Unilever in partnership with the University of Liverpool present study offering unique insights with the potential to transform our understanding of skincare and psychological wellbeing.

Together with the Microbiome Innovation Centre and the Brain & Behaviour Lab, University of Liverpool, the beauty player’s scientists has unveiled a potential link between the skin microbiome and mental wellbeing for the first time. While significant attention has been given to the impact of the gut microbiome on mental health, the new study, published last week in the British Journal of Dermatology, is the first to uncover the skin microbiome’s role in this complex interplay.

Titled Body-site specific associations between human skin microbiome composition and psychological wellbeing, it shows concentrations of specific beneficial microbes that live on the skin, particularly Cutibacterium, are linked to psychological wellbeing. Higher levels on the face and underarm were associated with lower stress, and increased levels of Cutibacterium on the underarm were also linked to improved mood. Overall, increased Cutibacterium across multiple body sites was consistently associated with positive wellbeing outcomes.

According to Jason Harcup, Chief R&D Officer for Beauty & Wellbeing at Unilever, these insights support the emerging concept of the skin-brain axis. 

– The skin-brain axis refers to the fact that our skin and psychological wellbeing are connected. Research has shown that bacteria in the gut can affect psychological wellbeing, but the role of skin bacteria has been less understood, until now. Our results reveal that greater relative abundance of Cutibacterium is associated with enhanced wellbeing, reduced stress, and improved mood across various body regions, suggesting for the first time that the skin microbiome may impact mental wellbeing, he says, continuing,

– This is important because we know consumers no longer see the pursuit of beauty and wellbeing as independent of each other. They are looking for products that support physical appearance, mental wellbeing, and positively contribute to overall health. By advancing our scientific knowledge of the skin-brain axis, the goal is to develop holistic products that improve the wellbeing of our consumers, inside and out.

Unilever has 100 patents secured and over 30,000 samples analysed in one of the world’s largest collections of human skin microbiome data and the insights from it is used in body washes, deodorants, and beauty products across brands like Dove, Vaseline, Pond’s, and Dermalogica.