In today's hyper-clean, anti-germ world, we have been raised to believe that all germs and bacteria are bad for us, while this is not actually the case. Yes, some germs and bacteria are harmful, but a much larger percentage is useful to us. And unfortunately, conventional cleaning practices have stripped the skin of its microbiome.  My guest for today's episode is Jasmina Aganovic, the President of Mother Dirt (a line of biome-friendly personal care products focused on restoring and maintaining the balance of the skin biome).   The technology is based off research from AOBiome Therapeutics, a biotech company focused on transforming human health through products that restore Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacteria (AOB), which current hygiene practices have stripped from the modern microbiome. Jasmina is a cosmetics and consumer goods entrepreneur who received her degree in chemical and biological engineering from MIT. Her career path combined her technical background with roles at consumer brands like LVMH, Fresh, and Living Proof. In this episode, we delve into the skin's microbiome and try to recalibrate our perception of what it means to be clean.  Have you introduced biome-friendly steps into your daily skincare regimen? Tell us about it in the comments! In this episode What is the skin microbiome? What are Ammonia Oxidizing Bacteria (Peacekeeper bacteria)? What does it mean to be clean? How to have a more biome-friendly routine   Quotes “When we think about what it means to be clean, it certainly is built around this concept of not having bacteria there. And it is because we have always associated bacteria with being sick or being unhealthy.” [1:42] “Ammonia Oxidizing Bacteria is kind of a crucial lost bacteria that once used to exist on our skin to help promote balance.” [4:54] “The whole point of being clean is to be healthy. And the interesting thing is that we're now learning that bacteria are actually playing a crucial role in helping us be healthy.” [6:30]   Links Find Mother Dirt online here Follow Mother Dirt on Instagram The Beauty of Dirty Skin by Dr. Whitney Bowe The Dirt Cure by Maya Shetreat Kahn