Lactobacillus/Kelp Ferment Filtrate

This ingredient is made by fermenting brown seaweed with Lactobacillus (the same family of microbes used to make yogurt).

Fermentation helps breaks down kelp's tough cell walls so the good stuff inside, like water-binding sugars (fucoidan and alginic acid), amino acids, and minerals like iodine, magnesium, and copper, can be useful to your skin.

The Lactobacillus also leaves behind its own helpful byproducts (think of these like the "leftovers" from fermentation) in the mix.

Topically, it mainly acts as a humectant with mild emollient properties. Fucoidan and brown-algae phenolics have well-documented antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.

In vitro studies on fermented-kelp broth have shown free-radical scavenging, tyrosinase inhibition, and support for keratinocyte viability.

Fungal acne

There is nothing in this ingredient for Malassezia to feed on since Lactobacillus primarily produces water-soluble lactic acid and there are no oils in kelp.