Overview
Bio Oil is an “As Seen on TV” product which is marketed as a skincare cream used to treat stretch marks and scars and is also recommended to even out the skin tone and make prematurely aged or dry skin look and feel better. The formulation is marketed to be used on your face as well as your whole body. Products which are sold on TV commercials have the reputation as being bogus and are not normally trusted. However there are many customer testimonials which claim that Bio Oil transformed their skin in just weeks.
Product Details
The manufacturers of Bio Oil promote that the oil will reduce the appearance of old and new scars, stop stretch marks from forming due to pregnancy or from rapid weight gain as well as reduce the appearance of old stretch marks, improve the appearance of uneven skin tone, help to tone sagging aging skin by increasing the skins elasticity, hydrate and lubricate dry damaged skin, work as an intensive moisturizer as well as a bath oil and after sun soother.
There is no official website for Bio Oil however according to third party retail sites which carry the oil, the key ingredients are: Paraffinum Liquidum also known as Mineral Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia also known as Lavender Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil also known as Rosemary, Annuus Seed Oil commonly known as Sunflower Oil, Glycine Soja commonly known as Soybean Oil. Other ingredients included in the formula are Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Helianthus Triisononanoin, BHT, Bisabolol, Isopropyl Myristate and Fragrance.
A controversy remains surrounding the ingredient Paraffinum Liquidum, commonly known as Mineral Oil. Mineral Oil is used in many cosmetics as a filler; however the oil has not been proven to contain any anti-aging benefits. In fact, it has been shown to produce many unwanted side effects, including causing existing skin conditions such as eczema and acne to get worse. Dermatologists do not recommend the use of Mineral Oil due to the fact that it can clog the pores and aggravate the skin. Bio Oil does not contain any advanced anti-aging ingredients.
The Good
- Bio Oil is widely available and comes with many positive customer testimonials.
The Bad
- Bio Oil contains Mineral Oil which has been shown to clog the pores and aggravate existing skin conditions.
- Bio Oil has no official website.
- Bio Oil does not contain any advanced anti-aging ingredients.
The Bottom Line
When searching for an anti-aging skin care product, it is imperative to look for advanced anti-wrinkle ingredients in order to effectively treat aging skin. Bio Oil does not contain any anti-aging ingredients so any claims that this product will reduce wrinkles and firm the skin are questionable. The fact that Bio Oil contains Mineral Oil is another concern. This ingredient has not only been shown to aggravate the skin but contains no benefits what so ever. The availability and the low price of this product has gotten the attention of many people however “As Seen on TV” products typically come with a bad reputation. There are too many other anti-aging products on the market that are reputable and do contain proven ingredients that work to reduce the visible signs of aging. We would not choose Bio Oil over its competitors.