Disclosure: This post is brought to you by Mother Dirt.
I used bacteria-based products to care for my skin and here's what happened.
So by now we have all heard how important probiotics can be to our overall health. We usually think of these kinds of "good bacteria" when it comes to our guts. Including fermented foods like saurkraut, kefir, or kombucha is an easy way to introduce helpful flora into our body.
But do you ever think about promoting helpful bacteria for other parts of your body? Your skin also relies on these kinds of flora to stay healthy. If you've ever suffered from a bout of candida than you know just how unhappy your skin can get when this balance is disrupted.
Like pretty much every other aspect of our lives, the natural biome that your skin maintains can be thrown out of whack by many of the modern conveniences we love so well. Commercially produced cleansers, lotions, and shampoos often include ingredients that can disrupt the skin's natural balance and biome, making it hard for your body to care for itself naturally.
Enter bacteria-based skin care. What a concept! Mother Dirt has formulated a very simple product line (just one head-to-toe cleanser, a shampoo, and a mist) that revolves around promoting the skin's natural biome. The method here is to cleanse your skin and hair using simple products that won't disrupt the natural bacteria on your skin and scalp, and then supplementing that bacteria with a twice-daily mist.
In addition to helping nurture a healthy skin biome, Mother Dirt products are intended to help users reduce their dependence on other supplemental products such as toners, moisturizers, and serums. The company argues that too many natural resources are wasted in the production and use of unnecessary beauty products.
I couldn't agree more on the virtues of simplifying one's personal care routine. After a quick glance at the ingredient list I was happy to try out Mother Dirt's product line. When my samples arrived I got started right away.
I was curious to see if the claims and experiences I read about in the company's brochure would hold true for my skin as well. The testimonials on Mother Dirt's web site report improvements in softness, texture, pore size – you name it.
How It Works
Mother Dirt pairs two simple cleansers, a head-to-toe foaming wash and a shampoo, with a face and body mist fortified with skin-loving bacteria.
/p>
Mother Dirt Cleanser is used to wash your face and body. It contains no bacteria, but is formulated to cleanse gently without disrupting the skin's natural biome.
Mother Dirt Shampoo is used to wash hair. Like the cleanser, this is a gentle cleanser that helps support your scalp's biome and natural balance.
Mother Dirt AO+ Mist is used after cleansing. This is the product that contains helpful bacteria. Spritz twice daily on your face, scalp, and all over the body. It's particularly helpful in battling bacteria in the sweatier regions of the body. (Think armpits!)
What I've Noticed
I've been using the cleanser once a day, the shampoo twice a week, and the mist twice a day for the past week. While my skin didn't transform overnight, I have noticed an improvement in overall wellness.
Tightened Pores
I have noticed some shrinkage in my pores, which is pretty encouraging since this is an area where I've been struggling with my skin for some time. I'm planning to give myself a charcoal masque this weekend to see if I can help the process along further.
Balanced Moisture
Summer also has a tendency to send my skin's oil production into overload. Since I started the Mother Dirt products this has mellowed out quite a bit. My skin doesn't feel overly dry either, but I do wonder whether or not the spray will be enough when the weather cools off and starts drying me out. Will I need to add a moisturizer to the routine? We'll have to wait and see. For now, the balance feels just right.
Improved Bouquet
This might be a little TMI, but obviously Texas summers are incredibly hot and sweaty. The brochure for Mother Dirt suggested spritzing sweaty spots of the body with the AO+ Mist to help manage bacteria that can cause body odor.
Since my favorite deodorants use essential oils and carrier oils to battle stinky bacteria, I was very curious to see whether or not these products would work, and they did! I noticed a difference right away.
After my first shower with the cleanser and body spray with the AO+ Mist I noticed a difference in my (ahem) personal funk factor.
What's Not to Like?
The only real gap I see in the 3-piece product line is the lack of exfoliation. After about a week of using the Mother Dirt products I can tell that I'll still need to use a scrub or exfoliating mask to occasionally lift dead skin.
This may not be the case for everyone, but personally, I need a good scrub now and then! I can also foresee the need for periodic moisturizing with my usual favorites, raw shea butter or rose hip seed oil.
Overall, I'm going to give bacteria-based skin care a big thumbs up. I look forward to continuing with these products to see how my skin reacts to a long term routine.
Ready to Try it for Yourself?
You can learn more about bacteria-based skin care and shop for Mother Dirt products at MotherDirt.com.
If you've already tried Mother Dirt, I'd love to hear about your experiences with bacteria-based skin care. Share your story in the comments below!