Why Your Skin Is Out of Balance (And How to Fix It)

If your skin’s been unpredictable lately dry one day, oily the next, suddenly breaking out, or constantly red, the root cause might be deeper than your products. It might be your microbiome.

What is the skin microbiome?

Your skin microbiome is a delicate ecosystem of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms that live on your skin’s surface. And while that might sound a little gross, it’s actually essential to healthy skin. A thriving microbiome protects against pathogens, calms inflammation, maintains hydration, and keeps your skin barrier intact.

How does it get thrown off?

Modern skincare routines often sabotage this balance. Harsh cleansers, over-exfoliation, stripping alcohols, and even some preservatives can disrupt the microbiome. And it’s not just products — pollution, stress, diet, and even over-sanitizing your hands and face (hello, pandemic era habits) can throw things out of whack.

The result? A damaged barrier that can lead to:

Increased breakouts
Redness and sensitivity
Dry patches
Dull, uneven texture
Slower healing

How do I know if my microbiome is out of balance?

While there’s no over-the-counter test for this yet, your skin will often give you signs:

You’re suddenly reacting to products you’ve always used
Your skin feels tight after cleansing
You’re experiencing more breakouts, even with a good routine
You have a cycle of flare-up → calm → flare-up again

How to restore your skin’s natural balance

At Alivia Joyce, we believe balanced skin is beautiful skin — and that starts with supporting your microbiome, not fighting it. Here’s how:

Simplify your routine.
- Cut down to gentle, essential steps: cleanse, treat, hydrate, protect.
Choose microbiome-friendly products.
- Look for non-stripping formulas, pH-balanced ingredients, and nourishing actives.
Avoid common microbiome disruptors.
- Harsh sulfates, alcohols, synthetic fragrance, and frequent exfoliation can all destabilize your skin’s ecosystem.
Hydrate and protect your barrier.
- Ingredients like peptides, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid help reinforce your skin’s defenses.

Why Alivia Joyce?

Our formulas are designed to work with your skin — not against it. That means:

No fillers
No trendy gimmicks
Just clean, clinically backed ingredients that support your skin’s natural function

Each product is:

pH-balanced
Microbiome-friendly
Fragrance-free (or naturally derived)
Formulated by our founder’s father — a cosmetic chemist with decades of experience

Final Take Away

Your skin isn’t broken. It’s just out of balance. And with the right care, you can restore it.

Ready to get back to balance? Explore the Alivia Joyce 3 step routine.