The Story Behind Biologique Recherche
Biologique Recherche is a French beauty company that is rooted in clinical research. Biologist and physiotherapist duo Yvan and Josette Allouche founded Biologique Recherche in the late 1970s in order to formulate products for beauty professionals who were disappointed by the products available at that time. Over the years, Biologique Recherche has been able to build a substantial beauty company with professional grade formulations for the face, body, and hair. Today, Biologique Recherche products can be found in salons and spas in over 80 countries across the world. In this review, we’ll discuss the brand’s best selling products, key ingredients, Biologique Recherche reviews from real customers, and more.
What are the Best Skin Care Products of 2024?
The Top 5 Biologique Recherche Skincare Products
There’s no question that the Biologique Recherche P50 Lotion is the brand’s best selling product. This facial lotion that was formulated over four decades ago has recently amassed a cult-following of beauty editors, influencers, celebrities, and industry experts. What’s so special about this lotion? We’ll give you the details on Biologique Recherche P50 Lotion and a few more of the brand’s most popular products below.
ALTERNATIVES: Carrot & Stick The Moisturizer. It’s overflowing with potent plant proteins, vitamins, peptides and amino-collagen.
P50 Lotion
The infamous P50 Lotion has changed quite a bit since it was first formulated in 1970. The original formula contained a controversial ingredient called phenol, which we’ll discuss in more detail in the next section. Today, there are several different formulations of the Biologique Recherche P50 Lotion, including P50W, for sensitive skin, P50V, which is ideal for skin in need of plumping and toning; and P50PIGM 400, which is mean to help with brightening and hyperpigmentation. In fact, you can still buy the original formula with phenol, which is called Biologique Recherche P50 1970.
Alternatives: Carrot & Stick The Repair Serum. It contains 7 plant-based peptides to help promote smoother looking skin.
Creme Contour Des Yeux VIP O2
This Biologique Recherche eye cream is an oxygenating and moisturizing formula that combines fatty acids with the Specific Biologique Recherche Oxygenating Complex to help reduce wrinkles and increase brightness.
ALTERNATIVES: If you are concerned about aging around the eyes , one product we recommend is Carrot & Stick The Eye Cream.
Masque VIP O2
This Biologique Recherche mask is an oxygenating and moisturizing “antipollution” treatment that is said to restore radiance to dull, tired, and/or stressed skin. This product features the Specific Biologique Recherche Oxygenating Complex in order to stimulate epidermal regeneration. This mask is ideal to soothe sunburn and can be left in the refrigerator prior to use and applied in a thick layer to soothe and calm the skin.
Lait VIP O2
Biologique Recherche Lait VIP O2 is an “antipollution” cleansing milk that is said to eliminate impurities, calm the epidermis, and brighten the complexion. It is recommended for those exposed to harsh, dry climates, pollution, or for frequent travelers, as well as for anyone dealing with stressed, devitalized skin.
Creme Dermopurifiante
Biologique Recherche Creme Dermopurifiante is a facial cream that is said to protect the epidermis against external aggressions. It is recommended for imbalanced and/or reactive skin, and is also said to be an effective treatment for seborrheic skin without drying out the epidermis.
What Are The Key Biologique Recherche Skincare Ingredients?
One of the key Biologique Recherche skincare ingredients that we want to discuss is phenol. As we mentioned earlier, phenol is a pretty controversial skincare ingredients, so let’s get into why this ingredient is controversial and whether or not you should use it on your skin.
First, we’ll start with some science. Phenol, also known as phenolic acid, is a mildly acidic compound that exists as a volatile white crystalline solid. According to Chemistry World, it is one of the simplest aromatic compounds – a benzene ring with a single hydrogen replaced by a hydroxyl group. Phenol was first extracted from coal tar, but today it is produced from petroleum-derived feedstocks and is mostly used to synthesize plastics, epoxies, nylon, detergents, herbicides, and pharmaceutical drugs. Due to all of these uses, you may be wondering: why is phenol in Biologique Recherche P50 Lotion?
Phenol is used in Biologique Recherche P50 Lotion and other skincare applications because of its antiseptic and exfoliating properties. Therefore, phenol helps to remove layers of dead skin cells in order to reveal healthier, younger skin beneath. It is also ideal for treating and preventing acne due to its antiseptic properties.
The problem with phenol is that it has several associated health risks. For example, according to the European Chemicals Agency, phenol is toxic if swallowed or inhaled, is suspected of causing genetic defects, may cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure, is toxic in contact with skin, and causes severe skin burns and eye damage. For these reasons, both the European Union and Canada do not allow phenol to be used in cosmetics.
Other key ingredients that you’ll find in Biologique Recherche skincare products include marine hydrolyzed collagen and elastin. In order to make hydrolyzed collagen and elastin, the proteins are broken down into smaller chains of amino acids called peptides. It is theorized that topical application of these precursors may increase collagen and elastin production (if the peptides make their way down into the dermis). However, this theory has not been proven. Collagen helps to keep the skin strong and firm, while elastin is responsible for skin elasticity. Therefore, applying products with hydrolyzed collagen and elastin may help to reduce signs of aging.
The final key ingredient we’d like to discuss is niacinamide, which you can find in the Biologique Recherche P50 Lotion 1970 and the Masque VIP O2. Niacinamide is the amide form of vitamin B3 (niacin) that provides many benefits to the skin. For instance, niacinamide is well known as a potent antioxidant. Antioxidants help the skin combat free radicals, the unstable molecules that contribute to the formation of premature wrinkles and fine lines on the skin. Further, The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology states that niacinamide can repair the skin barrier and improve skin moisture, as well as reduce inflammation, blotchiness, hyperpigmentation, acne, and wrinkling.
Where is Biologique Recherche sold?
Biologique Recherche skincare products are not sold on the brand’s website. Rather, they have a store locator on their website so you can find an esthetician that sells their products near you. However, you can purchase Biologique Recherche skincare products online on ShopRescueSpa.com.
What is The Biologique Recherche Return Policy?
Since Biologique Recherche does not sell their products online, you will have to contact the retailer from which you purchased your products in order to find out their return policy.
Is Biologique Recherche Cruelty Free?
Biologique Recherche is against animal testing in all its forms. All of the brand’s formulations, ingredients, and products are cruelty free.
Biologique Recherche Reviews
The brand does not display reviews for their products on their website, which is why we had to turn to ShopRescueSpa.com for Biologique Recherche reviews. Overall, the reviews are very positive, and the product with the most reviews and the best rating is, of course, Biologique Recherche P50 Lotion 1970. After more than 2,000 customer reviews, the P50 Lotion 1970 has received an average of 4.9 out of 5 stars. There are many raving reviews from customers who call this product the “holy grail” and others who mention they saw noticeable results pretty quickly.
For example, one very positive P50 Lotion 1970 review says, “Within the first week of using this toner, my skin started to transform. My skin tone looks so much more even, my pores are smaller and my texture is gone. I am on my third bottle. The smell used to bother me but after seeing how well it works, I just associate the smell with powerful results and it’s fine.”
There aren’t many negative reviews for the P50 Lotion, but those that we did find were mostly from customers who experienced breakouts after using this product. In many cases, this is because the skin is purging after starting the new product because of debris in the epidermis. But there are also a few negative reviews from customers who didn’t get the results they were hoping for with P50 Lotion 1970. For example, one review says, “Okay, but not great. I’ve been using the P50 1970 original for almost two months and have yet to see any real improvement in my congested skin. I was given recommendations for other products to use, but as they are pricey and there is no return policy, I’m very hesitant to purchase them. I’m not sure I will continue using this product.”
What Are Some Alternatives to Biologique Recherche?
If you’re looking for skincare products to address the signs of aging, we recommend Carrot & Stick. Carrot & Stick maximizes the use of powerful ingredients and minimizes the use of superficial ones, resulting in advanced skincare solutions that help promote healthy, more youthful-looking skin. We recommend The Defence Serum, followed by The Moisturizer.
References:
1. Chemistry World “Phenol” September 2014”
2. ECHA Substance Infocard “Phenol”
3. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2010 Feb; 3(2): 22–41.
