Bio-Oil was probably the first skincare product I used on my body religiously. Let me tell you why.
Living in New York City as a working mom in your twenties comes with an inherent shock factor. I’ve heard all the questions (How am I balancing work and childcare? Do I dare take my daughter on the subway, Where is she going to go to school?) Well, she’s only one. But, of all the perplexed gasps and reactions, one of my favorite concerns of the childless people: “But… didn’t you get like… stretch marks?!”
Our skin is bound to change. We sit in the sun, we age, we get pregnant, we get hurt. Scars, stretch marks, and breakouts are inevitable. Yet, many of us still strive to retain our youth, picking up any product or treatment to achieve that plump, smooth, butter-soft, baby-like complexion. Everyone has their opinion, but mine is simple. There’s nothing wrong with embracing your body and all the beautiful traces of life that it carries, and there’s also nothing wrong with wanting to zap those marks away.
When I found out I was pregnant, I knew I would be falling under the latter category. I’ve never been one to overcomplicate my skincare routine. To the great horror of my dermatologist, there were only two products I used on my skin as a teenager: soap and water. It wasn’t until I entered my twenties that I started thinking more about cleansing, toning, and moisturizing my skin. During pregnancy, I finally cracked down on skincare. I knew the appearance of stretch marks was largely dependent on genetics, but there were still preventative options.
Bio-Oil was one of them. Mom friends called it their “secret weapon,” my family-friend aesthetician said she recommended it to all her clients, and my dermatologist just had simple directions: “Apply generously.” In much more scientific terms, she also explained that lathering your body in oil helps soften your skin — so it can stretch through pregnancy without scarring. That sounded reasonable enough.
Plus, since each bottle of Bio-Oil is just $11 on Amazon, I figured I wouldn’t be losing out much if it didn’t work.
Bio-Oil Skincare Oil
Bio-Oil works for every stage of life. While the formula can be used to treat a variety of pigmentation and complexion issues, it’s most commonly used for stretch marks.
According to a 2018 study published in the National Library of Medicine that focused on 80 people with non-hypertrophic scars, 93% said Bio-Oil left a long-lasting soft and supple skin feeling and 51% said that their scars and stretch marks looked less pronounced.
Read on to find out how it worked for me, or go ahead and put it to the test yourself (the brand also offers a Bio-Oil lotion and dry skin gel for a complete skincare setup).
What to know about Bio-Oil
The Bio-Oil formula is not your ordinary body oil. Each bottle is packed with a fusion of nourishing vitamins and antioxidants to keep your skin soothed and hydrated — Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Rosemary Oil, Lavender Oil, and Chamomile Oil, to name just a few. Everything in this formula is pregnancy-safe and vegan, but anyone looking to avoid minerals can opt for the natural formula. The natural formula is fragrance-free and has a 100% natural base of plant oils — including soybean, sunflower seed, and safflower.
If you’re curious about the wide range of benefits of Bio-Oil, I recommend reading more of the findings from the clinical trials. As someone who only began using this product during pregnancy, I wish I’d started sooner. Bio-Oil may be mostly associated with stretch marks, but the formula has also been seen to improve cases of acne, smooth aging, dehydrated skin, and clear up old scarring. In summary, it’s not just a proactive treatment if used properly.
One of the issues (myself) and many people have with body oils is the fact that they’re greasy by nature. In my experience, the thicker formulas feel especially sticky on clothes and some can even cause my skin to break out. Bio-Oil has a way around this. The formula utilizes Purcellin oil, a breakthrough ingredient that reduces the thickness of the oil and helps it absorb quickly into the skin. This additive helps lock in moisture, without clogging pores or leaving residue all over your clothing.
How to use Bio-Oil
Like any skincare product, Bio-Oil requires consistent and consecutive use, whether you’re trying to avoid stretchmarks or treating old stretchmarks. If you want results, you have to work for it. For all face or body use, it is recommended to apply Bio-Oil twice a day by rubbing the formula in…
Read More: Got me through pregnancy stretch mark-free