Bacillus/Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract Ferment Filtrate: What Is It, Cosmetic Uses, Benefits & Side Effects

Curious about this ingredient? In this article we're explaining exactly what it is and why it's used within cosmetic formulations.
Updated on: June 23, 2025
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We verify all information on this page using publicly available nomenclature standards from The Personal Care Products Council (PCPC), the European Commission's CosIng database and documentation provided directly by ingredient manufacturers. Our analysis is based on technical data from these sources to ensure accuracy and reliability.

What Is Bacillus/Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract Ferment Filtrate?

Bacillus/Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract Ferment Filtrate is a skin care ingredient created by fermenting lotus leaf extract with a friendly soil bacterium called Bacillus. Lotus leaves are known for their natural polyphenols and flavonoids, plant compounds valued for keeping the leaf fresh even in stagnant ponds. When the leaves are soaked and fermented, the process breaks these compounds into smaller, more skin-ready molecules and adds new peptides and enzymes produced by the Bacillus. The finished filtrate is a clear liquid that blends easily into water-based formulas.

Fermentation techniques like this took off in Korean beauty labs in the early 2000s as a way to boost the potency of traditional plant extracts while cutting down on harsh preservatives. Because the process also creates mild natural acids, the filtrate helps keep formulas stable without heavy synthetic additives.

You are most likely to spot Bacillus/Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract Ferment Filtrate in lightweight serums, soothing gels, sheet masks, hydrating toners, anti-aging creams and blemish control lotions where brands want a gentle source of protection and freshness.

Bacillus/Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract Ferment Filtrate’s Cosmetic Benefits/Uses

This ferment filtrate works on two key fronts that make it popular in modern skin care.

  • Antimicrobial: The mix of natural acids and peptides from fermentation helps curb the growth of unwanted surface bacteria, which can support clearer looking skin and allow formulas to rely on fewer added preservatives.
  • Antioxidant: The lotus-derived polyphenols and newly created enzymes help neutralize free radicals from UV rays and pollution, which can reduce the look of dullness and early signs of aging while keeping the product itself fresh longer.

Who Can Use Bacillus/Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract Ferment Filtrate

This ferment filtrate suits most skin types, including oily, dry, combination and sensitive, because it is lightweight and free of heavy oils or fragrance. Those with very compromised or highly reactive skin should still proceed cautiously since any new bioactive extract could add an extra variable.

The ingredient is produced from plant material and bacteria that are not derived from animals, making it appropriate for vegan and vegetarian lifestyles. Be sure the finished product also carries a vegan claim, as other formula components may differ.

No specific warnings exist for pregnant or breastfeeding women when the ingredient is used topically at typical cosmetic levels. That said this is not medical advice and anyone who is expecting or nursing should run any skincare product past a qualified physician just to be safe.

Bacillus/Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract Ferment Filtrate does not increase the skin’s sensitivity to sunlight, so there is no added need for sun precautions beyond the usual recommendation to apply broad-spectrum sunscreen daily.

Potential Side Effects/Adverse Reactions

Responses to topical Bacillus/Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract Ferment Filtrate can vary from person to person. The following list covers potential but uncommon reactions. When the ingredient is properly formulated most users will not notice any of these issues.

  • Mild redness or warmth at the application site
  • Transient stinging or tingling, especially on freshly exfoliated skin
  • Itchiness that resolves after product removal
  • Localized rash or hives in individuals allergic to lotus or ferment-derived peptides
  • Dry patches if layered with multiple exfoliating products

If any discomfort or abnormal skin change occurs, discontinue use and consult a healthcare professional or dermatologist for guidance.

Comedogenic Rating

Rating: 0 / 5

Bacillus/Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract Ferment Filtrate is a water-based ingredient with virtually no oils, waxes or heavy emollients that could block pores. Its molecules are mostly small peptides, amino acids and polyphenols that rinse away cleanly and absorb quickly, leaving no residue that can trap dead skin cells or sebum. Because of this light profile it is considered non-comedogenic.

Suitable for acne-prone or breakout-prone skin.

The only caveat is that the finished formula matters; if the filtrate is blended into a thick, occlusive cream the overall product could still clog pores even though the ferment itself does not.

Summary

Bacillus/Nelumbo Nucifera Leaf Extract Ferment Filtrate delivers two core perks: it shields the skin and the formula with antioxidant compounds from lotus leaves and it helps keep surface bacteria in check thanks to naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides and mild organic acids produced during fermentation. The fermentation step breaks down large plant molecules into skin-friendly fragments, boosting absorption and potency.

Once a niche K-beauty extra, the ingredient is gaining steady popularity in global serums, toners and sheet masks as brands search for gentle, multitasking actives that align with clean beauty trends.

Topically it is regarded as low risk with few reported irritations or allergies. Still, skin can be unpredictable so do a quick patch test when trying any new product that features this ferment to confirm personal compatibility.

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