Unilever and University of Liverpool embark on skin microbiome research

14 Dec 2022 --- In the UK, Unilever has partnered with the University of Liverpool’s Microbiome Innovation Centre and Brain & Behaviour laboratory to uncover the links between the microbiome, its effects on the skin and overall well-being.

The parties have been awarded a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) grant to investigate how nourishing the skin microbiome can translate to improved well-being.

“We believe we can ground the link between emotional and biochemical mechanisms in science and show how the microbiome affects psychological and physical well-being,” says Dr. Timo Giesbrecht, consumer scientist at Unilever.

The term “microbiome-friendly” is a relatively recent concept picking up steam in the beauty space. Symbiome spoke to PersonalCareInsights to demystify misconceptions surrounding this labeling term. 

Beauty is microbiome deep
Analyzing how well-being and the skin microbiome interconnect is only possible by collecting longitudinal data, a scientific study that tracks the same data points over extended periods. 

For example, a tough Tuesday could affect the microbiome a day or two later, resulting in a skin reaction by the weekend. Conversely, a skin breakout could still impact your well-being even once the breakout has cleared.

If your microbiome is unbalanced, the impacts could range from dry skin and dandruff to bad breath, acne, underarm odor and gum disease.

Unilever and the University of Liverpool will combine advances in microbiome science with new psychological methods, creating the scientific capability to link changes in the skin microbiome to well-being over time. The move could pave the way for new product approaches and technology targets.

“Skin is an organ of emotional expression. If you’re stressed, it manifests on the skin and the other way around. If your skin doesn’t feel good, it impacts how you feel in terms of well-being,” says Giesbrecht.

“The opportunity of this research will be finding out if we can develop products that could help to lessen the impact of stress on skin before it upsets the balance of the microbiome. It’s about prevention rather than cure – making the skin microbiome more resilient,” he adds.

Unilever scientists are also researching ways to stimulate the skin’s organic ceramide-producing mechanisms so that it can mend itself. It has partnered with IBM and Eagle Genomics to create modern approaches using AI to unearth new insights in microbiome datasets and provide treatments for dry skin.Unilever has a collection of five billion data points on the human microbiome to date.

In other industry developments, UK-based Norwich Research Park will receive a portion of US$2.6 million in funding from the government to tackle healthy aging. The research center looks explicitly into the skin’s microbiome as key to aging well. 

Stacking up the research
Since the company’s first scientific paper characterizing the microbes of the human underarm, published in 2003, Unilever has secured more than 100 microbiome-related patents and analyzed more than 15,000 microbiome samples.

Today, the company has a collection of five billion data points on the human microbiome.

Dove’s deep moisture body wash in Europe and the US and Vaseline’s Pro Derma line in China now include ingredients that nourish the microbiome. These products replenish the skin’s moisture, helping it to create more natural ceramides – essential lipids which play a vital role in the skin’s barrier function.

Vaseline’s Pro Derma line, for example, has been a big hit in China, where the range now accounts for 20% of the brand’s business in the country.“This new research will unlock our ability to make first-in-market claims and has enormous potential to drive product innovation, building on our emerging understanding of how the skin microbiome fuels well-being and how it can be used and interpreted in consumer products,” says Mick Card, knowledge adviser at Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Network.

Meanwhile, microbiome specialist Sequential Skin debuted Sequential Bio, a microbiome testing provider for beauty and personal care companies seeking product certification. The testing is available for products targeting skincare, scalp, oral, intimate care and general surfaces. 

Further research is being conducted by People Science and Symbiome Partner around microbiome-based products with an initial focus on skin health. The research will track participants using Symbiome’s line of products, using People Science’s proprietary software technology, Consumer Health Learning and Organizing Ecosystem.

Edited by Inga de Jong