Chances are, you’ve heard of probiotics and the essential role they play in maintaining optimal gut health. You may even have a probiotic-packed skin care product on your bathroom shelf. Topical probiotics help skin maintain a comfortable, balanced state while supporting an optimal skin barrier to ward off unwanted environmental elements like pollution, smoke and debris. But, what about prebiotics? While it is a relatively new and trendy skin care ingredient, prebiotics for skin can be beneficial and are making their way into topical skin care formulations. Ready to learn more about prebiotic skin care? We’re ready to answer some key questions, including:

• What do prebiotics do?

• What does prebiotic skin care do?

• Can you use prebiotics for acne?

• How can I use prebiotics for skin?

• Top prebiotic skin care products

What do prebiotics do?

Prebiotics are great for both your skin and your entire body, but what are they exactly? Let’s start by breaking down how they are different from the more familiar probiotics.

Probiotics are a group of living bacteria that support the millions of good bacteria living in your gut and on the surface of skin. Additionally, they keep harmful bacteria from entering the skin, which causes inflammation that can lead to breakouts, eczema flare-ups or premature aging.

On the other hand, prebiotics help probiotics and the good bacteria do their job more efficiently. Prebiotics act as a food source for your natural-occurring probiotics, keeping your skin’s microbiome robust and healthy. Prebiotics in skin care are usually made of plant sugars or other complex carbohydrates. Foods rich in prebiotics are usually high in fiber, such as leafy greens, garlic and whole grains.

What does prebiotic skin care do?

Because prebiotics act as a food source for the probiotics naturally occurring on your skin, prebiotic skin care can help keep your skin’s overall microbiome in balance. Prebiotics also help keep your skin’s pH levels healthy while maintaining a strong barrier against environmental invaders that cause inflammation.

“If you are already using a probiotic skin care product, adding a prebiotic skin care product to your regimen may help boost its efficacy,” says board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger. “However, you don’t need to combine the two to reap the benefits of prebiotics. When used alone, prebiotics can also help increase the beneficial probiotic bacteria on the skin.”

Can you use prebiotics for acne?

Yes, prebiotics (and probiotics) are beneficial in treating certain types of acne. Prebiotics help combat the inflammation that leads to breakouts, keeping blemishes at bay. One study shows the prebiotic ingredient glucomannan is very effective at minimizing blemishes and breakouts when combined with probiotic bacteria.

“Certain types of non-cystic acne occur when the blemish-causing bacteria increase inflammation in the skin, causing breakouts. Probiotics keep these bad bacteria—known as P. acnes—in check, minimizing those occasional breakouts,” Dr. Schlessinger says. “A prebiotic supplement or topical skin care product with prebiotics helps probiotics to work more efficiently, ensuring you keep a clear complexion. If you deal with more than an occasional breakout or have cystic acne, schedule an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist for a more targeted treatment.”

How can I use prebiotics for skin?

Prebiotics for skin are available in topical formulations or oral dietary supplements. If you prefer the pill version, try HUM Nutrition Skin Squad Pre+Probiotic Supplement. It combines the glucomannan-rich konjac root extract (a prebiotic ideal for acne) with 40 billion shelf-stable probiotics to minimize breakouts while supporting gut health. In a dermatologist-supervised study, participants taking these supplements for sixty days experienced an 88% decrease in acne breakouts.

8 prebiotic skin care products to try at home

Ready to give prebiotic skin care a try? Here are eight of our favorite products with prebiotics, from a fresh facial cleanser to a delightfully floral-scented body wash.

Eminence Kombucha Microbiome Foaming Cleanser

When consumed as a beverage, kombucha is known for its probiotic benefits for the body. This daily cleanser from Eminence Organic Skin Care contains kombucha ferment derived from black tea as well as probiotics and prebiotics to help support a healthy skin microbiome. It foams up with a pleasant lather and has a light floral scent thanks to jasmine extract.

Revision Skincare D·E·J Face Cream

This anti-aging nourishing cream replenishes and restores the skin’s dermal epidermal junction (DEJ). This is the tissue that binds the dermal and epidermal layers of the skin and plays a key role in how it ages. Formulated with peptides, vitamin C and ceramides, this complex cream protects the skin and supports the microbiome with new, prebiotic innovation. It contains alpha-glucan oligosaccharide, a sugar-derived prebiotic ingredient that helps stabilize the beneficial microflora on your skin.

La Roche-Posay Lipikar Daily Repair Moisturizing Lotion

Considered a sensitive skin staple, this body lotion is an easy way to incorporate prebiotic skin are into your daily routine. This fast-absorbing formula contains La Roche-Posay Prebiotic Thermal Water to soothe and hydrate your skin. This selenium-rich water is sourced from France and is beneficial in supporting skin’s microbiome and soothing inflammatory conditions such as eczema. It also contains niacinamide to help minimize irritation and diminish fine lines and wrinkles.

ELEMIS Superfood Facial Wash

This facial cleanser channels all the superfood goodness of your favorite green smoothie. Packed with antioxidant-rich vegetables—broccoli seed, wheatgrass, avocado, pumpkin and kale—and a sugar-derived prebiotic, it helps to protect the skin and balance its natural microbiome. It will help leave your skin with a renewed vitality and a healthy glow and prepare it to receive further skin care treatments.

Natura Bisse Diamond Cocoon Hydrating Essence

Designed to be used after your daily cleanser and before you first face treatment or serum, this hydrating essence is packed with an antioxidant complex of peach, apple, ginseng, wheat and barley to help prevent future signs of aging caused by free radical damage. An infusion of prebiotics helps keep your skin’s flora in balance while glycerin lends crucial hydration.

Vichy Mineral 89 Prebiotic Recovery & Defense Concentrate Serum

This daily face serum is one of our favorite prebiotic skin care products. Vichy created this formula as a stressed skin solution for dry, dull, aging skin. The key ingredients of niacinamide, vitreoscilla ferment and Vichy Volcanic Water work together to help reduce moisture loss and strengthen the skin barrier for softer, smoother-looking skin.

Allies of Skin Prebiotics & Niacinamide Pore Refining Booster

Prebiotics are just one beneficial ingredient in this multitasking facial serum. It also contains goji berry and pomegranate extract for antioxidant protection, niacinamide for acne control and anti-aging, chlorella to help promote radiance and vitamin E to help brighten skin.

REN Clean Skincare Moroccan Rose Body Wash

The skin all over your body can benefit from prebiotics as well. This gel-based body wash helps cleanse skin while it soothes any hints of irritation with chamomile and neroli flower water. Oligosaccharide, a prebiotic, helps support your skin’s microbiome and maintain a healthy skin barrier while rose oil leaves your skin smelling as fresh as a bouquet.

Now that you’re well-versed on prebiotics for skin, you can check out our recommendations for the best ingredients and products to use at home for dry and dehydrated skin.