What it is
Bacillus Ferment is the product of fermenting a substrate with bacteria of the genus Bacillus, yielding a mixture of metabolites used in cosmetics. It is employed as a skin-conditioning ingredient and is part of the broader category of ferment-based actives popular in many Korean formulations. In sunscreens it typically appears as a supportive ingredient that contributes to skin feel and conditioning.
Safety & warnings
Ferment ingredients are generally well tolerated in leave-on cosmetics. As with other complex biological mixtures, sensitization is possible in predisposed individuals, so a patch test is reasonable for sensitive skin. It is not associated with comedogenicity at typical use levels.
Origin & sourcing
Biotechnological; produced by the controlled fermentation of a culture medium by Bacillus microorganisms, after which the ferment is processed for cosmetic use.
Questions everyone asks
What is a ferment ingredient?
A ferment is the processed product of culturing microorganisms on a substrate. Bacillus Ferment is made by fermenting with Bacillus bacteria, producing a mix of metabolites used to condition skin.
Is it a live ingredient?
No. The finished cosmetic ingredient is the processed ferment, not living bacteria; it is used as a skin-conditioning additive in the formula.