The Best Cleanser for Skin Health Isn't Sold by Any Skincare Company, Including Ours.

When asked about her most essential products, it's no secret that Marie Veronique Nadeau will reveal she uses yogurt as her daily cleanser. World Microbiome Day is June 27th, so we’re making a public service announcement on the importance of microbial health and how you can boost friendly microbes with this beloved household staple. Technical formulations are our specialty and necessary when delivering actives such as Vitamin C or Retinol — but we encourage you to go DIY with yogurt and cleansing.

Yogurt is an exceptional multitasker that acts as a gentle exfoliant, provides triglycerides for moisture and support, all without compromising microbial balance. However, not all yogurt offers extraordinary benefits. We recommend using plain, organic, full-fat yogurt with live cultures (cow, goat, or sheep milk) and storing it in the refrigerator as you would normally.

KEY INGREDIENTS

LACTIC ACID (Think Cleopatra's milk baths) is an alpha-hydroxy acid safe for all skin types, exfoliating while increasing the production of natural ceramides to hold in moisture.

LIVE PROBIOTIC CULTURES Such as Streptococcus thermophilus, which help restore the natural balance of the skin's microbiota.

TRIGLYCERIDES Found naturally in milk, these are similar to lipids present in the epidermal layer, offering optimal moisture and protection while effectively cleansing without stripping.

Marie’s How To for Cleansing

Using yogurt topically is simple, yet so effective. As Marie says, “the idea behind cleansing with yogurt is that whether it starts inside in the gut or outside on the skin, it simplifies everything we do regarding improving microbiome health—we simply enlist Nature’s help instead of fighting Her.”

To Cleanse: Massage a spoonful of full-fat yogurt over the face and rinse. Follow with your PM regimen.

For sensitive and symptomatic skin, we recommend using yogurt as a cleanser a few times per week, alternating with your oil cleanser or in addition.

FAQs

Can you use yogurt if you’re sensitive to dairy in your diet? Food allergy is generally triggered through ingestion, but can also be triggered through skin contact. If you are ever concerned, try a patch test on your forearm by applying a small amount for 20 minutes, then remove and wait 24 hours to see if you react. However, if you are just avoiding dairy in your diet due to potential intolerance or its inflammatory impact, you should be OK with applying it to your skin and a patch test should not be necessary.

Does it work as a spot treatment? Yes, we recommend applying yogurt to the full face to reap all the benefits, but you can certainly spot-treat areas of dryness or imbalance. Additionally, for symptomatic or breakout-prone skin, you can mix Manuka or raw honey with yogurt for a spot treatment on breakouts.

What brand/s do you recommend? We like Nancy's Probiotic Yogurt. Again, most importantly look for: plain, organic, full-fat, live-culture yogurt (cow, goat, or sheep milk). The fewer ingredients, the better!

Can you use Greek yogurt or kefir? Yes, however, the consistency will vary.

I tried yogurt topically and my skin flushed, is that ok? Yogurt contains lactic acid and has a lower pH (meaning it is slightly acidic). If you do experience redness or flushing, it can indicate that your skin is slightly imbalanced. We recommend focusing on barrier integrity. Start with daily use (AM + PM) of Balancing HypoTonic and Barrier Restore Serum, in addition to a nourishing and hydrating oil like Barrier Lipid Complex. Once your skin feels more stable, try using yogurt again and see how your skin responds. You can always spot-test first to be sure. Remember, a skin response isn’t necessarily a bad thing; instead, it can help guide you to finding more balance topically.

Experience the natural benefits of yogurt for yourself and see why Marie Veronique Nadeau swears by this simple yet powerful ingredient for her daily skincare routine.