The Review: Photos speak for themselves and as you can see there is zero difference in my pigmentation/scar issues (age spots, burn and scar from a cut). Now I don’t claim to be a professional photographer and these photos were taken with a high MP mobile phone camera, but I can see with my own eyes that there is no difference at all.
The ingredients list does not contain one ingredient known to fade pigmentation. There are natural ingredients such as kojic acid (from mushrooms), which help to decrease pigmentation and it would have been nice to see this in Bio Oil. This product also contains mineral oil, which can cause breakouts in some persons. When I began using this product I covered my entire face with it (lets face it, I’m in my 40’s and I have pigmentation spots all over my face, not just over my eye) and had a major breakout. After that I just concentrated on the spots over my eye.
This product contains many fragrance ingredients and many of the reviews I’ve read state how nice it smells. That’s great, but if I want to smell nice I wear perfume. Bio Oil does state that you should use the product for 90 days, but even after only 30 days you should see some improvement and I’ve seen none. Even with no intervention you will see natural improvement in a new scar after 90 days.
My conclusion would be to look for a product that really works on pigmentation and scars and pass on Bio Oil. Also, nothing cures stretch marks and although we all hope for the miracle product it doesn’t exist. If you’re pregnant your best option is to use a product that conditions your skin (grape seed oil or almond oil works just fine) and hope for the best. If you develop stretch marks - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stretch_marks and really want them gone there are laser treatments that actually work, but there is no miracle in a bottle that has been shown to work yet.
Price: About £11 for 200ml.
Purchasing Information: You can purchase this product at many pharmacies in the U.K. as well as through plenty of online retailers.
Ingredients:
Paraffinum Liquidum (mineral oil): A petroleum by-product and is created through distillation (yuck): http://www.tech-faq.com/paraffinum-liquidum.html
Triisononanoin: Skin conditioning agent (triester of glycerine): http://www.cosmeticanalysis.com/cosmetic-ingredients/triisononanoin.html
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate: Lubricant: http://www.cosmeticsinfo.org/ingredient_details.php?ingredient_id=218
Isopropyl Myristate: An alcohol:
http://www.natracare.com/p119/en-GB/Your-Health/Chemicals-in-body-care/Isopropyl-myristate.aspx
Retinyl Palmitate: Form of vitamin A - There is research showing it to be effective as an antioxidant and skin-cell regulator:
http://www.cosmeticscop.com/cosmetic-ingredient-dictionary/definition/1253/retinyl-palmitate.aspx
Tocopheryl Acetate: Exfolliant that is easily absorbed by the skin and once it is there is converted into retinol. Has to be at high concentrations to be effective and at that high of a concentration it would be irritating to the skin. According to FDA scientists, retinyl palmitate breaks down in sunlight to photomutagenic compounds, forms free radicals in the presence of UVA and UVB radiation:
http://truthinaging.com/ingredient-spotlight/what-is-it-retinyl-palmitate-not-to-be-confused-with-retinol
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil (chamomile): Fragrance and skin conditioning.
Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil: Fragrance and skin conditioning.
Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil: Fragrance and skin conditioning.
Calendula Officinalis (Marigold) Flower Extract: Anti-inflammatory
Helianthus Annuus: (Sunflower) Seed Oil: Skin-conditioner and surfactant
Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil: Antioxidant, fragrance and skin-conditioning agent
BHT: Acts as an antioxidant by preventing or slowing the deterioration of cosmetics and personal care products caused by chemical reactions with oxygen.
Bisabolol: Enhances the appearance of dry or damaged skin by reducing flaking and restoring suppleness. Bisabolol may also be used as a fragrance ingredient in cosmetics and personal care products.
Parfum: Added for fragrance
Amyl Cinnamal: Fragrance
Benzyl Salicylate: Fragrance and an ultraviolet light absorber
Citronellol: Fragrance
Coumarin: Fragrance
Eugenol: Fragrance
Geraniol: Fragrance
Hydroxycitronellal: Fragrance
Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde: Fragrance
Limonene: Fragrance
Linalool: Fragrance
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone: Fragrance
CI 26100: Colorant
Age Spot:
Cut To Forearm:
Burn On Wrist:
