Intelligence · Ingredients

The ingredient narratives reshaping clean beauty.

Soybean Ferment Extract

aka glycine soja ferment filtrate · fermented soybean extract · natto extract · glycine max ferment

A fermented soybean derivative used in K-beauty essence reformulations. Fermentation transforms soybean isoflavones to more bioavailable aglycone forms (daidzein, genistein) and produces postbiotic metabolites.

Benefits
  • Fermentation-enhanced bioavailability of isoflavone aglycones
  • Postbiotic metabolites for microbiome modulation
  • Enhanced skin conditioning vs. non-fermented soy
  • Vitamin K2 (menaquinone) in natto-type ferments
  • Anti-inflammatory and brightening activity
Example uses
  • K-beauty essence reformulations
  • Brightening serums
  • Microbiome-supportive skincare
  • Fermented botanical layers
  • Anti-ageing essence formulas
Formulation notes

Aqueous filtrate; fermentation process determines the isoflavone aglycone ratio. pH 4–6.

Watchouts

Aglycone bioavailability improvement via fermentation is well-established for oral consumption; topical penetration enhancement is less characterised. Active compound profile without standardisation is difficult to compare across products.

Clean beauty perception

Accepted in clean beauty and K-beauty. Fermentation amplifies the Korean beauty heritage narrative and aligns with contemporary microbiome skincare trends.