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

I've been using the oil on my post natal tummy stretch marks and my csection scar (and thought I'd give it a go on a skin condition on my arms and in the last couple of weeks have given it a go on my horrible very dry hands).

Re: stretch marks and scar - I'm not sure the marks have faded much but my tummy feels softer and smoother which has given the impression to reduce their obviousness IYKWIM.

The smell still bothers me - I found it odd - sort of sweet and sickly but chemically and artificial. I still dislike it. And the bottle lid has ben driving me mad, especially when using the oil on my hands as I end out either spilling some oil over the floor as I put it on my hands or covering the lid with oil. Could definitely do with a pump lid for ease.

Using it on my arms, which have small spots all over them which my GP has told me is an inherited skin condition that they can do nothing to assist with (had it for 20 years). I found this really helped the condition, my lumpy arm skin is not as obvious as before and I would definitely use this in the summer when my arms are on show (I assume it has helped as it has moisturised the area although the creams I've used in the past have always made the spots go all red and more obvious - this didn't).

In the past week I've been trying it on my hands where I have really dry hands which are turning very hard and also cracking. I know it isn't what I officially said I'd trial it for but I thought I'd see if it helps. It seems it didn't help my hand dehydrated skin as much as I had hoped and my hand cream was much more sucessful (realise this wasn't why I was asked to try it though).

Overall, I'd use it again as it really helps my skin become softer and more moisturised, especially on my arms, but I wouldn't use it twice daily, more an occasional usage product.

I have been using it.

I noticed that it had an effect on emerging stretch marks, but not those that were already fading.

on a scar on my thigh about a year old it had no effects.

In was very very good at moisturising my dry knees and removing marks and dry skin from the top of my feet, that had been caused by bites, scratches, shoes etc.

My cuticles and nails looked lovely!

it was good at preventing and reducing acne scarring on my back and i occasionally used it at night time on my face and it had a good effect, even though i used it sporadically.

Tbh i found it quite hard to keep up the routine, and apply twice a day and quite a few days i only did it once.

I also wasnt sure when the best time to apply was, after bath? wet skin or dry? etc.

I would recommend it and buy it and use it again, but i would consider it a luxury item, and a treat for myself, rather then something which i used as part of my regular routine (ie body lotion, toner, face cream etc)

I've been using it on my stomach for the 4 year old and 8 week old stretch marks.

I haven't been able to use it constantly because I've had excema flair ups on my hands with lots of broken skin. I hoped the bio-oil would improve the excema but it made them unbearable itchy. The bio-oil didn't cause the flair ups though.

Even so the new stretch marks have faded a lot, i'm not sure about the old ones yet.

The skin on my hands is always rough, but it was noticeably softer between the flair ups.

I'd love to use it regularly and would recommend it to people with scars or stretch marks. I'll keep.using it when o can.

we'd like to know generally how you are getting on with the Bio-Oil,

I'm the only one using this in our house. I really like the smell of the bio-oil but I think when I go back to wearing perfume (when DC are a bit older and I'm not carting around a giant 5mo ) I would probably find that the smell interferes with that and so wouldn't use it then or at least would be careful about where I use it. I like the smoothness of my skin where I have been using it (on stretchmarks on stomach, hips, thighs and sides of c-section scar - haven't used it all along the scar as I have too much of an overhang.....time to lose the baby weight really). I honestly can't stand the packaging though - you definitely need to do something about it for 2 reasons - 1. ease of application and 2. it looks cheap and nasty and the main reason why I wouldn't buy again is simply price - it's out of my budget.....any chance of a smaller, cheaper bottle??

what changes (if any) you have noticed with your skin,

I think my stretchmarks look less angry and purpley and the skin does feel a lot smoother.

whether you think you'll continue to use it and whether you'd recommend it to others with similar skin issues to yourself.

I would like to continue using it (although I really only get to use it once a day due to velcro baby) but price is a real issue - especially now as we're trying all sorts of ways to cut the household expenditure - it's a real luxury item as it stands.

I've been using this mainly on 2 scars on my arm. They are definitely less purple and the edges are smoother. I have a number of older scars too and they look better which I'm surprised about, I thought they were here to stay.

I have sometimes been using it on my face and body too and honestly, the skin on my face hasn't looked this good in years. It seems to have cleared my spots up - is that normal?

I suddenly got a weird patch of dry skin on my eyelid and it cleared that up quickly.

I probably would continue to buy it, it is a bit expensive but a little seems to go a long way. As others have said, it is a little fiddly - it comes out of the bottle and then it all seems to get all over the bottle and then gets all over everything. So the design could be improved.

I've been using it on my dry skin, mainly on arms and legs but also on ym face. I apply it to my face at night and I don't get that tight dry feeling that I get with moisturiser,
My arm and leg dryness has all but gone, I think mine was a side effect of medication,and not allergy related but it's a massive improvement. I've not tried it properly on my scar on my arm though

The bottle does get a bit greasy!

Otherwise the oil is lovely. I think the stretchmarks on my hips seem ever so slightly more pale. Before they looked almost like scars, and now they are slightly less pronounced.

I'd recommend it to others because of the smell, but how much difference can something applied externally really make?

It seems to have had little effect on existing scars and stretchmarks, although the skin around them is lovely and soft.
I did manage to burn myself twice during the trial, which would normally have left me with small scars from past experience, but using the Bio-Oil on the area seems to have prevented it.
It has had no effect on the dry skin on my hands either, which I was hoping it would.
I will continue to use the bottle I have, but I don't think I'd bother buying it for myself, as it is expensive.

Thanks to all those who have added their feedback on this - much appreciated.
Do add a review to our review pages as well if you can.

Have just chased the last remaining folks for their final feedback and we will do the draw asap. Thanks Ann

Sorry.

Okay. I like it - it hasn't had much effect on my stretch marks so far, but it does say on the bottle you should use it twice a day for 3 months and I'm fairly forgetful about the whole 'twice a day' thing. It has however made quite a difference to the raised scars on my legs. There are still marks but they're now smooth and I'm pretty confident that if I keep using it they might actually fade altogether which is fantastic because I really hate them. I also had noticeable (to me anyhow) bruise like scars on my right forearm which have faded quite significantly. Oh and I think I mentioned in the first feedback that it seemed to have banished the contact dermatitis (blistered and peeling skin) that flares up on my fingers. That still seems to be holding true.

Reading back on some of the other responses I think maybe there isn't a great deal the oil can do for my stretch marks anyway - they're already pale and silvery so I can't see what else could happen with them. I don't think they can actually disappear entirely can they?

sorry for delay in posting

I have been using the oil mostly on stretch marks on my boobs and tummy. I've also been using it on a few scars I have on my arm.

Tbh, I cannot see any improvement in either. I find the oil is too greasy for my skin, it make the areas i use it on prone to spots.

it does make the skin very soft. I would maybe use a moisturiser with bio oil in, but not with the expectation that it will help to get rid of any imperfections.

Since using the oil I have definitely noticed a difference in the feel of my skin.It is smoother and it feels firmer, though I see no visual difference-maybe too much to ask of any product really.
It has helped parts of my dry skin, my hands and stomach but I did not like the feel of it on my legs so have reverted back to my original product there.That is just a personal preference though.One hinge I did enjoy was the fact that I didn't react to it, very rare for me to find a new product to me that doesn't cause more skin issues.

I do really like the oil, and especially enjoy it after a shower and this is when I will continue to use it.

I'm really sorry to be late adding my feedback (illing with flu woe woe woe etc).

Anyway!! I love this oil. DS (age 10) has been using it on his ezcema and for the first cold-snap since he started GP treatment, we have been able to go without using hydrocortison steroid on his outbreaks. They're still there, sure, but calmer and no way as angry. This is great as it;s the long use of steroids that freaks me out as a Mum. So DS will absolutely contonue with this.

I have had to decant it into a dropper bottle for ease of use though (just too dripping in it's original bottle).

As for me - my skin is softer, smoother and "plumper" but my scars are the same shade of red as they always are. But I've loved using it and wouldn't be against using it in the future as an all round body moisturiser. It's certainly left my skin smooth :) And - as a bonus - it's been amazing as a treatment for the sore red nose you get from blowing your nose when you have a cold/flu. So although I've been laid up with a virus, I haven't had a Rudolph nose to go with it!!

Thank you for the opportunity to try this - I've alwaready recommended it to my SIL whose daughter has ezcema and will do so to others in the future I'm sure.

Hi
I have really liked using the bio-oil and it has made my skin feel really soft and smooth. I have grown to really like the scent and think I would miss it now - it feels part of my routine! The redness has faded a little in my section scar - I don't know if this would have happened anyway or if it is a result of using the Bio-Oil. I am going to continue to use it (have bought another bottle already) and yes, I do think i will recommend it to my friends.

Sorry for the late response.

I have been using the Bio oil on my stretch marks, which are at the bottom of my stomach and that I got from four pregancies in four consecutive years!

The Bio oil feels really nice on my skin and it feels moisturising and like it should be doing some good although I have not noticed any real differnece in my stratch marks so far. I will continue to use the Bio oil though as nothing else has worked on these stretch marks and I would really like them to fade.

I have continued to use Bio Oil for acne scarring. I don't think it has helped the scars much but is a good night moisturising treatment for oily spotty and also beginning to age skin like mine. Even so I have found it too greasy at some points in the month I assume due to hormonal variations so have used it off and on.
I agree with the flip top bottle idea would make it even easier to use when I'm feeling tired and lazy at night.
Also still don't like the smell much too artificial. I always hoped it would smell more of the essential oils that are in it. It just smells perfumed to me.

Thanks again for the trial

Sorry I'm so late! I kept forgetting to reply

how you are getting on with the Bio-Oil
We have been alternating using it day and night (we use the portacath every other night so can't use the oil on it immediately before/after) and getting on well with it. DS doesn't mind it being put on, and it takes no time at all to rub in. We've also used it a couple of times on his face as he's had a dribble rash from his dummy (which Santa's fairies have now taken )

what changes (if any) you have noticed with your skin
The skin is definitely smoother and softer over the port since using it

whether you think you'll continue to use it
Yes I think we will, it's good to have something to keep the skin soft

whether you'd recommend it to others with similar skin issues to yourself
I would recommend it for softening the skin, but I haven't noticed much of a reduction in the appearance of the scars.

Hi I have been absoloutely awful at doing this trial and I apologise sincerely :(

However I enjoyed using the oil, its not made much difference to my scars but it has to the condition of my skin, my lower legs are like snake skin all year round and they no longer are! I think I will continue using it to keep the condition of my skin as nice, but I am nore sure I would recommend for scars...its not made any difference that I can see.

Whoops! Finally popping feedback on
after the trial am still really impressed
My scars which were quite deep set from surgery have faded and i feel much happier with them
my DP has been using it on his rough hands(construction worker) and is pleased with it,although I'm nearly ready to throttle him for not putting the lid back on properly
but its definitely a product i would buy and use and also recommend

And thank you for the opportunity to try it :-)

Hello - thanks very much for all the feedback - am pleased to say AlmaMartyr has been selected at random as the winner of the £100 Boots voucher. Well done!

Congrats Alma :) Spend unwisely and frivolously

I have to add one last comment.

I am hooked on bio oil now. It's amazing! Ny skin has never been better and the fine lines on my forehead have gone.