Biologique Recherche P50V
I discovered Biologique Recherche's P50V from Caroline Hirons, the skin care superwoman behind the must read carolinehirons.com. She recently sat down with Pixiwoo for an enlightening skin care-centric episode of BodyTalk that is NOT to be missed (embedded at the end of the post -- watch it, seriously!) and reminded me to order the P50V I've had on my wishlist since I began reading Caroline's blog months ago.
I've never used an exfoliating toner before, and now I don't think I could ever not use one... I know I've touted baby butt soft skin from Caudalie's Vinosource SOS Thirst Quenching Serum, but pair that with this and you're left with the most supple, soft, amazing, every good skin care adjective EVER. Even though I'm only 24, and not dead and dusted by any means, this makes my skin feel incredibly younger and fresher and makeup goes on without a hitch -- no random dry bits to cling to, no icky texture, less pigmentation to conceal. Without good skin care, your makeup will never look 100% and with this, my face is becoming the perfect canvas.
BUT.
Let's talk ingredients. Caroline posted about the formula changing, but only in the EU. Why? Phenol. From what I gather, the EU has banned its use, so it appears that Biologique Recherche have created a phenol-less formula for the EU and the original formula remains in the US. The original formula leaves you with a nice sting and a terrible, long lasting smell upon application -- 2 things that Caroline says the new EU formula is missing. So does the phenol-less formula work just the same? I don't know. What I do know is that I'm not sure that I want to be putting phenol on my face after a quick google search. I don't know how safe it truly is, especially given the ban in the EU. So great. Too good to be true. It had to be. Part of me wishes that I lived in the country that had the ban so I could continue to purchase the product, but at the moment I am a little wary of repurchasing the original formula... which is painful... BECAUSE THIS IS JESUS IN A BOTTLE.
So, now taking applications for anyone who wants to switch lives in a permanent, international Freaky Friday because this shit is worth it. Until then, I think I will resort to Caroline's other favorite, Clarins' Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner. But as luck would have it, even that looks hard to track down in the states...? Oh maybe I'll just try Alpha H Liquid Gold, out wait.. can't get my hands on that one easily either here in CA.
What gives?! Does the universe not want me to be properly exfoliated?!
**UPDATE!!** It looks like Rescue Rittenhouse Spa sells the phenol-less version too! I plan on comparing them! The 1970 on the bottle indicates that particular bottle contains the old formula with phenol, so don't purchase that if you want to try it out phenol-free!
I've never used an exfoliating toner before, and now I don't think I could ever not use one... I know I've touted baby butt soft skin from Caudalie's Vinosource SOS Thirst Quenching Serum, but pair that with this and you're left with the most supple, soft, amazing, every good skin care adjective EVER. Even though I'm only 24, and not dead and dusted by any means, this makes my skin feel incredibly younger and fresher and makeup goes on without a hitch -- no random dry bits to cling to, no icky texture, less pigmentation to conceal. Without good skin care, your makeup will never look 100% and with this, my face is becoming the perfect canvas.
BUT.
Let's talk ingredients. Caroline posted about the formula changing, but only in the EU. Why? Phenol. From what I gather, the EU has banned its use, so it appears that Biologique Recherche have created a phenol-less formula for the EU and the original formula remains in the US. The original formula leaves you with a nice sting and a terrible, long lasting smell upon application -- 2 things that Caroline says the new EU formula is missing. So does the phenol-less formula work just the same? I don't know. What I do know is that I'm not sure that I want to be putting phenol on my face after a quick google search. I don't know how safe it truly is, especially given the ban in the EU. So great. Too good to be true. It had to be. Part of me wishes that I lived in the country that had the ban so I could continue to purchase the product, but at the moment I am a little wary of repurchasing the original formula... which is painful... BECAUSE THIS IS JESUS IN A BOTTLE.
So, now taking applications for anyone who wants to switch lives in a permanent, international Freaky Friday because this shit is worth it. Until then, I think I will resort to Caroline's other favorite, Clarins' Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner. But as luck would have it, even that looks hard to track down in the states...? Oh maybe I'll just try Alpha H Liquid Gold, out wait.. can't get my hands on that one easily either here in CA.
What gives?! Does the universe not want me to be properly exfoliated?!
**UPDATE!!** It looks like Rescue Rittenhouse Spa sells the phenol-less version too! I plan on comparing them! The 1970 on the bottle indicates that particular bottle contains the old formula with phenol, so don't purchase that if you want to try it out phenol-free!
If you need a volunteer to ship it over from you i'm from the UK ... & met Caroline at a bloggers event!! Seriously just as amazing in person ... she tried to set me up with her son! anyway happy to send some over if you need it! :D
ReplyDeleteOooOoo what an offer! ;) AND YOU MET THE SKIN CARE QUEEN YOURSELF!? what a lucky gal.
DeleteLooks amazing, Caroline is my skin god! xxx
ReplyDeleteMaddy from UNSTITCHEDD
♥
bow down to the skin god!! :D
DeleteI have had this on my wishlist for yonks too! She recently said that the Pixi Glow Tonic was very similar so I think I will try that first as it's a lot cheaper. Not sure if you are able to get that easily?
ReplyDeleteThat is definitely something I am interested in trying, but sadly I don't have easy access to it in the states. I'm thinkin' I need to take a trip to the UK!!! :D
DeleteActually pehnol is a family of compounds, not one in particular, all of them smell really bad and actually, one of them is used to mark the gas that you have at home, which is odorless, for us to know when there's a leek. It's not the best thing to put on your face but I don't think that a bottle of this would do any harm in the long run ;)
ReplyDeleteMiss your videos a looot! :D You always make me laugh!
what about 100 bottles over the rest of my lifetime. I don't want to let this go!!!!! My skin is so soft!
Deletelove the post, chelsea! I too have become devoted to my exfolianting toners!
ReplyDeleteI buy Alpha H Liquid Gold from http://www.beautybay.com/skincare/alphah/g/liquidgold/
delivery is free to anywhere in the US!
Hope that helps you! x
Ooo thank you!!
DeleteI buy my alpha H products from beautybay as well. Amazing products and worth all the hype.I bought this set from them and it was a great way to try a few products from their range
Deletehttp://www.beautybay.com/skincare/alphah/beautybayantiageingdiscoverycollection/
They also carry ThisWorks products which are also amazing
I buy my alpha H products from beautybay as well. Amazing products and worth all the hype.I bought this set from them and it was a great way to try a few products from their range
Deletehttp://www.beautybay.com/skincare/alphah/beautybayantiageingdiscoverycollection/
They also carry ThisWorks products which are also amazing
Clarins in the usa has the exfoliating toner but it has a different name. it's called Bright Plus HP
ReplyDeleteGentle Renewing Brightening Peel. a mouth full lol! it's great i have been using it for 2 weeks and i'm loving the results!!
Aaahh thank you! I thought I was going nuts because I could never find it on US sites! That explains it!
DeleteUgh, I know what you mean! Nearly every skincare item on my wish list is from the UK and is super expensive to be shipped here.
ReplyDeletethe worst, grass is greener on the other side of the pond!! ;)
DeleteHahah!! I hope it works for you -- let me know if the phenol-less formula does wonders for your skin!
ReplyDeletePaula's Choice has a 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant that is free of all the nasties like alcohol and fragrance, and it's inexpensive. Might be worth a go!
ReplyDeleteChelsea, I also follow Caroline's Blog and yours and one of her last posts listed Aveda products in the organics line that also has an exfoliating toner...I bought the travel bag of the line and for the last 2 weeks I have loved the way my skin feels and looks...Thanks for this post...if I have a friend going across the pond I will certainly put an order in...I am also in Calif. and could get it to you...Love your videos....glad you are back here for a while???~Marsha
ReplyDeleteI also am a big fan of Caroline's! I can't tell you how many times I've posted on her blog or Instagram asking her to do a post dedicated to those of us in the US regarding her top product picks! Is the Emma Hardy balm really worth the $55 price tag?
ReplyDeleteI too picked up the Aveda exfoliator she mentioned and I've been using it for about two weeks- I have been blessed with pretty good skin and truthfully I can't tell if its really made a difference. I think I may grab that Clarins one mentioned
Someone told me once that one of the reasons the UK is so quick to ban ingredients like that is because of their universal healthcare system. They don't want to take the risk because if it does end up causing cancer, etc. then they'll have to end up paying for it in the end.
ReplyDeleteHi ladies!!
ReplyDeleteI'm coming to the US next month and I'll be hitting the drugstores don't worry!
Thank you for the kind words.
:)
Cx
Hi- I was wondering if you had the opportunity to compare the phenol and phenol free- I can only get the Phenol Free at the moment- is it as good as the phenol one?
ReplyDelete