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

Whoops - forgot to say its for me and my postnatal stretch marks, but I think you can gather that from my post!

I have started using on DD who has got some very dry eczema (sp? sorry am exhausted ) It seems to have really moisturised her skin and she loves the smell. It hasn't really done anything to fade my old plastic surgery scar but I would have been surprised if it had, as it is nearly 40 years old and very deep. However, on the while, we do like it, the smell, the packaging, and the results. I've started to automaticallt reach for it for dry skin, dh's red nose (!) and dd's rash rather than what I used to use....if that makes sense.

I have been using the oil and am around 7 months pg, so have been using it on the parts of my body which are getting bigger (everywhere below the neck basically!).
I think it's a good product and I would recommend it to others. I have no stretch marks, that might be coincidence but I do feel that the oil has helped. My skin on my bump is very tight though and the bio oil can't magic that away. DH likes rubbing it into the bump and also steals the oil for his sports injuries but I doubt he would buy it as it looks quite girlie on the shelf. So, we're happy here and I will continue to use it definitely, even though it's not cheap. Thank you MNHQ for the product test!

I have to say I have fallen in love with bio oil

The scars on my legs have definately faded and my skin appears much smoother. I started using it on my face and neck too and my skin looks more even. I have quite a deep line on my neck and this has improved hugely.

I love the smell btw, there is something very relaxing about it.

Im not often impressed with the products I try but Bio oil has surpassed all my expectations. I am definately going to continue using it. I would also recommend it to my friends.

I really really think that changing the top to a flip lid is a fab idea and I'd really welcome this.

So, in conclusion, I love it!

I've been using it on my skin and 2 year old DD's. I think it has improved my skin and it's felt lovely and a bit indulgent to apply. It's made almost no difference to DD's birthmarks or dry skin although it has been easier to apply and better tolerated than other creams and there have definitely been no flare ups while she's used it.

So like several other mnetters, I will probably continue to use it but more on an as needed basis or if I see it on special offer in the shops!

DD2's scar looks much smoother and because if this it looks less noticeable. I will continue to use Bio-oil on it.
I was using it on my own dry skin and it has soothed and improved certain areas.

My melasma on my face is possibly slightly fainter. However my section scar is unchanged, dark, puckered and angry. Slightly disappointed about this.

I used it on my hands and feet. Having initially thought my skin wasn't greasy, I then noticed if I put it on my feet overnight and put them in bedsocks to try to lock the oil in I skidded all over the carpet the next day!

Despite all this I quite like the product though. I would buy it if it were on offer, but I wouldn't be rushing to endorse it to a friend.

Thankyou for the trial though.

I used Bio Oil on my stretch marked tummy and boobs, c-section scar, dry skin on my hands and some very old scars on my forearm.

I've certainly found that my stretched skin feels much softer and smoother and even a little more toned since I've been using the Bio Oil but I haven't noticed any visual improvement so while it's nicer to run my hand over, I still don't like what I see in the mirror and there is absolutely no way I'll ever be wearing a bikini again! That said, my skin being smoother and firmer has made me feel a bit more confident with DH so he says it's worth every penny

My hands have also been softer, smoother and more comfortable.

I didn't notice any improvement at all in the scars on my forearm. They are quite old so already white and fairly soft but they're no less raised or obvious for having been rubbed with Bio Oil. My section scar is similarly unchanged even though it's much newer (2 years old next Saturday in fact :) )

I'd probably buy it again if I saw it on offer or maybe before a holiday or big event but I can't see myself buying it for regular use as it's just too expensive . I'm also not convinced that rubbing in bog standard baby oil wouldn't have a similar smoothing and firming effect either. Once my bottle of Bio Oil is empty, I'm going to have a try and see.

I probably would recommend Bio Oil to a friend but only as one of a few possible alternatives if they were worried about sagging skin. I wouldn't recommend it for scars.

I really enjoyed doing the trial, thank you.

Ok I have been using this mainly on my stomach since having ds 13 weeks ago. Tbh I haven't been doing it as often as requested, partly because I haven't been able to keep it in sight as I needed to keep it out of dd's reach.

I definitely makes a difference to the feel of my skin and you can tell if it hasn't been used. I don't think there is much difference in the stretch marks on my tummy however my tummy has been through slot so maybe it would have looked a lot worse without it!

I like the smell more now as well

Thanks for sending it to me.

I do think my scar is less bumpy now (it is already quite faded as it is 20+ years old so I wasn't judging on that)

I think it feels like a good quality product, however the price would actually put me off buying more. The flip top lid is definitely a good idea as it makes so much mess with the lid being the way it currently is.

Thank you

I've got into a pattern of blathering this on my belly and thighs, plus my boobs and the sry skin around my upper arms and shoulders after a bath or shower. I stopped trying to use it twice a day, though, because I didn't like the feeling - it didn't feel like it was absorbed the second time and just felt a bit claggy.

There's no change in my stretchmarks, but I expected this. It's impossible for any product to repair the torn collagen under my skin. My skin is softer and notably less itchy, though and the relatively recent scar formed by a small cyst or zit has faded a lot. I have no idea if it would have done naturally, by now, though. Older scars are totally unchanged.

My husband also has acne on his back and a lot of scaly and scarred skin which gets very itchy and he's actually found it quite soothing to use, occasionally.

I owuld suggest it to someone having problems with dry skin, as it feels a lot lighter and more soothing than creams and lotions, which tend to add a lot of gunk to your skin. I would tell someone not to bother if they were wondering about it for old scarring, though.

Usual name 5inthebed, thi is my christmas name :)

I have been using it on both myself and DS3 (aged 3).

With myself I have noticed that my stetchmarks are less angry looking, they are not as red/pink and look less like a tiger has mauled my stomach. Will definitely continue to use it in the hope they become more skin colour.

The scar on DS3s head has also slightly faded, it wasn't red to begin with more pink, and now is more skin colour than before. Again, will continue to use.

I have been using the Bio-Oil on myself on some stretch marks on my stomach and a small scar on my shoulder.

I havent really found a difference in my scar as its right on the top of my shoulder where my bra strap is and is slightly raised anyway.

I have found it is making my skin alot smoother and softer and i dont have the tight pulling on my skin as i rub it in any more. My stretch marks are definatley not as read and my skin is a more even tone too.

I also agree with the others regarding the flip top and i will definatley continue to use it.

Oh yeah this is my Xmas name normally LovesBeing

I have generally enjoyed it using it. The scar does seem to have faded a bit and that whole area of CS scar and stretch marks seems a lot less taut and uncomfortable than it was so it's definitely had a soothing action.The redness has faded as well, so it does look better. I'm not sure I would carry on using it, but mostly because of the cost really. I actually quite miss the smell now I've finished the bottle.

I would (and have!) recommend it to others. If I had another pregnancy I would definitely use it to try and prevent more stretchmarks.

My normal name is AlmaMartyr, this is my Christmas name!

Using it for my stomach stretch marks and ds2's chicken pox scars.

My marks have definitely faded to a silvery colour rather than the angry red / bruised purple look (attractive). In rubbing it in, I've also helped my hands that get ridiculously dry at this time of year. Would certainly recommend to someone else.

Ds2 has enjoyed the game of dabbing it on his scars, it makes him giggle like a loon it's also easy for him to 'help' without creating an unholy mess as the bottle controls the amount to a large extent. There has been definite fading of his red scars, though obviously the bad ones are pits that won't change now. I think it's been quite soothing for the ones in his nappy area as they were still irritated even weeks after the illness had passed.

Probably won't apply twice a day every day now, but would always keep a bottle in the house if possible. In fact I now have two.

the smell or fragrance of the oil
Inoffensive, clean and reminisant of pregnancy.
~ how easy it was to apply
Very easy, but the bottle is very drippy and slippery
~ how it felt on your skin
Soft and smooth once it had been absorbed, great for winter hands too
~ please do state where you are using it
The surgery scar on my neck is not as tight and the stretch marks on tummy and thighs have faded to grey/silver.
I would definately reccomend bio-oil

Have been mainly using it on my scar on my neck and the stretchmarks on my stomach.

I think the scar on my neck feels smoother and is less noticeable.

My stretchmarks don't seem to have faded but my stomach feels nice and moisturised.

I have to say I don't find the smell overly offensive but it is still quite a definite smell. Being pregnant and having a heightened sense of smell has put me off using it on occasion.

I've always fancied using it but always found it out of my price range. I would recommend it to anyone with scarring

I have been using bio oil for about 2 years (still on same bottle,goes along way). I had a mole on my face which I had checked at the hospital and it was fine. This mole was very itchy so I used the bio oil just to relieve the itch. Now I struggle to find the mole. I didn't use bio oil to get rid of it but it did.

I use it at night because it is oily (well it is called bio OIL).

It's fine, havent used it every day as forget but I would say stretchmark has definitely faded. Still got lots left and will use it all up but dont think I would regularly buy it as it's a bit pricey. I recommended it to a friend for a scar she has from an op.

I wasn't part of this trial but did part with twenty quid off to buy some two years ago to try to improve a crescent scar on my daughter's face.

I saw no improvement whatsoever - all that happened was a whitehead occurred near the scar site which made matters worse.

Maybe we werejust unlucky?

I have been using it on pregnancy stretchmarks - tbh they had already faded a fair bit and I don't think they have faded much more. However I have been rubbing it into dry, sore winter hands and it is lovely and soothing for that. I love the smell. i do think the branding is a little dated and could perhaps be modernised.

DD8 has been using the bio oil on a newish scar on her knee, the scar doesnt seem to have faded at all but the scarr is not itchy any more, shes still using it every day twice.

Even although its not physically helping the scar its helping dd come to terms with having the scar, she wouldnt even look at it or touch it before she started using the bio oil and now she seems to accept it.

The more I've used it the more I've found rings on my dresser which are not present at first, but I note that this is an issue that has been found by many other users!

I'm the only person who has been using it. I have found though that as my original stretch marks have started to fade really well I've found myself being quite picky and noticing other fainter ones that I hadn't noticed before the bigger ones faded. Twice daily Bio Oil bath anyone?

I've also found that in comparison the areas that haven't been treated are quite dry - considering I usually slather myself in E45 anyway the difference is so noticable and I was rather shocked!

On reading the box I also discovered that it can be used for dry skin (I hadn't realised previously as the advertising focuses on it's use for stretch marks/scars etc) so I have started to use it on my face and it has made a HUGE difference. Not only is my skin in far better contition but I have lots of tiny scars as a result of teenage acne and the difference is amazing. I have to say that I think the advertising should be changed slightly to emphasise that it can be used for really dry skin - had I known I would have tried it years ago.

I note that some posters have said that the packaging is quite old fashioned which I agree with to an extent, but I like the fact that it looks as though it is packaged as a beauty product rather than a clinical intervention. Personally I found that it made me feel less "self conscious" looking at it on my dresser - it was something that I chose to use rather than feeling like it was something I had to use. I think that if the packaging is to be changed then the company would do well to make it look as non clinical as possible (I take a number of medications etc already so it was important for me tht it looked like this was a little "luxury" as opposed to something that was necessary). I know it sounds stupid but it made me feel better!!

Personally I love the smell and the texture, it is so easily absorbed and left my hands feeling really soft too.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that I will use Bio Oil permanently, and definitely encourage others to use it (bottles have already made their way into goodie bags for two pregnant friends!) However, as others have said, it is quite pricey so I might reduce use to once a day as opposed to twice just for "maintenance".

I have been using Bio Oil on my pregnancy stretch marks, worst ones on stomach, c-section scar, and scars on my arms.

My stretch marks look the same. It's not made any difference.
C-sections scar and scars on my arms are paler and a little more blended into my skin texture and tone.

I have dry skin on my hands and I expected with regular use the Bio Oil would've made it softer but it hasn't. I'm a bit disappointed by that.

I like using the oil, it's nice to rub in and has a soothing smell. I will continue to use it until the bottle is empty but I wouldn't buy any more as it's expensive and I don't feel it has made a huge difference to my skin.

If I was to get pregnant again I would consider buying it to see if it stopped me from getting any more stretchmarks, but would depend on if it was on special offer!
I'd recommend it to others for use on scars but probably not for stretchmarks or dry skin conditions.

Thank you for including me in this product test