L’Oréal looks into microbiomes for new applications

In a presentation at its Aulnay-sous-Bois research and innovation site, L'Oréal scientists revealed that they had been working with the Paris based Institute Pasteur and New York University on microbiomes of the skin, looking at, for example, the microflora of healthy and greasy skin.

The brand's R&D team is said to have worked with numerous scientific teams, including Paris’ Institut Pasteur and New York University, to describe the microbiome of healthy and greasy skin.

Previous research on a wider scale has found that the skin’s microflora can fight bacteria and infection, and that it might be possible to not only destroy bad bacteria but actively add ‘good’ bacteria to skin creams in order to fight skin conditions such as acne.

It is this balance and role of endogenous skin microflora, L'Oréal reps say which will be key for new cosmetic or dermatological applications.

“Microbiome…is an essential partner for your skin,”​ adds Sophie Seite, scientific director at the dermatology laboratory at L’Oréal’s La Roche-Posay.

Consistently working on new skin apps​

Back in March L’Oreal announced it had launched a new study that has found an increasing the body’s friendly strain of certain microbes with a skin cream or lotion may help calm spotty or imperfect complexions and protect the skin.

The UCLA study conducted with researchers at Washington University and the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute looked into Propionibacterium acnes, bacteria that thrive in the oily depths of our pores, and found that while ‘bad’ strains result in spots, ‘good’ strains may protect the skin.

This could lead to new formulations being developed for skin creams and lotions that increase the body's friendly strain of P. acnes.