After almost a decade in the beauty industry, Rachel Behm saw fads come and go. One thing she noticed is that our skin has a natural ability to optimize its own health – rooted in our gut and skin microbiome. She created Layers to honor the interconnectedness of our body’s systems and how they work together to reveal skin’s natural glow. Read on more to find out more about her story:
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and why you started Layers?
I was inspired to take the leap of faith into the startup world after I caught the entrepreneurship bug when running the beauty incubator at Johnson & Johnson. The ability to move quickly, and work with partners you love to bring an idea to market is extremely challenging, but equally rewarding. After working in skincare for the majority of my career, I have great respect for the science that goes into efficacious products. But I also know that beauty should be indulgent, enjoyable, and feel special. The idea for Layers came to be when I learned of the human microbiome project, and the profound connection between gut health and skin health. The Human Microbiome project was conducted over 10 years and studied the interactions between humans and their microbiomes to health-related outcomes. Ranging from obesity to mental health to skin health. It produced 4 terabytes of data that is available to the public to continue to advance this field (much like the human genome project did almost 2 decades ago). 50% of the cells in and on your body are bacteria…and this project taught us a lot more about their importance in human health. I wanted to create a brand that delivers visible skin results beyond what users thought possible, or what they’re used before. And do it in a holistic way that is rooted in the latest, forward-thinking science, while also feeling indulgent and special to use. From idea to in-market, I launched Layers; a probiotic skincare line based on microbiome science. Layers honors the interconnectedness of your body’s systems to boost skin’s natural health. We match potent probiotic supplements with science-based topical formulas, nurturing the microbiome and delivering clinically-proven glowing results, without dullness nor irritation. We want customers to radiate strength, vitality, and confidence from within.
Can you tell us a bit more about your products?
- Layers is a probiotic skincare line based on microbiome science. We combine supplements + topicals that work together to deliver hydrated, glowing skin.
- We are launching with 4 products: a probiotic + ceramide supplement, a skin renewing serum, an immunity moisturizer, and a balancing milky cleanser:
- Probiotic Serum ($89): renews skin +244% vs placebo for softer, smoother, more radiant skin, without the irritation and disruption to the microbiome that can happen with other efficacious ingredients.
- Daily Glow Probiotic Supplements ($49): Potent, dual-sided supplements with 5-strain probiotic blend + ceramide extract. These are a GAME CHANGER. They produce visible results at 15 days with enhanced results at 30 and 60 days: Increased hydration and elasticity for skin that snaps back, reduced roughness and dullness for a brightened glow, minimized fine lines and wrinkles for a smoother appearance
- On a personal note: when I started using the prototype early in the development process, I for the first time didn’t have pillow lines on my face when I woke up. And when I ran out…the lines came back! So, you can imagine, I’ve been fully stocked every sense. I can’t wait for people to see what these do for their skin from the inside out.
- Immunity Moisturizer ($49) is such an indulgent user experience, and it does what it says; it bolsters skin immunity so you can better retain hydration in the skin, even while dealing with internal and environmental stressors.
- Balancing Milky Cleanser ($29) is so important to this lineup. Cleansers aren’t known as the part of a skin routine that will give you the most profound results, BUT, not using the right cleanser can do way more damage than good. And this cleanser has the amazing ability to eliminate harmful bacteria while preserving the good. So, your skin will feel more hydrated and smoother than you’re used to with a cleanser. And the usage experience is pretty dreamy.
Can you tell us a bit more about microbiome skincare and why more and more people need to start using it?
- The microbiome plays a large part in our overall skin health and appearance. It’s like an invisible army on top of our skin and in our gut. Creating the right environment for the microbiome to be diverse and balanced, while also protecting it, leads to improved skin resilience from all stressors thrown at it, from aging to weather.
- For decades, skincare products have ignored this integral layer to your skin’s health and appearance. Many products have even caused damage to your skin’s microbiome by using overpowering preservatives, antibacterial ingredients, and harsh exfoliants.
- LAYERS believes in, and advocates for, a microbiome-based approach to a healthy appearance of the skin. Our clean, scientifically proven formulas will help your microbiome flourish, both inside and out, so these amazing bacteria will work harder than ever before, giving you clear, hydrated, and glowing skin.
What does it mean to be #beautyboss?
- To me, being a #beautyboss is a commitment:
- I will deliver products that do what they say they will do
- I will go beyond product efficacy to create a self-care experience for that brings joy to users
- I will support other women through mentorship, fellowship, sponsorship, and advocacy.
- I will support our environment by continually striving to reduce our environmental impact.
- I will create a more inclusive world by hiring and retaining diverse talent, representation in advertising, and product testing across the spectrum of skin colors.
- I will take full accountability for my mistakes and share in my successes
Micorbiome Skincare is a huge trend in the industry. Don’t forget to check out Rachel’s brand here: https://mylayers.com/
