For years, skincare research has focused on what the eye can see. Moisture levels, pigmentation, fine lines, sensitivity, and surface texture. Today, science is revealing that the true foundation of skin health lies in a living ecosystem that has always existed, even if we could never directly observe it. This invisible layer is the skin microbiome, a community of trillions of microorganisms that protect, repair, and support the skin’s barrier every day.
At HUL, the microbiome is a field shaped by nearly two decades of sustained research, global scientific collaborations, high-resolution informatics, and one of the world’s largest private datasets of skin microbiome samples. Across our R&D centres, including our Mumbai and Bengaluru hub, this work has created a new scientific foundation for how we understand skin and how we design products for India’s diverse climate, environment, and lifestyles. It has also deepened our understanding of how microbial ecosystems on the skin, scalp and oral surfaces influence everything from visible skin conditions to scalp health, odour generation, and overall well-being areas that anchor our Personal Care and Beauty & Wellbeing strategy.
Understanding the skin’s most intelligent defense system
The microbiome acts as the skin’s first responder. It helps maintain a slightly acidic pH, supports ceramide-rich barrier structures, limits the growth of harmful bacteria, and regulates inflammation. In India, routine exposures like the sun, pollution, humidity, and frequent cleansing can shift microbial communities within hours. When that happens, skin becomes more prone to dryness, sensitivity, acne and a weakened barrier. Understanding these dynamics is essential if products are to do more than mask symptoms; they must restore resilience.
Our scientists have also uncovered links between the microbiome and well-being, offering insight into why skin health and emotional health feel deeply connected. A pioneering study published in the British Journal of Dermatology showed that higher levels of the naturally occurring bacterium cutibacterium on the face and underarm were associated with better psychological well-being. The research provided rare evidence of the skin–brain axis, where the balance of microbes on the skin correlates with stress, mood, and self-perception. This connection extends beyond skincare, supporting our broader Beauty & Wellbeing and Personal Care belief that physical care and emotional resilience increasingly move together in the minds of consumers.
For consumers increasingly viewing beauty and wellbeing and personal care as a unified experience, this connection matters.
A research foundation that sets us apart
Across Unilever, more than 100 scientific publications and patents support our microbiome research. We maintain one of the world’s largest curated collections of microbiome data, with over 15,000 skin samples and significant analytical depth. This platform gives our scientists an advantage in identifying microbial signatures linked to hydration, ageing, sensitivity, and overall resilience.
The microbiome teams at our Mumbai & Bengaluru R&D centres have played a leading role in building this expertise. Their work ranges from advanced sequencing and informatics to the development of gentle microbiome-safe testing protocols and prebiotic technologies that strengthen beneficial microbes while limiting harmful strains. These insights have shaped innovations across brands such as Dove, Vaseline, Pond’s, Indulekha and Dermalogica. In Personal Care and Beauty & Wellbeing, this scientific foundation guides technologies that maintain microbial balance through mild surfactants, microbiome-friendly cleansing systems, targeted prebiotics and formulations that work with the body instead of overwhelming it.
From data to products: examples across Personal Care and Beauty & Wellbeing
Here are a few examples that show how microbiome insights become everyday benefits:
- Gentle, microbiome-friendly cleansing
Dove’s body washes, for instance, are developed to be pH-balanced and less perturbing to microbial communities than harsher soaps. Similarly, Pond’s Hydra Gentle Gel Face Wash cleanses without stripping, with 10 million prebiotic molecules that help maintain hydration and balance. - Scalp and anti-dandruff systems
Indulekha Svetakutaja Oil and Shampoo treats dandruff by restoring scalp microbiome and reducing itch while preserving microbial diversity for long term scalp health. - Deodorant approaches that manage odor microbiology
We create solutions that reduce odor-causing activity without broad-spectrum antimicrobials, preserving a healthy underarm ecology. - Oral care that supports gum health
Our toothpaste and oral formulations encourage beneficial bacteria and lower risk factors for gingivitis, exemplified by Zendium-style approaches that avoid harsh antimicrobial disruption. - Prebiotic and barrier-restoring moisturisers
Our innovations support ceramide production, enhance hydration channels and nourish beneficial microbes. These technologies underpin recent Pond’s developments. Pond’s Ultra-Light Biome Gel Moisturiser is fast-absorbing and reinforces the skin barrier, delivering hydration that feels light yet lasts for longer. Additionally, diagnostic and personalised care tools such as the Pond’s Microbiome Analyzer help consumers to experience the real product benefit.
India’s skin landscape and why microbiome science matters here
Research shows that routine cleansing, sun exposure, and environmental pollutants can shift the microbial composition within hours, which makes microbiome resilience an essential part of maintaining healthy skin in daily life.
A resilient microbiome performs several core functions:
- It reduces trans-epidermal water loss by supporting ceramide-rich barrier structures.
- It prevents harmful bacteria from flourishing.
- It maintains a slightly acidic pH, which protects against irritation.
- It influences skin’s texture, clarity, and luminosity by regulating inflammation and moisture flow.
The future shaped by microbiome intelligence
Microbiome science is widening the horizon of personal care and beauty & wellbeing. Looking forward, our ambition is to move from treating symptoms to nurturing ecosystems that keep people healthier and more confident every day.
Microbiome science is not a trend. It is biology. For us, it is the foundation on which our Personal Care and Beauty & Wellbeing portfolio will be built.