The process of adding microorganisms to a product to create a more potent, enriched ingredient of supercharged vitamins and anti-oxidants with probiotic properties. This makes it more bio-compatible allowing beneficial actives to absorb at a deeper level.

Biotics are the new frontier in skin and hair care. Produced during fermentation they contain metabolic by-products from probiotics, creating a stable, viable ingredient with superior hydrating and anti-inflammatory effects that help speed up skin-barrier repair.

Where good bacteria are overrun by trouble-making bacteria resulting in a reduction in microbial diversity. This imbalanced microbiota is unable to protect from pathogenic organisms, which can trigger inflammation and other adverse immune responses.

What does it mean to be ‘Microbiome-Friendly’?

Products that can be applied harmoniously to your horses' skin that do not disrupt the natural balance of the skin-biome.

Found in the horses’ gut, nasal passage, lungs and skin. A microbiome is a community of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses) that live cohesively together. Diversity is key - essentially, the more strains of bacteria the healthier your horse is.

The terms microbiome and microbiota are often interchanged – however microbiota refers specifically to the origin site, e.g. gut microbiota will alter from the microbiome located on/in skin microbiota or nasal passage microbiota.

The upper layer of the epidermis called the stratum corneum, is the body’s first line of defence. It protects from infectious agents, chemicals, systemic toxicity and allergens. Internally, the skin-barrier maintains homeostasis, preventing enhanced loss of water from your horses’ body.

Your horses’ largest organ, the skin is colonized by beneficial microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses) similar to those located in their gut. Referred to as skin-biome, their role is protecting your horse from invading pathogens and educating the immune system among other vital jobs including wound-healing.

These molecular compounds are a primary ingredient in cleaning and conditioning products. There are three types of surfactants used in hair and skin-care. They vary considerably in price, ecology and sensitivity. Pure Steed uses a bio-surfactant in our ‘microbiome-friendly’ products.