At Ellis Day Skin Science, we talk a lot about the bacteriophages (aka phages) in our Active Phage Serum and why these tiny microbial assassins are so special. These little guys — which are roughly 50 to 100 times smaller than a bacterial cell and are naturally found on healthy skin — have the ability to seek out and kill the skin bacteria that cause blemishes, breakouts, and inflammation, known as Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes for short). Today, more adults than ever report experiencing these issues, even in their 20’s and 30’s. And now, we get to deal with maskne as well! For those who have breakout-prone skin or are experiencing the appearance of stubborn maskne, regular use of our Active Phage Serum will help to eliminate the bacteria that cause these frustrating skin problems, reducing redness, inflammation, and irritation, and leaving you with clearer, happier, more resilient skin.
But what if you are one of the lucky people who don’t experience frequent breakouts, mask-induced or otherwise? Should you still incorporate phages into your skincare routine, and can these microbes improve the overall health of your skin? To these questions I would answer, yes! For a couple of important reasons. For one, as I mentioned above, these types of phages are naturally found on healthy skin, where they help to maintain a balanced skin microbiome. So we know that everyone should have C. acnes phages on their skin. However, many of the skincare and makeup products we use on a daily basis contain ingredients that can inactivate phage and interfere with their activity. It’s likely that sustained use of these products can negatively affect the phages on your skin. Over time, this could lead to imbalances in the skin microbiome and overgrowth of C. acnes bacteria.
Even if this doesn’t result in an observable breakout, these bad bacteria can lurk in your pores, potentially causing dullness, congestion, and inflammation. We now know that inflammation can contribute to a whole host of issues, including premature aging, through a process known as inflammaging. That is why we recommend regular use of a phage-containing serum, to add back healthy skin phages and keep inflammation-causing bacteria in check. Our Active Phage Serum is also formulated with clean, vegan ingredients that are gentle on your skin, so this water-based serum is safe for even the most sensitive skin types.
Phages are an essential component of the microbial ecosystem that makes up our skin microbiome. Until recently, harnessing their targeted anti-microbial power in a skincare product has seemed almost an impossible dream. Here at Ellis Day, we are so proud to be leading the way in making this dream a reality and developing a phage-based skincare line that is available to everyone.
If you have any questions about phages or how Ellis Day Active Phage Serum can help you achieve healthy, resilient skin, please email us at hello@ellisdayskinscience.com. We’re happy to help!
About Ellis Day Skin Science
We believe that modern skincare must be grounded in true microbiome science. We believe the answers are in the wild, natural world, which includes the surface of your skin.
At Ellis Day Skin Science, we pioneer natural phage-based products that target and kill bad bacteria associated with inflammation, damage, and aging, and enable good bacteria to flourish. By doing so, we aim to reset your microbiome for optimal skin health.
We use cutting-edge science to leverage nature, creating products that are just as kind and conscientious as they are effective, so that all can feel empowered with balanced, clear, radiant, and resilient skin.