If there’s one body oil almost everyone recognises, it’s Bio-Oil. A mainstay in chemists and supermarkets since 1987, the pink oil in its trademark clear bottle has been rescuing us from dry skin and improving the look of scars and stretch marks for decades.
40 years in the making
Multi-awarded as a go-to for helping reduce the look of those spidery tracks that creep along limbs and stomaches of up to 9 out of 10 adults, Bio-Oil has made it its mission to create high-performing skincare products that work. This single-mindedness has meant that over nearly 40 years, the line has remained tightly edited and focused on scars, stretch marks and skin hydration.
The Bio Oil range
To date, four products have been launched. There is of course the famed original Bio-Oil Skincare Oil, with its pink oil and iconic orangefonted minimalistic clear bottle. More recently, a 100 per cent natural version, Bio-Oil Natural, has been launched. Both are clinically proven to help improve the appearance of scars and stretch marks – as well as bring very dry skin back from the brink.
The line has remained tightly edited and focused on scars, stretch marks and skin hydration.
Also in the line-up are two dry skin products. A nonirritating, non-comedogenic gel with high counts of the brand’s oil (83 per cent) that helps rehydrate and nourish very dry skin, while a super lightweight body lotion with 42 per cent oil makes for decadent all-day hydration without the slick, but definitely with silky smoothness to limbs.
It performs multiple tasks
What sets Bio-Oil apart – and certainly puts it way ahead of its time – is its ability to multitask. Not just effective on the look of new scars, it’s also workable on older scars – great news if some time has passed on a skin glitch.
A double-blind, randomised and placebo-controlled study in Hamburg showed that 66 per cent of subjects saw a reduction in the appearance of scars after 15 days. After the full eight-week trial, 92 per cent reported an improvement.
A further study, this time performed in China, studied the ability of Bio-Oil to lessen the look of acne scarring
The skin benefits
Then there is the formula’s ability to work on lessening the appearance of stretch marks.
In another German study of women with stretch marks resulting from events such as pregnancy, weight gain and adolescent growth spurts, 95 per cent noticed a reduction in the look of stretch marks in just two weeks. After eight weeks, all of them noticed a reduction in how their stretch marks appeared.
A further study, this time performed in China, studied the ability of Bio-Oil to lessen the look of acne scarring. It was found to be effective at brightening skin and lessening the look of red marks left behind by pimples. In a self-assessment questionnaire, 84 per cent of subjects experienced an improvement in the look of their acne scars and over 90 per cent in scar colour.
It’s impressive stuff from a bottle of oil that we can add to our trolleys at the supermarket for under twenty bucks. And perhaps do throw one in during your next shop – it might just get your limbs glowing as well.
Bio Oil is available here
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