London-based skin expert Jasmina Vico was called in to treat the Barbies—including America Ferrera, Hari Nef and Margot Robbie—to customized skin and wellness therapies like lasers, pressure point massage, lymphatic drainage, and LED therapy.
Vico also placed them on her “gut x skin protocol,” which meant taking probiotics and going on a fermented food diet, heavy on the kimchi, sauerkraut, and kefir.
More and more people are becoming aware of the gut-skin axis and how our skin is directly affected by our diet and lifestyle.
We asked NYC-based nutritionist Jennifer Maeng, MS, RD, CDN, CNSC, Registered Dietitian, Author, and Founder of Chelsea Nutrition to learn more about the Barbie kimchi approach to skincare.
Reflect Beauty: Can you tell us about the gut-skin axis? What is it and how much can we affect or improve our skin by what we eat?
Jennifer Maeng: The “gut-skin axis” is a term used to describe the connection and communication between the gut (digestive system) and the skin. It’s based on the understanding that there is a complex interaction between these two systems, where changes in the gut can influence the health and appearance of the skin, and vice versa.
This concept is supported by various scientific studies that have explored the relationship between gut health, the microbiome (the community of microorganisms living in the gut), and skin conditions. It’s believed that imbalances in the gut microbiome can lead to inflammation and systemic effects that might manifest in the form of skin issues, such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, and even premature aging.
Conversely, skin conditions can also impact the gut. For example, chronic skin inflammation could contribute to changes in the gut microbiota composition.The gut-skin axis is an emerging area of research, and while there’s still much to learn about the specifics of this connection, it highlights the importance of maintaining a healthy gut through a balanced diet, proper hydration, and other factors to potentially promote better skin health.