A fermented pollen-based composition is provided which is made by treating pollen grains with one or more natural potassium sources selected from coconut water, coconut milk, raw honey, or honeydew honey, to naturally stimulate germination of the pollen, then incubating the germinated pollen, optionally with one or more additional components selected from beeswax, oils, enzyme-containing components derived from fruit, and probiotic components, wherein the resulting composition comprises a plurality of bioactive components selected from low molecular weight peptides, fatty acids, esterified flavonoids, dicaffeoyl quinic acid isomers and dicaffeoyl tartaric acid ester or ether compounds. Topical skin compositions including the fermented pollen-based composition as an active ingredient are also provided.
