Interview with expert Joanna Caron

Biotherm thermal plankton comes from the Pyrenees. Are there similar microorganisms in other thermal waters? If not, then why, if so, what is the reason for its uniqueness?

Any natural water – sea or fresh – can be a habitat for various microorganisms. Life Plankton was discovered in the thermal springs of the French Pyrenees, which since ancient times were famous for their beneficial effects on the skin, and was soon recognized as an uncultivated microorganism – it turned out to be very fragile and showed extremely slow growth rates. Indeed, for reproduction, the microorganism required special conditions (temperature, water composition, etc.), just like in the “native” thermal spring. At the same time, its beneficial effect on the skin has been studied and proven by scientists from around the world – 10 scientific publications, 6 patents.

It is well known that thermal plankton has a beneficial effect on the skin, restores it. How does this happen?

It has been proven that Life Plankton promotes the regeneration of keratinocytes, the main cells of the outer layer of the skin, helps skin cells effectively resist aggressive environmental influences and helps restore the protective barrier.

This microorganism is known to contain 35 nutrients similar to those found in the skin. How is this possible, because it’s one cell? What is the mechanism of interaction of each of the 35 nutrients with the skin?

If thermal plankton is a microorganism, can it be considered a skin probiotic? What is the peculiarity of the effect on the skin of such ingredients?

Indeed, thermal plankton is a probiotic fraction. The term “probiotic” itself comes from the Greek prefix “pro”, which means “preceding”, and the Greek word “biotic” – “living”, “life”. Probiotics are live microorganisms, bacteria known to have beneficial properties for human health. If we talk about skin care, they are able to interact with skin cells and stimulate various processes, protect and restore balance, strengthen the skin’s protective barrier. They are invisible helpers and guardians of the quality of the skin and its youthful appearance.

Please tell us about the process of breeding thermal plankton. How does such a “farm” work? What is the difference between natural and Biotherm laboratory-bred thermal plankton?

The result: a streamlined production process ensures the industrial scale and stable quality of the component, while not threatening the fragile ecosystem of natural thermal plankton. We get a 100% natural component, 100% renewable, 100% biodegradable. And “enhancement of properties” means that as a result, it was possible to achieve a concentration of plankton 400 times greater than in the natural environment, it reproduces much faster – in 000-6 hours, and not 9-6 months, as in nature. Therefore, we can say that the concentration of thermal plankton in a jar of cream is the same as in a pool with thermal water.

Can thermal plankton be considered an organic clean and environmentally friendly product?

Yes. Life Plankton is a natural ingredient, a sustainable product. Our eco-friendly factory was built in 1994. It has been using renewable energy since 2010 and green gas since 2018. Waste water is 100% treated and reused, and energy is produced from solid waste. Energy consumption has been reduced by 10% over the past 35 years, with a constant increase in production. The organization meets the highest standards: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 50001 and OHSAS 18001. The production process uses Cosmos-certified plant materials (non-GMO) and 100% biodegradable.

Biotherm can be called an expert in the field of marine biology and water biology in general. Is it possible to designate a fundamental difference between marine microorganisms and microalgae used in cosmetics and thermal plankton?

The World Ocean is like another planet on Earth, it has been very little explored to date. And how studied are the fresh waters of the planet? After all, thermal springs belong to them, and each one is special. What can you tell us about promising research and scientists’ hopes?

Since 2017, Bioterm has been working together with the Tara Ocean Foundation, a non-profit organization that collaborates with scientific institutions in studying the impact of climate change on the ocean. Tara owns the legendary 36-meter extreme schooner, which is used as a platform for scientific research. 13 expeditions have already taken place, and Bioterm supports this work today. In 2019, Tara completed the Microplastics mission – samples were taken and the waters of 9 major European rivers were examined in order to study the degree of plastic pollution in fresh water and predict the harmful impact on ocean biodiversity. Details are on the Tara website.

Cosmetics with thermal plankton

Revitalizing face elixir Life Plankton Elixir, Biotherm

The Elixir is the first step in your daily moisturizing routine and can be used in place of or along with your serum. The main active ingredient is a unique thermal Life Plankton in high concentration.

Smoothing cream-gel for the skin around the eyes Life Plankton Eye, Biotherm

A high concentration of thermal plankton provides intensive restoration of the skin around the eyes, it is smoothed, tightened, puffiness under the eyes and “bruises” are reduced.

Intensively transforming night face cream Blue Therapy Amber Algae Revitalize, Biotherm

In the night cream, thermal plankton is supplemented with amber algae extract and hyaluronic acid for anti-aging care. A consumer test showed that 85% of women after 8 weeks of using the cream confirmed that the skin became smooth, 78% of women called the effect “transformation”.

Aqua Pure face concentrate, moisturizing and cleansing, Biotherm

The product is intended for the care of young and oily skin, the concentrate is applied before the main care, after cleansing. Thermal Plankton is paired with Salicylic Acid for a thorough cleansing and Glycerin for softening and hydrating the skin.