When curating your skincare arsenal, it is certainly not compulsory to shop entirely from one brand. As each line has its own Unique Selling Point, I tend to piece things together from different sources. Nevertheless, now and again a few companies come to the fore which not only blow you away with their performance and ingredients but also their ethics and leadership as a business. Biossance is one such brand. To learn more about what makes this new kid on the block so special, and to see which products made it to our #SkinFood favourites, keep reading.
1
Clean Ingredients
Biossance has a list of 2,000 ingredients which are banned from their formulas that are not only toxic to your skin but also to the environment. Nancy Leu, Head of Product Performance at Biossance, states, “It’s complicated. Right now, many consumers think ‘natural’ is better, but that isn’t always the case. For example, mineral oil is natural, but it’s not sustainable… Instead, I aim to create products that are safe, healthy and sustainable. Those are the key words people should be using.”
Another feather in their cap: the brand is both vegan and cruelty-free.
2
Sustainable
Biossance's key ingredient, which features in all of their products, is a 100% plant based squalane. Dating as far back as the 16th Century, squal(e)ne is an ingredient which was coveted for its skin care benefits. Originally derived from shark liver oil, the only way to extract this ingredient was by hunting for sharks. Biossance's scientists recognised the harm this was doing to the marine ecosystem and created their own sustainable version derived from renewable sugar cane. This initiative has helped to save 2 million shark lives that form a crucial part of the underwater food chain.
Moreover, Biossance works alongside CarbonFund.org. This collaboration offsets their yearly carbon emissions (due to shipping), by funding the planting of trees and reforestation. This effort stops 22 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere each year. Their formulas are also produced within a My Green Lab Certified Facility, which ensures that their environmental impact and waste is kept to a minimum.
3
Performance Based
What is squalane, you're probably wondering? Squalane in its natural form is a lipid produced by our skin cells, responsible for hydrating our skin. As with collagen, our natural production of it begins to diminish over time. This ingredient is at the heart of the entire range and is formulated within each of their products. Due to its moisturising properties, squalane is used to target dullness and dryness. In tandem with the other actives in their products, their formulas work to feed your skin and nourish it to a happier and healthier state.
See below to check out our #SkinFood favourite products!
Squalane + Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum
This Vitamin C serum is both a new addition to the Biossance family and to my bathroom shelf. This product combines squalane, 10% vitamin C and white shitake mushroom to brighten your complexion, fight against oxidative damage and lighten dark spots. Boasting a five star rating already, it seems I am not the only one enjoying this product. This formula not only helps to tackle any existing hyperpigmentation, it also prevents new areas of discolouration from forming.
In a clinical report carried out by Biossance on a group of women aged 25 - 59 the results showed that after 28 days of use, 100% of women agreed that this product helps to improve the look of dark spots and 97% showed an improvement in uneven skin tone.
Squalane + Omega Repair Cream
Blended with the brand's signature ingredient squalane, this deeply hydrating moisturiser combines ceramides and omega 3 fatty acids to create a deeply nourishing formula. This product was featured as part of our #SkinFood favourite PM moisturisers. Nevertheless, should your skin tend to be more dehydrated, especially during the colder winter months, you could easily use this both during the day and at night. The formula is not overly thick, which helps to leave a gorgeous sheen on the skin.
In a clinical report carried out by Biossance on a group of women aged 35 - 60 the results showed that after 28 days of use, 97% of participants found an improvement in visible lines and wrinkles and 100% felt there was an increase in their overall skin hydration.
Squalane + Marine Algae Eye Cream
Newly bestowed with the coveted honour of winning an Allure Beauty Award in 2020, this product is truly heaven sent. Whilst it is not essential to wear an eye cream (in our Skinfood recommended AM and PM routines we do not include them as your serums can help to fill this gap) it is nice to have. If you're serious about skincare and over 30, it's worth considering adding it to your routine. I have extremely sensitive eyes, so finding a product which doesn't make them tear constantly throughout the day has been nearly impossible. This product has been the exception to the rule. The combination of marine algae and paracress extract hydrate, firm and tighten the under eye area. Whilst the texture is thick, it is also creamy, meaning it melts and absorbs well into the skin.
In a clinical report carried out by Biossance on a group of women aged 35 - 60 the results showed that after 7 days and 28 days of use, 100% of participants showed clinical improvement in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in the eye area.