Biossance skincare review

Where I got it

I ordered this on the Biossance.com website and shipped it to NZ via NZpost YouShop as they do not ship internationally at the moment. They almost have a discount code or a free sample set code all the time with a minimum purchase. When I ordered this, they had a SPRINGCLEAN discount code that gives an 8-piece deluxe sample gift for orders over a certain amount of spend (I forgot how much it was). On top of that, they also provide 2 free sample sachets with every order and they also have a samples section where you can choose 2 deluxe-sized samples (only need to pay $5 shipping, or free if you are already ordering the items.

Biossance also does a 15% off discount code for all first-time customers and they have an auto-replenish system that you get at 10% off your order. All in all, Biossance is great with providing samples and discount codes, they are also with ebates so you can earn cash back (5% at the moment). So make sure you sign up to their email list, check out all the items you are interested in, get a discount code for freebies and don’t forget to pick up all the free samples you can!

What I got

Alright, let’s get into what I ordered. I paid for 2 items in this order and they are the Squalane + Mineral SPF 45 ($39) and The Clean Slate set ($49). They have a couple of different value sets available on their website and it’s always good to try out a brand with value sets in my opinion. There were a couple of products I wanted to try – Glycolic Renewal Facial, Probiotic Gel Moisturiser, and the Phyto-Retinol Serum.

I managed to get at least a sample sachet of most of their products except for their new Tea Tree Cleansing Gel, Tea Tree Detox Mask, Tea Tree Balancing Oil, Micronutrient Fine Mist and their Bamboo Deodorant.

In this blog post, I will be reviewing the following products: Antioxidant Cleansing Oil, 100% Squalane Oil, Phyto-Retinol Serum, Peptide Eye Gel, Vitamin C Rose Oil, Mineral SPF 45, Probiotic Gel Moisturiser, Omega Repair Cream and the Glycolic Renewal Facial (not shown in photo below).

How I find it

I feel like I need to cover some information about the brand Biossance. First time I’ve heard of this brand is from Wendy Nguyen from Wendy’s Lookbook. She has been a long-time ambassador for their brand (well over 4 years I think) and their hero ingredient in most, if not all of their products is Squalane Oil. First time I’ve tried their product was 3 years ago and it was The Nourisher and The Revitalizer which were Squalane Oil products for the face and for the body and hair (in their oil packaging too which was really beautiful as well).

Biossance products are all vegan, cruelty-free, non-toxic, paraben-free, fragrance-free, PEG-free. They have black-listed 2,000 ingredients for all of their skincare (as a reference, Europe as a country has only black-listed 1,376 ingredients). They are committed to sustainability by means of obtaining their resources (squalane from renewable sugarcane), conscious packaging, safe products (non-toxic, etc.) and they are EWG verified.

Squalane+ Antioxidant Cleansing Oil ($10 for 25ml, $30 for 200ml). An antioxidant-rich, No Compromise™ cleansing oil that gently removes long-wear makeup and leaves skin with a beautiful, healthy look and feel. The lightweight oil lifts away makeup and impurities, then rinses completely clean with water. Formulated with our sugarcane-derived, sustainable squalane oil, it helps keep skin hydrated and feeling fresh.

This cleansing oil is very lightweight and fluid, it glides onto the skin with the perfect slip just like putting skincare oil on your skin. You don’t need a lot of product because this oil goes far and it’s effective. I usually use a generous amount of cleansing oil because I like to give my skin a massage to thoroughly break the makeup down without tugging or rubbing my skin harshly. This oil also rinses off beautifully without needing a cloth or rubbing, leaving my skin clean and soft. I then use my own cleanser for the double cleanse.

100% Squalane Oil ($14 for 12ml, $58 for 100ml). A weightless, multi-tasking oil that instantly hydrates while locking in essential moisture. Replenish your skin with our No Compromise™ 100% Squalane Oil from renewable sugarcane. It’s biology’s best moisturizer—and your skin knows best. 

This is a simple one-ingredient product without fragrance, colours, parabens, etc. You can use this on your face, on your body and hair to hydrate and moisturise. It has a nice fluid texture so that it’s not too thick and it spreads amazingly on the skin. Depending on your skin type, I use about 3 drops of this on my combination oily skin only at night. My skin takes a while to absorb oils so I usually use this on top of my moisturiser or sometimes I don’t even need to use a moisturiser. This makes my skin really comfortable and supple. It also does not break me out.

Squalane+ Phyto-Retinol Serum ($39 for 10ml, $78 for 30ml). A lightweight, powerfully effective serum featuring Bakuchiol, a plant-derived alternative to retinol. Reduces the look of lines and wrinkles while visibly firming skin-without the irritation or sensitivity associated with retinol.
This No Compromise™ formula was clinically evaluated and found to be non-irritating and effective for all skin types*. However, it is still a concentrated serum, and as with any skincare product, we recommend a patch test prior to use.

I have used a total of 18ml of this retinol serum and since this is not a real “retinol”, I can use this during the day as well, which is great. This feels much more gently on the skin and less irritating as well. The serum texture is really comfortable to use and provides a mild hydration boost to the skin. I’m not sure if this is the product that is helping out my breakouts being under control or not, but the breakouts around my chin and jaw have reduced dramatically!

Squalane+ Peptide Eye Gel ($54 for 15ml). A weightless, ultra-hydrating eye gel that reduces the look of puffiness and dark circles. This No Compromise™ peptide-rich formula gives your eyes a well-rested look. Just a drop helps calm the look of puffiness and other signs of irritation to keep your eyes looking bright.

This eye gel has a gel-cream texture that feels really nice around the eye area. It is not too oily or moisturising to cause any milia around my eye are and it is absorbed nicely. I have only used 8ml of this eye gel and I am not really seeing significant results. My eye area is instantly hydrated and moisturised after using this so my concealer and makeup go on smoothly, but I can’t really see long-term results yet.

Squalane+ Vitamin C Rose Oil ($72 for 30ml). A luxurious face oil that visibly brightens, firms, and evens the look of skin tone and texture. This No Compromise™ formula combines the weightless hydration of our sugarcane-derived, sustainable squalane oil with the brightening power of Vitamin C, plus rose oil—revered for centuries to reduce the look of lines and wrinkles. Just a drop or two of this exquisite oil delivers exceptionally soft, smooth and radiantly healthy-looking skin. 

This squalane oil with vitamin C and rose oil seem to do everything, I like to use this at night because of it’s oil formula. Which means I cannot use any Niacinamide products when I use this oil as Vitamin C and Niacinamide does not go well together. Personally, I haven’t been able to tell the difference of this oil compared to the original Squalane oil, but since it is an oil product, I do not prefer to use this daily. I only use this 2-3 times a week at the most.

Squalane+ Mineral SPF 45 ($39 for 50ml). A clean, lightweight and non-greasy daily mineral facial sunscreen that protects skin from UVA/ UVB and infrared rays, while defending against environmental stressors. Plus, this No Compromise™ formula makes the perfect primer for easy makeup application.

I love a good sunscreen and this one here has squalane oil as well to provide some moisturisation. If I use the gel moisturiser, I can use this on top to provide sun protection and a bit of moisture as well. I love the squeeze tube with an airless pump, it is easy to use and convenient. You can pop the cap on and bring it with you to the beach, poolside, travel, no issues. The sunscreen does have a bit of white cast on the skin, but nothing I can’t handle and I can always mix it in with my foundation or one of those pigment drops to make that white cast less obvious. Personally, I love a mineral sunscreen, so this is a thumbs up from me.

Squalane+ Probiotic Gel Moisturiser ($16 for 10ml, $52 for 50ml). A weightless, ultra-hydrating gel moisturizer infused with squalane and probiotic technology to help restore skin’s healthy-looking beauty and radiance. This No Compromise™ formula reduces the effects of daytime stressors, leaving skin visibly brighter and more balanced. Formulated with our sugarcane-derived, sustainable squalane oil to help keep skin hydrated.

This gel moisturiser is perfect for my skin. I love to use it in the morning and after I do an afternoon cleanse. It is lightweight but not light on hydration. It makes my skin feel moisturised and replenished without that thick, heavy feeling. After if the day is dry, I do find that my skin gets a little dry and tight about an hour after application. So I decided to use the omega moisturiser on top or use the mineral foundation on top (afternoon sun is still out!). If you have really oily skin and prefer to layer on skincare products, you would like this.

Squalane+ Omega Repair Cream ($26 for 15ml, $58 for 50ml). A rich, decadent cream with all the good fats (lipids) your skin needs to deeply moisturize without leaving a greasy after feel. Formulated with lipids that mimic and support skin’s natural moisture barrier: squalane, omega fatty acids, ceramides and plant sterols help nourish, plump, hydrate and feed your skin.

The omega repair cream has a thicker and creamier consistency. I like to use this at night where I need something a bit more long lasting through the night, especially winter nights. My skin feels nourished and plumped in the morning. I have more of this cream than the gel moisturiser and this does go a long way. I love how my skin feels immediately, it’s smooth and soft and there is no residue film on the skin. This is also one that I would repurchase if I do decide to.

Squalane+ Glycolic Renewal Facial ($28 for 15ml, $68 for 60ml). This triple change agent is a peel, exfoliator and mask in one skin renewing, smoothing and hydrating formula. Glycolic acid, multi-alpha hydroxy acids and gentle mineral spheres work in minutes to help leave skin soft, bright and radiant.

This mask is pretty amazing, it has little granules for manual exfoliation and glycolic acid for chemical exfoliation. The granules are really fine and not abrasive at all. The 2.5ml sachet is the perfect amount to cover the face and jaw area. I leave that on for 10-15minutes and then wash off with warm water. After washing off, my skin feels super smooth and soft which is common when you manually exfoliate, but it does give a nice healthy glow to the skin and my skin is not red and irritated. If you have sensitive skin, I don’t recommend much scrubbing, just let the mask sit and let the glycolic acid to do its magic.

Overall

Honestly, I haven’t really looked seriously into natural skincare or clean beauty products before but this brand is kind of changing my views. They are effective, they are conscious of the environment and are safe for you in the long run. Most of the time, don’t expect these products to have a luxurious texture or beautiful fragrance because they decided not to add texture enhancers like dimethicone, or artificial fragrances. Even natural fragrances can be irritants to the face, so check your ingredients if you are allergic to fragrances. Biossance has no fragrance (synthetic or natural) whatsoever in their products. I would love to use more of this brand only if they ship internationally, so I’m watching this space!