Been offered a plate of kimchi or cup of kombucha in the last 30 seconds? Us too! Fermented eats and drinks are the current social and RL (real life) hashtags trending right now. Everyone from the local corner café to the high-end nosheries are plating and talking up the health benefits of filling your gut with the ‘good fermenty bacteria’. However, in taste terms, pickled cabbage (kimchi) and strangely fizzy black tea (kombucha) are a hard sell. Luckily the beauty brainiacs got the ferment memo and have been cooking up fab new recipes to work these ingredients in. No sipping or supping required. Here, we chart the 10 skincare products giving good ferment.
With kimchi the trademark dish of Korea, their hometown cosmetics heroes have been leading the ferment ingredient charge. Korean beauty SU:M37 shows very strong ferment game with their Water-full Skin Refresher/Toner which includes four fermented flower-based ingredients. They say it promotes skin vitality, moisture, and helps minimise pores. We say, yes please. RRP $50 www.sokoglam.com
US-based dermatologist Dr Murad’s eponymous skincare brand gives a good nudge to the ferment fracas with his Pore and Line Minimizing Hydrator. Containing black tea ferment it’s a lightweight moisturizer to aid in clear skin and tight pores. Add to cart. RRP $50 www.murad.com
A-list stunner Cate Blanchett has been representing Japanese skincare powerhouse SK-II for years, one glance at her luminous visage? Sign us up. The key ingredient in their signature Facial Treatment Essence, Pitera™, is derived from the natural yeast fermentation process. This fermented golden ticket claims to rejuvenate skin reducing the appearance of wrinkles, age spots and aid in radiance. ‘Nuff said. RRP $100 for 75ml www.davidjones.com.au
A clever guy called Brad with serious beauty brand cred (Esteé Lauder, La Prairie, Lancôme) was tasked with developing a skincare line for a private jet fleet. Calling on performance ingredients to work in high-octane conditions led to the launch of Brad Biophotonic Skin Care. All products are produced using bio-fermentation, which they say makes them easier to absorb into the skin. Fast becoming a cult brand, must-have fermenty product from this range is Brad Sea Minerals Purify Healing Detoxifying Gel Cleanser. RRP $45 www.bradskincare.com
Boston-based apothecary brand Fresh is well-versed in sourcing the good ingredients, their offering to the ferment crowd? Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask. Includes black tea ferment, which they’re calling ‘an advanced antioxidant helping to defend against wrinkle-causing free radicals. We’ll take that skincare arsenal any day. RRP $179 www.thebeautyclub.com.au
Salon-beloved brand Dermalogica includes acne-busting lactobacillus ferment in their Breakout Control mediBac Clearing Gel. Helping to clear and prevent breakouts without the dry-out side effect, this best-seller is an all ages spot-clearing pass in the fight against ‘zituations’. That’s 1 for ferment, 0 for zits. RRP $66 www.dermalogica.com.au
Comedienne genius Tina Fey recently said, ‘When you talk with your hands, they should be human hands’. South Korean brand Missha heeded the call and introduced Total Repairing Hand Treatment. Includes Vitamin B rich yeast ferment filtrate which has a bunch of softening, smoothing benefits and makes your hand talking acceptable. RRP $13.50 www.missha.com.au
Sulwhasoo Snowise EX Brightening Mask has firmly cornered the ferment and wrap-like-a-mummy market, each sheet mask is individually fermented in white ginseng for two weeks to bring on brightening, boost skin circulation and minimize age spot appearance. This is one about face we can really get beyond. RRP $185 www.theiconic.com.au/sulwhasoo
London brand Oskia is dishing up the fermented minerals via their Renaissance Hand and Body Cream, they also kindly scented it with rose and chamomile to avoid lingering pickle aromas. RRP $73 www.oskiaskincare.com
Indonesian skincare brand Juara is aptly covering the kombucha-led skincare corner. Their Sweet Black Tea and Rice Moisturiser is heavy on antioxidant fermented black tea and light on weight. Making it the ideal non-pore clogging skin saver. Makeup artists are a fan and so are we. RRP $75 www.skinstore.com
