Skin Care Jack Pot - The Biologique Recherche - Lotion P50

Updated Review

How can something so foul be so freaking good? I am not kidding about the "foul" - this stuff smells like something died, then was splashed with gasoline, burned and finally liquefied just in time to be bottled and passed on the eager consumers lining up at a uber fancy French pharmacy counter...YUCK!!!

I remember when i got my first bottle, I was so surprised by the stench that i was convinced that i must have gotten a bad batch or something! I was quickly assured that the smell was normal and that the performance and results will make the "questionable"  scent worthwhile! I was skeptical to say the least and almost afraid to put it on my face, fearing some kind of horrible acid burn.

This is the official description of the P50 Lotions;

The P50, P50V and P50W balancing exfoliators are the unique fruit of 30 years of reflection and experience. P50 balancing exfoliators speed up the epidermis' natural exfoliating process and the reconstruction of the epidermal shield. The fortified epidermis can then fulfill its protective functions completely, enhancing skin's self-regeneration potential. Lotion P50, our most famous and coveted product, is the keystone to Biologique Recherche skin care treatment. All Biologique Recherche skin care treatments, whether administered at home or in a beauty institute, start with the P50 ritual"". It is applied in the morning and in the evening. It gently exfoliates the skin, regulates excessive sebum secretion, moisturizes and helps maintain the epidermis' acid pH. It prevents and treats in-growing hairs, and is therefore ideal for pre and post shaving skin care."

Key Active Ingredients;
Usnic acid, lactic acid, witch hazel, myrrh extract, onion extract and sage extract.  

The description initially confused me and the scientist in me tried to understand how the ingredient combination was functioning. The scent had obviously disturbed me and I wanted to at least convince myself that it wasn't causing some irreparable damage to the epidermis. I had good intentions, I was trying to at least be a little careful & informed. Lets just say that once I saw the results for the very first time in my skin care career I didnt care what was going on - the results were more than impressive so at that point I decided not to question a good thing and ruin everything by "facts" and conflicting research studies about this or that. This bottle was here to stay no matter what! It's the one thing in my bathroom that never gets shared! Ever!

Since this is stuff can be hard to find and the price isn't exactly cheap i don't use a cotton pad to apply it - instead i pour a few drops in the palm of my hand and just gently pat it on my face, concentrating on areas I feel need the most attention. Surprisingly the burning/tingling sensation is not that as strong as I expected but the skin does go a little numb for the first few minutes (scary!).
The solution doesn't get absorbed completely on the skin surface, which concerned me at first because I despise any kind of residue on my face but this felt very different and didn't give me an urge to go wash my face again just to be sure. My face felt plumped up, slightly tacky to the touch and strangely hydrated. I want to stress that this "residue" its nothing like a film or greasy layer usually left behind by certain products, which causes everything to "pill" later on. The best way i can describe it is that it causes a sensation indicating that  moisture is "trapped" under the surface, hence the skin plumping benefits. Your complexion simply feels smooth as silk, allowing everything else you put on top to just glide on. To some of you this might be reminiscent of how silicone products feel on the skin.  The offending fragrance really doesn't last too long - its completely undetectable after a few minutes and i am happy to say that I am not just used to it, in fact at this point I find the fragrance almost comforting. I know - I am a weirdo!

This toning exfoliator has definitively transformed my skin more than anything else i have ever used before. For me introducing this to my skincare regiment was "game-changing" and I credit Biologique Recherche for the dramatic improvement of the look, texture, feel and health of my skin. My face is glowy, plumped, clear and calm - breakouts are almost non-existent and i always notice a difference if i stop using it. If I don't use it for a few days, its definitely noticeable not just to me but also to those that are forced to look at my face all day long. The only issue I have with this is the availability factor! Its hard to locate and order, but Canada isn't the only country that has issues with this - it seems to be a worldwide phenomenon! In the last year or so more retailers have popped up so I am hoping that means things will only get better. Regardless of the outcome I already know that I have and always will be willing to pay whatever ridiculous shipping charge they ask for. This is completely worth it to me!

                 
Biologique Recherché p50 ($89.00 for 8.5oz) and other products from the brand can be purchased here

***There is some controversy regarding the phenol in the original formula p50 and it appears that the company released a phenol-free version however its still not clear whether they are retiring the original product itself. Sigh...off to buy a case just in case you know...it disappears completely!




Have you tried p50? Is phenol something you would be concerned about?

I hope this review was helpful!

XOXO

Anja

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