The Rise of Microbiome Skincare: A Scientific Trend Driven by Gen Z and Millennials

Tuesday, June 3, 2025 — In recent years, Gen Z and Millennials have shifted the skincare conversation from beauty to biology. Their growing interest in microbiome skincare—products that support the skin’s natural ecosystem—reflects a deeper awareness of science and health in personal care choices.

What is Microbiome Skincare?

The skin microbiome consists of billions of beneficial microorganisms that live on the surface of our skin. These microbes act as a first line of defense, helping prevent irritation, boost hydration, and support the immune function of the skin. As the demand for evidence-based skincare grows, microbiome-focused products are becoming more popular due to their:

Support for Skin Flora Balance
Designed to maintain the balance of good bacteria on the skin, these formulations help reduce inflammation, sensitivity, and redness.

Gentle Yet Functional Ingredients
Common ingredients include prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics, offering a more holistic approach to skin health using ingredients with proven clinical efficacy.

Enhanced Barrier Protection
Strengthening the skin’s natural barrier is key to improving its resilience against environmental stressors and allergens.

Local Brands Championing Microbiome Innovation

Several Indonesian skincare brands are now integrating pharmaceutical formulation principles to support microbiome health and skin barrier recovery:

Avoskin has introduced products like the Your Skin Bae Series, combining niacinamide, ceramide, and centella asiatica extract, which are known to strengthen the skin barrier and support sensitive skin recovery.
Somethinc offers microbiome-friendly options such as the 5% Niacinamide + Moisture Sabi Beet Serum, which blends probiotic-derived ingredients with hydrating agents to maintain skin flora balance and barrier integrity.
True to Skin also emphasizes gentle formulations with its Bakuchiol + Collagen Serum, offering plant-based actives that support skin renewal while maintaining the microbiome ecosystem.

These brands show how formulation science and dermatological insight—fields studied in pharmacy—can be successfully applied in product development tailored to local needs and climate.

Trending in Indonesia: The Rise of Sensitive Skin and Skin Barrier Repair

A noticeable shift among Indonesian skincare users is the increased awareness of sensitive skin and compromised skin barriers. The humid climate, urban pollution, overuse of actives, and frequent mask usage have led to a surge in skin concerns like irritation, redness, and barrier damage. This has driven demand for barrier-repairing and microbiome-supporting skincare, such as creams with ceramides, panthenol, niacinamide, and calming botanicals like madecassoside.

This consumer behavior reflects a deeper trust in science-driven skincare, opening opportunities for innovations grounded in pharmaceutical science. Through a Bachelor of Pharmacy program, students are equipped with knowledge in skin physiology, inflammation mechanisms, formulation technology, and topical drug delivery systems—essential areas for developing safe and effective solutions for sensitive skin.

Pharmacy’s Role in the Skincare Revolution

At i3L (Indonesia International Institute for Life Sciences), our Bachelor of Pharmacy program offers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with in-depth knowledge of formulation science, pharmacognosy, pharmaceutical microbiology, and clinical testing—all essential to innovating in the fast-growing skincare and dermaceutical industries.

By combining strong scientific foundations with hands-on research and industry collaboration, i3L prepares graduates to become leaders and innovators who can develop safe, effective, and market-ready skincare solutions tailored to today’s consumer needs.

If you’re passionate about science, health, and beauty, and want to make a real impact on skin health and wellbeing, i3L’s Bachelor of Pharmacy program is the perfect starting point for your career journey in pharmaceutical and cosmetic innovation.

About Pharmacy

Pharmacy is one of the most interesting and well known majors in Indonesia, which focuses on medicine, which covers from drug discovery, development, clinical trial, drug delivery, drug management and also patient counseling. Pharmacy is the bridge knowledge between biomedical scientists and medical doctors, and highly relates to biomedical science, chemistry, pharmacology, pharmaceutical engineering, social science and population health. Pharmacist is among of the most respected professions in the world, whether in the government institute, research institute, pharmaceutical industry, or clinical pharmacy.