@valentinacabassi
I’ll admit it: I am absolutely, unabashedly, part of the cult of Biologique Recherche. My hero product? Their cult classic exfoliator, Lotion P50 1970. Believe me when I tell you that never before has a single product improved my skin so drastically with regular use. While my skin is definitely not perfect, I can say that it’s definitely clearer, smoother, and brighter than it’s ever been in my adult life. And as someone who suffered from bad breakouts for her entire 20’s, being complimented for glowing skin (it happened!) is worth the luxurious price tag.
If you haven’t heard of my personal holy grail product, allow me to introduce you. P50 is a highly effective (and notoriously smelly) toner that exfoliates, hydrates and balances skin’s pH. Here’s how it works: after cleansing, put a few drops of this notoriously smelly liquid on a gauze pad (they soak up less product than cotton rounds, so more goes on your skin!) and gently pat into your skin. Don’t worry, stinging, numbness, and redness is normal. And voilà — you’re ready for serums and creams.
In their infinite skincare expertise, BR has an entire line of their beloved toner, some with the controversial ingredient phenol and some without (rule of thumb: anything with 1970 in the name contains it). Such a variety is great, but definitely makes it tough to decide which variation to snag. Well, we’re here to break it down for you, based on your skin type and concerns. Read on to find out which P50 is right for you.
Oily or Acne-prone: This skin type (which happens to be mine) needs everything P50’s got. The classic formula (either the standard P50 or P50 1970) is a great pick for you. Not only does it slough away the dead skin that can easily clog pores, it helps regulate excess oil production.
Dry: If you need a little extra moisture alongside your exfoliation, P50V is the formula for you. It boasts all the benefits of the OG formula but with the addition of yeast extract, which gives skin an extra brightening and conditioning boost.
Hyperpigmented: If you’re looking for help evening your skin tone, try P50 PIGM 400. This variation uses Wasabi Extract to bump up the liquid’s dark spot fighting power while counteracting redness, inflammation, and breakouts that can lead to more discoloration.
Sensitive: If all this talk about tingling exfoliation makes your sensitive skin nervous, try P50W, the most gentle and moisturizing of the bunch. This formula exfoliates just as effectively as any other, but includes Arnica Extract and Soapbark Extract to soothe and protect skin.
Pregnant: Yes, you can use P50 while pregnant, as long as you avoid any formulations containing phenol. That means any formulation with “1970” is a no-go for now, but you can always add it back to your beauty cabinet in 9 months.
