When we talk about healthy, glowing skin, the spotlight often falls on serums, treatments, and routines. But one of the biggest players in skin health isn’t visible to the naked eye: the skin microbiome. This living community of bacteria, fungi, and tiny organisms acts as the skin’s first line of defence, protecting against harmful microbes, locking in hydration, and keeping the barrier strong. When it’s balanced, your skin thrives. When it’s disrupted, problems like sensitivity, breakouts, and dryness often follow.
To understand why the microbiome matters so much, we sat down with Gabrielle Singh, dermal therapist and founder of Iyvos Skincare. With a philosophy that puts the microbiome at the heart of every formulation, Gabrielle explains how supporting this ecosystem transforms not just how skin looks today, but how healthy and resilient it stays in the long run.
1. For readers who may not be familiar, can you explain what the skin microbiome is and why it plays such a crucial role in maintaining healthy skin?
The skin microbiome is the community of microorganisms, bacteria, fungi, even tiny viruses that naturally live on our skin. While that might sound a little alarming at first, it’s actually one of the skin’s greatest strengths. When the microbiome is balanced, it acts as a shield, protecting against harmful bacteria, locking in hydration, and supporting overall barrier function. But when it’s disrupted, we often see common issues like breakouts, dryness, or sensitivity. In short, a healthy microbiome is essential for healthy, resilient skin.
2. If our skin microbiome had a personality, how would you describe it, and what kind of care does it love the most?
I’d say it’s like a best friend who happens to be a Libra, it thrives on balance and consistency. The microbiome doesn’t cope well with extremes; things like over-cleansing, stripping ingredients, or harsh treatments can easily throw it off. What it really loves is gentle care and nourishment, the kind of routine that works with it rather than against it. When you feed it the right nutrients and keep its environment calm, it rewards you in return by keeping your skin resilient, strong, and glowing.
3. Iyvos places the microbiome at the heart of its formulations. How does this philosophy shape the way you choose ingredients compared to more traditional cosmeceutical brands?
At Iyvos, we see the microbiome as the foundation of skin health, so every ingredient choice has to respect that ecosystem. Traditional cosmeceutical brands often focus on quick results, sometimes at the cost of long-term barrier function. Our approach is different; we look for high-performing actives that deliver visible change, but we always balance them with ingredients that strengthen and protect the skin’s barrier. It means you still get results, but without compromising your microbiome in the process. To us, it’s not just about treating a concern in the moment; it’s about building lasting skin health.
4. How does supporting the microbiome impact common skin concerns like sensitivity, acne, or premature ageing?
When you support the microbiome, you’re really addressing the root cause rather than just managing symptoms. For sensitive skin, a balanced microbiome helps calm reactivity and reduce flare-ups. With acne, it can keep harmful bacteria in check and lower inflammation. And when it comes to ageing, protecting the microbiome strengthens the skin barrier, helps maintain hydration, and reduces chronic, low-grade inflammation, all of which play a huge role in how skin looks and feels as we get older. By focusing on the microbiome, you’re essentially setting your skin up to be healthier and more resilient in the long term.
5. As a dermal therapist, how do you translate the latest scientific understanding of the microbiome into products that are not only effective but also gentle enough for daily use?
The science really shows us that when it comes to the microbiome, less is often more. Overloading the skin with harsh actives or complex routines can actually do more harm than good. My philosophy has always been to create balance, combining ingredients in a way that supports the skin’s natural ecosystem rather than overwhelming it but still delivering noticeable results
Over the past 12 months, working closely with Korea’s advanced labs has really deepened this approach for me. Korean skincare is renowned for merging cutting-edge science with gentleness, and I’ve really drawn on that. I have learnt so much from the Koreans, both from the formulation process and in clinical environments. At Iyvos, this translates into using highly effective, stable forms of actives like vitamins or peptides, but always balancing them with prebiotics, antioxidants, and barrier-supportive ingredients.
Research also shows that around 70% of common skin conditions, from acne and sensitivity to premature ageing, are linked to an impaired barrier and disrupted microbiome. That’s why our focus is always on strengthening and supporting that foundation first. When you respect the skin’s natural biology, you don’t just get quick results; you create long-term skin health.
When we talk about healthy, glowing skin, the spotlight often falls on serums, treatments, and routines. But one of the biggest players in skin health isn’t visible to the naked eye: the skin microbiome. This living community of bacteria, fungi, and tiny organisms acts as the skin’s first line of defence, protecting against harmful microbes, locking in hydration, and keeping the barrier strong. When it’s balanced, your skin thrives. When it’s disrupted, problems like sensitivity, breakouts, and dryness often follow.
To understand why the microbiome matters so much, we sat down with Gabrielle Singh, dermal therapist and founder of Iyvos Skincare. With a philosophy that puts the microbiome at the heart of every formulation, Gabrielle explains how supporting this ecosystem transforms not just how skin looks today, but how healthy and resilient it stays in the long run.
1. For readers who may not be familiar, can you explain what the skin microbiome is and why it plays such a crucial role in maintaining healthy skin?
The skin microbiome is the community of microorganisms, bacteria, fungi, even tiny viruses that naturally live on our skin. While that might sound a little alarming at first, it’s actually one of the skin’s greatest strengths. When the microbiome is balanced, it acts as a shield, protecting against harmful bacteria, locking in hydration, and supporting overall barrier function. But when it’s disrupted, we often see common issues like breakouts, dryness, or sensitivity. In short, a healthy microbiome is essential for healthy, resilient skin.
2. If our skin microbiome had a personality, how would you describe it, and what kind of care does it love the most?
I’d say it’s like a best friend who happens to be a Libra, it thrives on balance and consistency. The microbiome doesn’t cope well with extremes; things like over-cleansing, stripping ingredients, or harsh treatments can easily throw it off. What it really loves is gentle care and nourishment, the kind of routine that works with it rather than against it. When you feed it the right nutrients and keep its environment calm, it rewards you in return by keeping your skin resilient, strong, and glowing.
3. Iyvos places the microbiome at the heart of its formulations. How does this philosophy shape the way you choose ingredients compared to more traditional cosmeceutical brands?
At Iyvos, we see the microbiome as the foundation of skin health, so every ingredient choice has to respect that ecosystem. Traditional cosmeceutical brands often focus on quick results, sometimes at the cost of long-term barrier function. Our approach is different; we look for high-performing actives that deliver visible change, but we always balance them with ingredients that strengthen and protect the skin’s barrier. It means you still get results, but without compromising your microbiome in the process. To us, it’s not just about treating a concern in the moment; it’s about building lasting skin health.
4. How does supporting the microbiome impact common skin concerns like sensitivity, acne, or premature ageing?
When you support the microbiome, you’re really addressing the root cause rather than just managing symptoms. For sensitive skin, a balanced microbiome helps calm reactivity and reduce flare-ups. With acne, it can keep harmful bacteria in check and lower inflammation. And when it comes to ageing, protecting the microbiome strengthens the skin barrier, helps maintain hydration, and reduces chronic, low-grade inflammation, all of which play a huge role in how skin looks and feels as we get older. By focusing on the microbiome, you’re essentially setting your skin up to be healthier and more resilient in the long term.
5. As a dermal therapist, how do you translate the latest scientific understanding of the microbiome into products that are not only effective but also gentle enough for daily use?
The science really shows us that when it comes to the microbiome, less is often more. Overloading the skin with harsh actives or complex routines can actually do more harm than good. My philosophy has always been to create balance, combining ingredients in a way that supports the skin’s natural ecosystem rather than overwhelming it but still delivering noticeable results
Over the past 12 months, working closely with Korea’s advanced labs has really deepened this approach for me. Korean skincare is renowned for merging cutting-edge science with gentleness, and I’ve really drawn on that. I have learnt so much from the Koreans, both from the formulation process and in clinical environments. At Iyvos, this translates into using highly effective, stable forms of actives like vitamins or peptides, but always balancing them with prebiotics, antioxidants, and barrier-supportive ingredients.
Research also shows that around 70% of common skin conditions, from acne and sensitivity to premature ageing, are linked to an impaired barrier and disrupted microbiome. That’s why our focus is always on strengthening and supporting that foundation first. When you respect the skin’s natural biology, you don’t just get quick results; you create long-term skin health.
Shop the Iyvos range here.
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