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Guide

What is a prebiotic shower gel?

In short

A body cleanser that contains a prebiotic. A prebiotic is a nutrient that beneficial microorganisms use selectively. The aim is to clean the skin without straining its natural balance and barrier.

What does prebiotic mean?

According to the 2017 definition by the international scientific panel ISAPP, a prebiotic is a substance that is selectively used by microorganisms in the body and confers a health benefit. The definition covers not only the gut but also the skin.

A probiotic, on the other hand, is the live microorganism itself. A postbiotic is an ingredient prepared from inanimate microorganisms or their components. The three are different things.

Why prebiotics for skin?

Countless microorganisms live on your skin. Most are harmless, and some work in your favour: they leave no room for harmful species and support the skin's defences. Antibacterial products clean without discrimination. The idea behind prebiotic cosmetics is different: to clean while preserving the skin's natural balance.

What do we know?

In a randomised, placebo-controlled study, the group that used a face serum containing the prebiotic GOS for 8 weeks had a higher skin water-holding capacity than the placebo group. In the lab, some prebiotics held back unwanted bacteria and left alone the beneficial species naturally found on the skin.

What don't we know?

The effect of a prebiotic in a product that is rinsed off in the shower is not yet well understood. In a 6-week study with a prebiotic shower gel and lotion, the skin's bacterial profile changed; moisture, however, was similar to that seen with the product without prebiotics. Reviews also note that knowledge about prebiotics applied to the skin is limited.

That is why we keep our claims measured. These studies were not carried out with EcoProbiotic products.

EcoProbiotic Prebiotic Shower Gel

A moisturising prebiotic body cleanser, formulated to help against sweat odour and free from harsh sulphates and alcohol. Available in 300 ml and 1 L sizes.

Sources

  1. Gibson GR et al. (2017). The ISAPP consensus statement on the definition and scope of prebiotics. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology 14(8):491–502. doi:10.1038/nrgastro.2017.75
  2. Salminen S et al. (2021). The ISAPP consensus statement on the definition and scope of postbiotics. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology 18(9):649–667. doi:10.1038/s41575-021-00440-6
  3. Krutmann J (2009). Pre- and probiotics for human skin. Journal of Dermatological Science 54(1):1–5. doi:10.1016/j.jdermsci.2009.01.002
  4. Grice EA, Segre JA (2011). The skin microbiome. Nature Reviews Microbiology 9(4):244–253. doi:10.1038/nrmicro2537
  5. Holland KT, Bojar RA (2002). Cosmetics: what is their influence on the skin microflora?. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology 3(7):445–449. doi:10.2165/00128071-200203070-00001
  6. Bockmühl D et al. (2007). Prebiotic Cosmetics: An Alternative to Antibacterial Products. International Journal of Cosmetic Science 29(1):63–64. doi:10.1111/j.1467-2494.2007.00355_2.x
  7. Hong KB et al. (2020). Changes in the Diversity of Human Skin Microbiota to Cosmetic Serum Containing Prebiotics: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Personalized Medicine 10(3):91. doi:10.3390/jpm10030091
  8. Di Lodovico S et al. (2020). Prebiotic Combinations Effects on the Colonization of Staphylococcal Skin Strains. Microorganisms 9(1):37. doi:10.3390/microorganisms9010037
  9. Le Bourgot C et al. (2022). Effects of short chain fructo-oligosaccharides on selected skin bacteria. Scientific Reports 12:9702. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-13093-5
  10. Li M et al. (2023). Multi-omic approach to decipher the impact of skincare products with pre/postbiotics on skin microbiome and metabolome. Frontiers in Medicine 10:1165980. doi:10.3389/fmed.2023.1165980
  11. Al-Ghazzewi FH, Tester RF (2014). Impact of prebiotics and probiotics on skin health. Beneficial Microbes 5(2):99–107. doi:10.3920/BM2013.0040
  12. Zeng M et al. (2025). Prebiotic Oligosaccharides in Skin Health: Benefits, Mechanisms, and Cosmetic Applications. Antioxidants 14(6):754. doi:10.3390/antiox14060754

These studies were not carried out with EcoProbiotic products.