Microbiome profiling tech spells personalised skin care promise08-Oct-2019 at 13:56By Kacey CullineyThe patent-pending technology runs DNA, extracted from a skin swab, through a sequencing program and determines a full microbiome profile or ‘map’ of microorganisms present on the skin in seven hours using bioinformatics. Each profile can then be correlated into skin type, such as oily, dry, sensitive or ageing – adding to Givaudan’s proprietary database of more than 2,000 human microbiomes from diverse skin types.Microbiota ‘major indicator’ of real skin conditionCatherine Zanchetta, next generation sequencing senior specialist at Givaudan Active Beauty, said i-MAPS presented significant opportunity for cosmetic brands to develop highly-personalised skin care products.“Some skin types have a specific microbiota signature – dry or sensitive skin, for example – and we believe that the microbiota is a major indicator of the real shape of the skin. While some skin parameters like hydration, elasticity and redness can change in a few hours, the microbiome can be stable for months,” Zanchetta told CosmeticsDesign-Europe.