’s super easy to remove – just a few splashes and it’s gone (this is just a little pet peeve I have with clay masks – they can be a real pain to remove!). Once off, it doesn’t leave my skin feeling tight or dry, plus, it didn’t cause any burning, stinging, or tingling sensations on my skin. All-in-all, it smooths and decongests my pores, while keeping my skin balanced and comfortable. I’ve been using this mask once every 1-2 weeks.
Ingredients: Sea Silt (Glacial Oceanic Clay), Propanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) Powder, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil.
Nayelle HYDRATE Probiotic Hydrating Day Cream
Next up are the two real powerhouse formulas in Nayelle’s skincare regimen, starting with the HYDRATE Probiotic Hydrating Day Cream. Judging by the texture initially, I assumed that this wouldn’t be hydrating enough for my combo skin. Admittedly, I was not impressed at first – the texture is thin and not super emollient. It also absorbs super quick and leaves a matte finish to the skin (which I didn’t expect to last). Surprising though, from the very first day I tried this out, my skin managed to stay in the matte to semi-matte range all day long, even in my T-zone (which usually gets very oily!). That’s a for sure sign that it’s keeping my skin well hydrated. Maybe the takeaway here is that just because a moisturizer feels rich, heavy, and emollient, that doesn’t mean that it’s the most moisturizing for the skin. It’s all about the quality of ingredients and how effective they are at helping the skin cells retain moisture long-term, which Nayelle seems to have mastered with this one!
Ingredients: Sea Silt Extract, Aqua, Lactobacillus/ Nereocystis Leutkeana Ferment Filtrate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Propanediol, Lactobacillus Milk Ferment Filtrate, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Monostearate, Potassium Distearate, Glyceryl Distearate, Glucose, Tremella Fuciformis (Tremella Mushroom) Powder, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) Powder, Lactic Acid, Lactoperoxidase, Glucose Oxidase, Potassium Citrate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil.
Nayelle REJUVENATE Probiotic Anti Aging Night Cream
Nayelle’s REJUVENATE Probiotic Anti Aging Night Cream is pretty much identical to the day cream – in both look and feel. Even the ingredients lists share similarities. The only main difference is that this Night Cream contains a higher amount of Goat Milk Kefir, the ingredient that delivers probiotics to the skin. This makes sense, since probiotics work most effectively at night (i.e. when we aren’t wearing makeup, touching, or washing our face). In fact, it’s when most of the ‘recovery’ and bacteria-replenishing occurs. On top of the probiotics, the cream is also works beautifully as a moisturizer. Similar to the day cream, it helps the skin to retain moisture and stay hydrated. I’ll put just a few pumps on my face and neck, and the next morning my skin will look balanced with barely any oilies in sight!
Ingredients: Aqua, Lactobacillus Milk Ferment Filtrate, Sea Silt Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Glycerin, Lactobacillus/ Nereocystis Leutkeana Ferment Filtrate, Coco Caprylate Caprate, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Monostearate, Potassium Distearate, Glyceryl Distearate, Glucose, Tremella Fuciformis (Tremella Mushroom) Powder, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Xanthan Gum, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan) Powder, Lactic Acid, Lactoperoxidase, Glucose Oxidase, Potassium Citrate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil
Before & After
In just the first week of using the Nayelle skincare products, my skin began to look smoother and much more even toned, with less pore congestion and pimples. Most impressively, the redness around my cheeks, nose, and even my pimples started to subside. By the two week mark, I felt like I could confidently walk out the door without putting on foundation or even BB cream!
Overall, it’s clear to me that some probiotic-rich formulas have the ability to drastically improve the health of our skin. If you’re looking to try out a probiotic line for yourself, I’d highly recommend giving Nayelle’s a go!
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Have you tried a probiotic skincare routine? If so, have you noticed a difference in your skin?
