Bio Oil Review – Does it Really Work?
Now I’ve been getting a lot of requests for me to review Bio Oil. I actually used Bio Oil back when I was working in Singapore and just gave birth to baby Geof. I was looking for an effective product to remove my scars and stretchmarks. Bio Oil was not readily available in the Philippines back in the day but it was in Singapore so I purchased a bottle. A bottle of Bio Oil costs around 25 USD((around 1,000php) for 60ml of the product.
What do I think?
I think Bio Oil is another product of hype and overrated media marketing. It does not work well for me at least.
Bio Oil Ingredients
Botanicals
Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract (Calendula Oil)
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil (Lavender Oil)
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil (Rosemary Oil)
Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil (Chamomile Oil)
Vitamins
Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A)
Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E)
Oil base
Paraffinum Liquidum
Triisononanoin
Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate
Isopropyl Myristate
Glycine Soja Oil
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
BHT
Bisabolol
Fragrance (Rose)
Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
Amyl Cinnamal
Benzyl Salicylate
Citronellol
Coumarin
Eugenol
Farnesol
Geraniol
Hydroxycitronellal
Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde
Limonene
Linalool
Colour
Orange: CI 26100 (Red 17)
Bio Oil contains 29 ingredients of which four are plant extracts common every body product on the market, two are vitamins used in every cosmetic formula I have ever reviewed, one is mineral oil (think baby oil), and everything else is slip agents, fillers, fragrance or dyes.
Pros
None
Cons
- The botanicals listed in the ingredients list are in no way scientifically proven to lighten or minimize scars or stretchmarks
- The product is overpriced considering it mostly contain fillers like mineral oil and paraffin (see oil base ingredients)
- After 6 months of consistently using the product, I saw no visible improvements on my stretchmarks. Considering I just gave birth to Geof recently that time so the stretchmarks are “fresh”
- It also did not work on my new scars. The product is disappointing that I didn’t take the time to take photos of my scars back then because it looked the same
Bio Oil claims (with a published study):
Source:http://www.yummymummyclub.ca/blogs/dan-thompson-beauty-busted/20120831/bio-oil-busted
“. . . is efficacious in improving the appearance of scars. After 8 weeks 92% of subjects showed an improvement.”
What they don’t tell you about the study:
1. There were only 36 subjects tested—not at all a large enough sample to find any true results.
2. They do not state exactly what the improvements were—was it a 5% improvement or a 95% improvement?
3. What was it tested against? Yes there was a placebo but did they test it against other products of similar formula?
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| I was not the only one, apparently. Image Src: Google Photos |
They dressed up this product as a scientifically proven scar treatment. The studies proving its effectiveness are misleading and incomplete and the formula itself is so basic, a vitamin E capsule would work just as well if not give better results. Check out my post on different scar and stretchmark removers to see what works and what doesn’t (will try to keep it updated) and how to remove acne marks.
15 Comments
Ly Patromo
Was thinking of getting this but took me ages to decide considering the price for a 60ml bottle of bio oil. Good thing I was able to read this.
Kaycee Enerva
Yes. Madami din kasing “false rave reviews” kasi bayad. Tsk so I had to post this. If it doesn’t work on me, kahit bayad ang post nirerefund ko sa company.
Credibility > Credit
celin mendoza
I am actually using it now. naka-kalahating bote na ako. You are right that it does no help in minimizing the appearance of stretchmarks, but it do softens them. It think it is more effective as a moisturizer.
Kaycee Enerva
nakaka-clog sya ng pores ha. ingat
celin mendoza
Talaga? Nilalagay ko pa naman siya overnight pag dry ang face ko =(. You’re right there are a lot of positve reviews on this product kaya nga napabili ako eh. Thanks for this! and btw, looking forward to your blog sale =)
MommyCharm
I have long ago accepted the fact that my stretch marks won’t go away (unless I have some cosmetic procedure done to it which by the way costs a lot). Though I’ve seen tons of ads about this product and I was intrigued. Good thing I read your review, Miss Kaycee. Tagapagligtas talaga kita! ^-^
Ma. Christina Nicolas
ok omg i’m planning to buy coz i believe its really effective but then again. thanks for your review! idk what to do with my scars anymore. 🙁
khameexclusive
Unfortunately, I bought one more than 2 months ago. Been religiously using this on my stretchmarks sa hips and newly acquired scar sa legs. Kaya pala no difference at all 🙁
Ubusin ko na lang then i’m just gonna stick with contractubex and castor oil for my scar.
Kaycee Enerva
try mo sebo de macho
Ann E
Had an accident about 2yrs ago. It was one of the most devastating event of my life bec i was really cautious not to have any wounds bec i dont want to have any scar. I had my scar (on my both legs) minimized by a plastic surgeon. After surgery, she asked me to use dermatix once the wound gets healed. It’s also kinda pricey (for a 15g) but i think it’s worth it and you will be able to use it for a long long time. I wasn’t able to wear a skirt for almost a year but now everyone says that they barely noticed my scar. They will only know once i really pin point it to them. Dermatix wont really erase the scar. In my case, it just flattened, whitened, minimized and improved the appearance of the scar. The surgeon also said that dermatix is only effective to scars not older than 2yrs. Just use it consistently 2x a day by massaging it to the scar.
Kaycee Enerva
I prefer dermatix din. Thanks for your feedback 🙂
Jem Marg
I was really looking into buying this on amazon because of its good product reviews but i had second thoughts. i think that bio oil is more like a skin lotion/moisturizer. Also, there are too many types of bio oil skin care that it can get confusing to find the right one that works for your skin(marketing scheme i suppose?) Anywho, Have you heard about maderma scar remover? it got good reviews on amazon but im not sure if its available in phils. Im still on the hunt for a scar remover that’ll hopefully work and worth the money spent.
Anne V | StretchYourPeso.Com
Thanks for the honest review on Bio Oil. I was planning to buy some after giving birth, now you just saved me from getting a product that won’t work on stretch marks.
AceofSpades
Thanks for the very honest and detailed review.
Unfortunately for deep scars, this product will likely lighten the area, making it less visible. But to totally cure the scar is far fetched. Remember scars are fibrous tissue that replace normal skin after injury. Parang tinapalan lang ng bagong balat.
For stretchmarks however it works I have to say. Gradually, took maybe 5 months to see visible results but its better than nothing. The product is easy to apply, smells great, and relatively affordable.
But honestly Php. 495.00 (60ml) is worth the try. The bottle will likely last you roughly 3 months (165/mo.) if you religiously use this 2x a day. So for me, just try it out and see the results. 🙂
Kaycee Enerva
youre welcome 🙂