I've struggled with skin that's reactive and prone to breakouts for years. When I was a teenager, I tried everything from tretinoin to Accutane to clear it up with no luck. Little did I know that using harsh creams and pills was actually making things worse. Now, my skin barrier isn't in the best shape because of everything I put it through. (I'll be writing my skin an apology letter for years to come.) Although it can be challenging to find a solution that works for your specific skin type, I recently discovered something I know will be a hit.
Lately, the conversation around acne has shifted in a big way. Experts stress the importance of maintaining a healthy skin barrier and microbiome—your skin's unique ecosystem of bacteria. I've given probiotic acne-fighting serums a chance in the past but always found that they caused a lot of purging and didn't ultimately solve the issue in the long run. That was until I tried SIV's Biome Balancing Serum ($74). As the name would suggest, this spore-based probiotic formula works a little differently. The TL;DR is that it adapts to your skin's unique biology, calming redness, reducing acne and sensitivity, and even helping with skin conditions like rosacea.
I'd heard so many good things about it from an array of aestheticians I follow on Instagram, so I figured it would be worth trying. If you're like me and have struggled to find a solution that works well for your sensitive skin, you're going to want to keep reading. I'm sharing more about SIV's revolutionary formula below and my experience trying it out.
The Science Behind SIV
The brand explains a little more about how this serum works on its website. To give you the CliffsNotes version, your skin contains a wide variety of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes that control how your skin functions and looks. Your environment can play a huge role in determining which microbes live where on your skin, and a balance must be maintained for it to be healthy. SIV is the first to produce a topical product using bacillus spores (a type of probiotic) that adapt to your skin's specific needs, creating homeostasis without drying it out or using other harsh ingredients.
By promoting a harmonious skin environment, it can improve tone and texture within the skin in addition to healing acne lesions. It also enhances your skin's natural radiance and strengthens its defenses against environmental stressors and aging.
My Experience Using SIV
SIV immediately appealed to me as someone who has used plenty of harsh creams and drying acne solutions. After using tretinoin for so many years and damaging my barrier, I realized that it probably damaged my microbiome too. I decided to give this a go because my aesthetician Varuni Palacios suggested it. I was skeptical at first because, like I mentioned, I'd tried probiotic serums before in the past and didn't have much luck. Some probiotic serums also don't play nicely with other ingredients, which made it challenging to incorporate one into my routine. That's not the case with SIV. SIV's serum is designed to fit perfectly into your routine—other ingredients won't decrease the effectiveness of the bacillus spores.
The above photo is what my skin looked like before starting SIV. I was initially worried about purging, but I didn't experience anything nearly as bad as I did when I first tried a probiotic serum. The only purging I experienced was old texture coming to the surface. My skin is super sensitive and reacts when old texture starts to resurface, but SIV has really mitigated that in a big way. My skin hasn't been nearly as red or inflamed as it used to get when I was purging, which is already a huge plus for me. I'm also thankful it's smoothing out all the old texture that has been hard to get rid of.
The above photo is what my skin looks like now. There are definitely a few bumps popping up here and there, but like I said, I'm not even bothered because that means it's working. It's only been two weeks, and old, stubborn congestion and texture bumps are starting to go away at a faster rate. I've also noticed a big difference in my skin's overall radiance. It seems to have a healthy glow, reacts less frequently, and was protected on a recent trip to the jungle. Any time I used to travel, I would break out immediately after getting off the plane, and my skin did none of that this time around.
As far as acne goes, I haven't had any new pimples pop up—just old texture resurfacing that I'm more than happy to kiss goodbye. That and redness are my main skin concerns. Even if my skin does get red or irritated briefly after cleansing, I put on the SIV serum, and it immediately calms down. I'm also aware that microbiome-balancing serums take time. While this has helped a lot in the past two weeks, my skin's still not fully where I want it to be, and that's just going to take some time and patience. It's just something to note if you're also considering it. Everyone's healing time will be different based on your own unique biology.
My barrier also wasn't in great shape before using this, and my skin would get really dehydrated easily. No matter how much moisturizer I slathered on, I would feel dehydrated again a few hours later. Since using SIV, I've noticed that my skin hasn't even been slightly dehydrated, and that feels like a small miracle after having dealt with that for so long.
In terms of application, you start by vigorously shaking the bottle before applying it to activate the formula. You only need three or so drops to cover your entire face and neck. The dropper is a little hard to get used to—I dispensed too much the first time around, but as long as you use a light touch, you'll be good to go. This is designed to be used once a day. I like to use it in the morning as a bit of a protection mechanism for my skin.
Price-wise, this serum is $74, which isn't exactly cheap, but the technology is so revolutionary. It's worth every penny to someone like me who has dealt with skin imbalances for so long. I can't wait to see what the long-term results are like since I've had such a positive experience after just a few weeks. Even if you don't deal with acne, the SIV Biome Balancing Serum is still a great staple to add to your routine to combat premature skin aging, redness, and environmental stress.
More Products I'm Using With SIV
My skin can definitely be reactive, especially when using cleansers and exfoliants, so I have to be super careful. The SIV serum has helped that immensely in the short amount of time I've used it, but this gentle cream cleanser from Pai is another incredible option that I reach for when my skin is feeling extra sensitive. It never irritates my skin because it contains no detergents and leaves it feeling so soft and hydrated.
This buttery (yet light) moisturizer is so soothing on sensitive, redness-prone skin. It calms irritation so quickly and contains protective antioxidants and omega fatty acids that keep skin hydrated for longer periods of time.
I'm fully obsessed with Pai's rose hip oil. I noticed my skin was immediately brighter, smoother, and more hydrated after using it twice. It's so great for hyperpigmentation, and since it's a single-ingredient oil, my reactive, acne-prone skin can tolerate it.
These exfoliating pads really pack a punch without being overly harsh. I can get away with using these three to four times a week. They're so good at smoothing out texture and congestion with a hefty dose of glycolic acid. They're a great alternative if you are sensitive to higher doses of traditional acne fighters like salicylic acid.
On days when I want deeper exfoliation, I whip out Peach & Lily's Super Reboot. It's honestly one of the best resurfacing masks I've used. It perfectly balances powerful exfoliation with gentle, soothing ingredients that keep redness and irritation at bay.
I know not everyone who's acne prone can use moisturizers with oils in them. If you fall into this camp and struggle to find an oil-free option that's hydrating enough, try Matter of Fact's Minimalist Moisturizer. It's a game changer in terms of its ability to calm redness and irritation while still being oil-free, immensely firming, and hydrating on the skin. It's a huge favorite of mine, and I use it on days when my skin is struggling and needs something super minimal.
My eye area can get a little dry, and when I need something extra, I reach for this super-hydrating formula from Shani Darden. It also helps with under-eye bags immensely.
LED light therapy helps maximize every single product you're using in your rotation. Since models like this one from Therabody help smooth, brighten, and tighten the face with consistent use, it's the ultimate cherry on top of any skincare regimen.
This serum from Delavie Sciences features a unique ingredient called Bacillus Lysate which has been clinically shown to help curb practically every visible sign of dull, lackluster skin. Bye, fine lines, dark spots, and dullness! It also works wonders on stubborn residual pigmentation and scarring from acne.
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