NOW CLOSED: Bio-Oil Review Feedback Thread - now with final questions added

[AnnMumsnet]

This thread is for the 50 MNers who are trying out Bio-Oil on their skin.

If you don't know about Bio-Oil - then they say: "Built into a daily skin care routine, Bio-Oil can be applied all over the body, including the face. Specialist skincare for scars, stretch marks, uneven skin tone, dehydrated skin and dry skin For best results Bio-Oil should be applied twice daily for a minimum of 3 months"

We're asking for those taking part to add feedback at least twice - any additional comments are also welcome - we want first impressions and later on we will add some additional questions after 4-6 weeks - though as noted above this is a longer term product as well. Please note this is in no way a clinical trial and we are simply after 'real' feedback on the oil and any changes in the condition of skin noted by those using it.

Everyone who is part of the project and adds two lots of feedback will be entered into a prize draw where one winner will get a £100 Boots voucher.

Bio-Oil can also be used on children aged 2 and over so if you are using it on a child please state this in your response.

So, first impressions:
Please let us know your ....
~ overall first impressions
and your views on:
~ the smell or fragrance of the oil
~ how easy it was to apply
~ how it felt on your skin
~ please do state where you are using it

Thanks
MNHQ

~ overall first impressions
I've seen the bottles before, so not a surprise, but agree with others, a flip top would be very helpful. I don't think a pump would, as you'd have far too much wastage

~ the smell or fragrance of the oil
Quite pleasant smelling, inoffensive and not overpowering.

~ how easy it was to apply
I drip some into my hands for myself, but for DS2 who has chicken pox scarring, I'm inverting the bottle and applying with fingertip. Pretty easy really.

~ how it felt on your skin
Soaks in really well, as long as you don't over do it!

~ please do state where you are using it
DS2 - individual chicken pox scars all over body.
Myself, stomach (stretch marks) and might now try sparingly on my face (some spot scars)

Finding it hard to remember to apply twice a day at the moment!

~ overall first impressions - Nice little bottle and good info about the product in the leaflet.

and your views on:
~ the smell or fragrance of the oil - The smell is pleasant with out being over wealming.

~ how easy it was to apply - It went on easily although have only used it once as i have had a bad neck/back and was unable to move properly to apply it but im fine now!

~ how it felt on your skin - Felt ok and using sparingly i find it pulls on my skin so i used a little more although that might just be me.

~ please do state where you are using it - Imusing it on my stretch marks on my stomach and inner thighs and a couple of small scars.

first impressions - wheres the child lock cap!!!
but it smelt nice, not overpowering, was easy to apply, not too much came out at one time, felt nice on skin, made skin feel soft and supple.

I am using it on my dry feet and knees, my thigh/hip area stretch marks, and acne scars on my back and chest, i feell ike it is too greasy to use on acne scars on my face?

I also intend to use it on my dd3s dry/eczema type skin condition (not properly diagnosed) around her neck, and under arms.

My overall first impression is that I like it. The smell is nice and its not greasy which is what i expected. I do think the packaging is a bit 'medical' looking though.

It was easy to apply, though very easy to use too much due to the packaging design. It felt lovely on my skin and my hands felt nice after - i thought i would want to wash my hands after applying it but i didnt.

I am using on my section scar.

So far - thumbs up!

I have to say I'm loving the bio oil.

I really love the smell, I can't quite place what it is but I find it a really relaxing smell.

I totally agree with the person who said a flip top would be easier.

It's really easy to apply. A little goes a long way and it soaks it really well, no greasy residue like other oils I've tried.

I'm using it on the two scares on my stomach and on my legs where I have scares from insect bites. I haven't noticed any difference with the scares yet but my skin does feel a lot smoother. Have only been using it a week though so it's probably too early for it to have worked on tbe scares.

Ok, so my first impressions.

• Overall first impressions

I think the packaging is nice and simple. Pretty non offensive. Oil is a nice pleasant colour. Nice compact size.

• Smell of the fragrance of the oil

I was pleasantly surprised by the smell. I am pregnant and everything smells stronger at the moment so anything fragranced makes me feels sick. Anyway, I found the smell very subtle and pleasant.

• How easy it was to apply

A little difficult to get any large amount out of the bottle. I understand you have to use it sparingly but I still needed to bash it on my palm a few times to get enough out to cover my belly

• How it felt on your skin

It seemed to soak in really quickly and easily and felt soothing.

• Where using it

I am using it on my belly for pregnancy stretchmarks from my previous two pregnancies (and possible new ones from this pg). I am also using a little on a scar on my chest/neck where I had a small lump removed years ago. I didn't plan to use it on my face but am also trying it on my face as I have unseen skin tone and dry patches.

Oh no, I thought I'd already posted but can't see it now so looks like I closed the preview before actually posting. Sorry for being so late!

My first impression was that the oil looks and smells like a nice spa type product.

The smell is really lovely. Can't quite decide what it reminds me of, perhaps a little bit of cinnamon?

It's quite easy to apply, though the oil is very runny (obviously!). It sinks in very quickly, so although I put it on after my shower in the morning and at bedtime I don't worry about greasy stains on clothes/pyjamas.

I put it on a stretchmark-y area on my upper thigh/hip. Also rub what's left on my hands after application into my fingers and knuckles as they get really dry when it's cold. Hands much better already.

First impressions - quite pleasantly surprised by the fact it was simply packaged and clearly labelled.

Smell or fragrance of the oil - I find the smell of the oil quite pleasant

Ease of application- i've had no problems with applying at all

How it felt on your skin- it feels lovely on my skin as long as I don't use too much or it takes a while to absorb into my skin

Where you are using it? I'm using it on quite bad stretchmarks under my arms and on my belly following children and weight loss/gain. I also have a bad scar from implanon removal on my arm and scars on my belly from surgery.
I can already notice a huge difference with the scarring. They seem to be fading in colour and also the raised texture seems to be sinking - I think the stretch marks seem better - the ones under my arms were quite deep and just feel better
Very impressed so far

~ overall first impressions

I was really pleasantly surprised by it, I thought the packaging was great and the colour and smell good, the only thing I didn't like to much was how greasy it is, but I think I used too much to start with!

~ the smell or fragrance of the oil

Lovely smell, like an aromathy oil

~ how easy it was to apply

Once I got used to it, it was easy, although you have to be careful when pouring it out - I have learned to let it sort of 'dribble'

~ how it felt on your skin

It feels very nice on my skin, and seems to soak in quite well and quickly

~ please do state where you are using it

I have been using it on a plastic surgery scar on my arm and on my very dry legs.

Oh and DH has discovered it and has been using it on his nose - which has been broken so many times, it's red and dry - attractive sounding or what....! He's very impresssed so far too.

wouldnt it be great if there was a bio oil with tea tree/ witch hazel etc, for acne skin, so as well as reducing scars it was fighting spot causing bacteria/open pores etc....

My 8yo dd is using this on a scar on her knee that she got mid august by the brake of a bike slicing her leg.

~ overall first impressions

Looks good, simple box and bottle.
and your views on:

~ the smell or fragrance of the oil
Dd doesn't like the smell.

~ how easy it was to apply
She says it goes on really easy, she s managing to put itbon herself and she's not spilling any

~ how it felt on your skin
Greasy and oily going on but makes the area feel soft.

~ please do state where you are using it

Just above the left knee, where a bike brake sliced through the skin.

Late to the trial as my package was festering in the local sorting office until I could haul my enormous pg arse over to collect it. Anyway.... Overall first impression is that the packaging looks a bit cheap (80s?) and despite the name it doesn't look like a very natural product.
I found the smell quite inoffensive (that's a good thing).
It was easy to apply although I need to use lots and lots as I am pregnant so it involves rubbing into bump, boobs, legs- takes a while especially twice a day while a toddler is shouting at you.
Tiny query about whether it is ok to use skin products with Vit A when you are pg as some books say not to and I am sure I saw someone on MN ruling out lavender when pg too
I didn't find it greasy actually and get dressed quite quickly afterwards.
Overall I think I am going to like this product especially if it delivers on its promises.

BTW, for the record, I have just given myself a new scar and as soon as it's healed enough I will be putting the bio oil to a test on it!

~ overall first impressions
The box looks quite plain and medical, which fits with the purpose. I agree with other points that a pump on the top of the product would make it alot easier to get it out more neatly. I've been using it for a week now on my tummy and arms - my skin is definitely more moisturised, smoother and softer. I have a skin condition on my arms I've had since I was 9 which my GP told me could not be cured and I'd just have to live with. I wasn't intending on using bio oil on my arms but since I had it and it said it worked on dehydrated skin and my arms looked dry I thought I'd give it a go. My arms are looking better than they have in years
~ the smell or fragrance of the oil
I find the smell quite chemically and synthetic. I don't particularly like it and wouldn't choose it based on the fragrance but I think I will get used to it and might like it more over time
~ how easy it was to apply
Very slippery and oily (obviously) but easy to apply and rub in
~ how it felt on your skin
It felt smooth and greasy initially but given a few minutes most of it was completely absorbed which was good, so I didn't find I had a greasy residue all day. I have been using a little more at night as it doesn't matter if I am a bit slimy
~ please do state where you are using it
stretch marks on tummy, csection scar and skin complaint on arms that I thought I'd try

Tee2072 - that's above and beyond the call of duty!

I thought it might give me an 'in' for the voucher, Ann!

DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME....

No, please don't! My hand freakin' hurts!

I've been using this since Tuesday as have been away at the weekend. Using it on my stretch marks and on DS3s scar on his forehead.

First impressions, the colour is different to what I expected, I excpected a yellow colour, so was a nice surprise. The smell is ok, doesn't irritate my heightened sense of smell at all.

Easy enough to apply, first time I aprobably applied too much as it came out faster than anticipated, better the second time round.

Left my skin, including my hands feeling lovely and soft, not oily at all.

Quite pleased overall so far.

Not part of the study but I used this from the day I found out I was pg and got on very well with it apart from a couple of weeks in the first tm when the smell made me feel very sick :( However I have not a single stretch mark and (although most people seem to think this is genetic - ta Ma!) I do think it helped :)

please do state where you are using it
I'm using it on my CS scar, which also has stretchmarks over it (that makes me sound like such a catch!)

overall first impressions
I like the packaging, quite simple but not too medical looking. The bottle is quite a handy size although perhaps another type of lid would be good (pump action or something that dribbles out less easily perhaps?)

the smell or fragrance of the oil
It's a very odd smell and I was a bit taken aback at first but I really like it now. I find it quite soothing and not too 'fragranced'.

how easy it was to apply
I do find that it's quite difficult to control how much comes out, but it's very easy to apply once it has. A little oil goes a long way and it doesn't leave my hands too greasy - it seems to sink in very quickly.

how it felt on your skin
Very nice and almost instantly soothing really. I find my skin around the scar is often itchy but that's already passed even though I've only been using it for a few days. I've occasionally put a bit on my face when it's felt a bit chapped from being out in the cold/wet/windy weather and it calms it down immediately.

This thread has made me order Bio-oil :)

~ overall first impressions
I too think the bottle needs a different design lid, far too easy to use too much with the current design, but I love the oil itself, nice a light and skin doesnt feel greasy after, I am using it on my legs, but feel I could use it on my face if needed due to its lightness.

~ the smell or fragrance of the oil
Love the smell, it reminds me of suncream and holidays!

~ how easy it was to apply
Very easy to apply, tho also easy to over-apply due to the lid....

~ how it felt on your skin
feels lovely on my skin, soaks in very fast without leaving a greasy film, which I cant stand.

~ please do state where you are using it
I am using it on some ugly stretchmarks on my thighs, which I got due to badly swollen legs (pre-eclampsia) in my first pregnancy 6 years ago, have only been using it for 4 days so far, but already the skin seems smoother.