As we limp toward the end of 2025, it feels like a moment to pause, reflect, be grateful… and breathe.
ESK Skincare is based in Sydney, where Daniel and I live. I was born near Bondi Beach, a fifth-generation Australian (a rare thing in this nation of immigrants), and I’m also a member of Sydney’s Jewish community. The events of December 14 have been devastating. My heart is with everyone affected by the terrorist attack; the victims and their families, first responders, passers-by, Sydneysiders, those who love Bondi, and anyone who feels less safe in its aftermath. We stand with you.
To the thousands of people who reached out with messages of love and support, thank you. Every single message mattered more than I can put into words. We felt wrapped in kindness. And perhaps most importantly, it reminded me that most people are truly good.
This has been a shocking and emotional end to what has otherwise been an enormous year for us. 2025 marked our biggest launch yet. Ultimate A Gold is the result of dedication to science, obsession with evidence, and a whole lot of heart. In 2025, we took our little Australian skincare brand to Hollywood and beyond (and yes, hanging out with my friend Selma Blair really is as wonderful as it sounds), connected with respected skincare experts in the UK and US, partnered with more clinics than ever before, and most importantly, met more of you, our incredible ESK community.
You’ve shown us that even in a crowded, and some say shrinking, market, ethics matter. Transparency matters. Sharing the science matters. Untouched reviews, real before-and-after photos, and standing behind our products with a money-back guarantee matter. Thank you for taking a chance on us, for your support, and above all, for your trust. We never take that lightly.
Meanwhile in this science wrap, I thought I’d do a bit of a deep dive into the skin microbiome…
The skin hosts eighteen bacterial phyla, mainly good guys- namely Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidota, and has the second highest bacterial density after the gut. The good bacteria that live on your skin help keep it healthy. They strengthen your skin barrier, keep the pH balanced, and crowd out harmful germs. For instance, Staphylococcus epidermidis makes natural antibacterial molecules that stop “bad” bacteria like Staph aureus from taking over, while Cutibacterium acnes helps maintain a slightly acidic environment that protects against infection. That we know already- here is a look at some new research in this fascinating space;
Should your skincare contain pro and prebiotics?
More and more we experts are understanding that a healthy skin barrier depends not just on lipids and proteins, but also on the skin microbiome, the community of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that live on our skin. A new 2025 review in Annals of Dermatology highlights how a healthy microbiome helps us protect against bad bacteria, fight inflammation, and maintain moisture by promoting ceramide and antibacterial peptide production.
With age, pollution, UV exposure from the sun, and harsh skincare products, this delicate microbial balance can be disrupted. The result is “dysbiosis,” driving chronic low-grade inflammation with loss of collagen and elasticity.
Hence the interest in microbiome-supportive skincare. They’re formulations containing probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics. Can they help restore microbial balance, strengthen barrier function, and delay visible aging? While early clinical results are promising, the review stresses that more long-term studies are needed. Personalised microbiome-based skincare, tailored to your unique microbial profile may soon become part of mainstream dermatology. Maybe. But for now, stick to evidence-based actives!
How does your skin microbiome cause wrinkles?
A new review in the International Journal of Molecular Science maps the Microbiome–Aging–Wrinkles axis and argues the skin microbiome isn’t just a bystander. With age (and UV, pollution, plus stress), the skin barrier dries and thins, sebum falls, and the microbiome shifts: beneficial Cutibacterium strains decline, while Staphylococcus/Corynebacterium rise. This change in the microbial makeup of your skin fuels inflammation, switches on MMP-1/MMP-9 (the enzymes that gobble up collagen), speeding up collagen/elastin breakdown. Hello deeper wrinkles!
Your Face’s Tiny Ecosystem: How the Skin Microbiome Shapes Healthy (and Unhealthy) Skin
The microbiome of your face hosts mostly bacteria like Cutibacterium and Staphylococcus, plus yeasts such as Malassezia and even harmless mites (Demodex). Together they help keep your skin barrier strong, your pH steady, and your immune system calm. Another new review published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences confirms what we know only too well that dysbiosis can cause common skin issues to flare: eczema often comes with too much Staph aureus and fewer helpful microbes; acne links to certain bossy strains of C. acnes that love sebum and form clingy biofilms; seborrhoeic dermatitis often involves Malassezia mischief; and rosacea can feature more Demodex and a cranky immune response. Hormones (puberty, menopause), seasons, stress, the wrong skincare products, and antibiotics all nudge this ecosystem. It sure looks like having a healthy microbiome will help your skin be healthier.
What to do? Protect the barrier: gentle, pH-friendly cleansing; moisturise; daily sunscreen; avoid over-exfoliating and fragrances or other irritants. Go easy on antibiotics unless you genuinely need them. Know your triggers (UV, heat, spicy food, alcohol, stress) and manage those first. There’s growing buzz around microbiome-friendly skincare, including topical “probiotic/postbiotics” in skincare plus pre/probiotics in the diet. Early signs are promising, but they’re not magic bullets yet.
With evidence-based ingredients to help hydrate, calm and support the skin barrier. This kit includes: Finally, our Ultimate A Gold (retinal) night cream with Retinal, the most gentle and effective form of Vitamin A and PHAs to gently hydrated and exfoliate. Thoughtfully designed for calm, clear, and comfortable skin. Key Features: We've swapped Ultimate A with the new Ultimate A Gold. If you prefer Ultimate A, you can build your own kit here.
Rosacea Skincare Kit - Anti Redness
*Ultimate A Gold (Retinal) may transfer onto white or light-coloured fabrics. For best results, we recommend using darker clothing or surfaces to avoid visible marks.