Biotherm

Horrible product! Sticky city! This is a review of the Biotherm Homme New Efficacy Aquapower formula for normal/combination skin that is released in 2017. I have been using it for over a month and it went from being ok to horrible. The fragrance is soooo strong and unpleasant, and alcohol denat. content is very high, it's the third ingredient in the formula, and despite a common sense and my cosmetic knowledge, I decided to try it. Big mistake. It is irritating, skin becomes bright red upon application, and that wasn't obvious at first, but rather a cummulative effect. It is sticky and makes unplesant "mask" effect, you feel it on your skin all the time, like a plasticizer, and skin becomes oily very fast. After a while I began to experience breakouts on my forhead and nose, and to notice more and more clogged pores. Though, there are some nice ingredients in the formula (that was a reason I decided to try it), such as Biotherm's frontal warrior in all their products, Thermal Plankton (Vitreoscilla ferment extract), than some concoction under the name Hygroplex HHG, vitamine E, vitamine C as ascorbyl glucoside, Shea Butter, Apricot kernel oil, mineral complex, cholesterol, L'Oreal's patented ceramide (2-oleamido-1,3-octadecanediol), and skin protecting Biosaccharide Gum-1. Despite all that, overall formula is bad, probably because of high alcohol, dimethicon and fragrance content. Shame.

Tested this over the course of four weeks and I don't like it at all.
- Has a really strong perfume scent which makes my eyes water and takes at least 10 minutes to fade away.
- Takes at least 30 minutes for the major shine this sunscreen gives to die down.
- Pills on my face no matter how I prime (applying it directly to cleansed skin or on top of an essence or on top of a light moisturizer).
- Caused a break out.
- Even the tube isn't good....too much of the product oozes into the cap so it's always a mess.
A few years ago I tried a BioTherm tinted moisturizer with SPF 15 and it didn't work for me either. I think I'll give BioTherm a pass from now on.

I've been testing a few other European (Eucerin, LRP and Korres) and Korean (Missha and Biore) sunscreens and so far the only other disappointment has been LRP. Will post about those soon. The search for the perfect sunscreen continues!

I've never been entirely "sold" on the whole idea/value/need for "essences" - it just seemed like one more bit of snake oil sales that the cosmetic companies were trying to convince us that we "need"....just one more step in the already complicated process of skin care (pre-cleanse, cleanse, tone, serum, AHA/BHA cream, moisturize, etc. etc.). But I picked this up on a whim and because it was 20X the points AND 20% off and I'd also seen someone on youtube raving about it and then I saw Redwings 11's review and she's not steered me wrong yet.

I LOVE this stuff. The bottle is designed not only to look beautiful but also to work well. It's an easy business to shake out the 4 or 5 drops the instructions say to use without wasting or spilling product. I like that this is meant to be applied with the hands rather than with a cotton pad as there is no waste. And to my utter amazement, this essence actually seems to "do" something. It's almost like a very light but effective moisturizer and I can see this being my only daytime moisturizer in the hot, humid, muggy days of summer, just topped with my LRP fluid sunscreen. And in winter - our legendary (not necessarily in a good way) Canadian winters - this will be a wonderful first layer before my facial serum or oil and moisturizer. This product has something almost like the "mother" you sometimes get in vinegar - I guess it's the plankton stuff - but it's why you shake it before use to get the "active ingredient" distributed throughout the product.

I received a deluxe sample of this in a gift set. It has a really nice cooling effect that’s very refreshing. It’s a moisturizing jelly-cream hybrid that isn’t tacky. It dries quickly and makes the skin feel even and smooth. But it’s very, very heavily scented. Its quite offensive smelling and lingers for a while. I don’t like it at all and would not repurchase the full jar. The jar itself is bulky and Unhygienic because you have to dip your fingers in it. Skip it!

This is a very light sunscreen. I will not repurchase due to the Homosalate 10% and AVOBENZONE. I knew it contained ECAMSULE (MEXORYL® SX) but was hoping the formula had a high percentage. This is worth trying for those that can do well with chemical sunscreen. I am ok with chemicals - Mexoryl, oxtinate (La Roche Posay spf 30 - Cdn version - reviewed) but many leave me with a rashy/blotchy complexion.

Available in Shoppers Drug Mart, Beauty Boutique (online) and biotherm.ca. $39.00 cdn for 40 ml bottle.


I emailed customer service for ingredients on Nov 22, 2017 and received a response on Feb 2, 2018.

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In response to your inquiry, here the list that you had requested:
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS ACTIFS (W/W)
HOMOSALATE 10%
OXYBENZONE 6%
OCTISALATE 5%
OCTOCRYLENE 5%
AVOBENZONE 3%
ECAMSULE (MEXORYL® SX) 2%

OTHER/AUTRES INGREDIENTS:
AQUA
CYCLOPENTASILOXANE
ALCOHOL DENAT.
CYCLOHEXASILOXANE
STYRENE/ACRYLATES COPOLYMER
SILICA
DICAPRYLYL ETHER
PEG-30 DIPOLYHYDROXYSTEARATE
DIMETHICONE
TRIETHANOLAMINE
GLYCERIN
NYLON-12
POLYMETHYLSILSESQUIOXANE
DICAPRYLYL CARBONATE
LAURYL PEG/PPG-18/18 METHICONE
PHENOXYETHANOL
PEG-8 LAURATE
CAPRYLYL GLYCOL
POLY C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE
DISTEARDIMONIUM HECTORITE
DISODIUM EDTA
ISOSTEARYL ALCOHOL
DODECENE
POLOXAMER 407
TOCOPHEROL
We thank you for your interest.