biossance

Biossance Squalane + Peptide Eye Gel Review

~ Michele Raiyne ~ Leave a comment

Biossance Squalane + Peptide Eye Gel is a hydrating eye gel that claims to reduce puffiness, crepiness, sagginess, appearance of dark circles and gives eyes a well-rested look.

Biossance has added a recently new eye product called Squalane + Marine Algae Eye Cream and on Instagram has commented that the Marine Algae Eye Cream is richer and targets fine lines, wrinkles and loss of firmness while the Peptide Eye Gel is lightweight and targets puffiness and dark circles. If using both, the Peptide Eye Gel can be applied in the morning and the Marine Algae Eye Cream in the evening.

Ingredients: Water/Aqua, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice*, Squalane, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Panthenol, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Malus Domestica Fruit Cell Culture Extract, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-5, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Tocopherol, Pentylene Glycol, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Lycium Barbarum (Goji) Fruit Extract, Lycopene, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Skin Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caffeine, Acacia Senegal Gum, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Ethyl Lauroyl Arginate HCL, Lecithin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/VP Copolymer, Silica, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol *Organic

Going over some ingredients – Niacinamide is the fourth ingredient; this is vitamin B3 that, among other functions, can improve fine lines and wrinkles. Chondrus crispus extract is a seaweed extract full of vitamins and minerals used for skin conditioning and has the ability to protect against UV rays. Malus Domestica fruit cell culture extract, also known as Swiss apple stem cell extract, can protect the longevity of skin stem cells. Acetyl tetrapeptide-5 (Eyeseryl) is a humectant that can improve elasticity and smoothness and reduce puffiness. Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 (Argireline) is a neuropeptide claimed to relax muscles thus reducing expression lines. Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate is a form of vitamin C. This eye cream contains caffeine (just over halfway down the ingredient list) that can reduce puffiness.

Directions state to gently dab around upper and lower eye area with fingertip, morning and night. Allow to absorb 1 to 2 minutes before applying makeup to avoid pilling.

I have fine lines under my eyes (luckily not much in the way of crow’s feet yet), dark circles and puffy eyes that generally make me look tired. I have used the Squalane + Peptide Eye Gel for 3 months now, morning and evening, dabbing around the entire eye area up to the brow bone. This feels like a mix of gel and light cream. It is lightweight, goes on smoothly and the under-eye feels smooth and moisturized to the touch all day. Makeup applies nicely over this eye cream.

The below photos were taken at the same time of day (a couple hours after waking up).

Above, looking at the dark circles and puffiness, I don’t notice a reduction in either. Depending on the cause of the dark circles, particularly if genetic, an eye cream may not help. I don’t notice any immediate or longer term well-rested look to the eye.

Above, looking at the fine lines, there is a bit of reduction on the lower outer side of the eye and perhaps toward the inner eye area; not so much under the eye. After a couple weeks’ use, I noticed, in the mirror, some reduction in fine lines, but on further use, they seemed to come back and did not reduce further. The puffiness toward the lower eye area is still visible. I don’t see any improvement in puffiness or dark circles in the mirror.

While Biossance Squalane + Peptide Eye Gel is a nice moisturizing product that makes the under-eye feel smooth and hydrated to the touch, I’m not seeing results in lines, puffiness or dark circles and would not repurchase. This might be good for those looking for a first eye cream who need hydration and moisture. I have since ordered Your Best Face Skincare’s Refresh Eye Cream.

Thank you for reading.

Biossance Squalane + Tea Tree Cleansing Gel Review

~ Michele Raiyne ~ Leave a comment

Biossance’s Squalane + Tea Tree Cleansing Gel claims to remove makeup, purify pores, balance skin and reduce excess surface oil while leaving skin visibly clearer and softer.

Ingredients: Water, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Disodium Coco-glucoside Citrate, Squalane, Cocoyl Proline, Melaleuca Alternafolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Sodium Levulinate, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Medicago Sativa (Alfalfa) Leaf Extract, Magnesium Chloride, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Gluconate, Caramel, Citric Acid, Linalool

To go over some ingredients – Cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine and sodium cocoyl isethionate are mild surfactants derived from coconut oil. Disodium coco-glucoside citrate is a mild surfactant. Cocoyl proline is a mix of coconut fatty acids and the amino acid proline used as a hydrator and conditioning agent. Sodium levulinate is used as a preservative and skin conditioning agent. Alfalfa leaf extract is said to soothe skin and help make skin look brighter.

Directions state to dampen skin, massage a dime size amount into a light lather and rinse.

This is a gel cleanser that forms a light lather. On rinsing, the cleanser itself doesn’t leave the skin feeling oily, but does leave it feeling a bit dry (though not as drying as Drunk Elephant’s Beste No. 9 Jelly Cleanser), which is surprising given the addition of squalane oil. It took a bit more effort and more water to rinse than other cleansers (I found this to be the case as well with the Drunk Elephant Jelly Cleanser; perhaps that’s the nature of gel cleansers?). The Squalane + Tea Tree Gel Cleanser smells nice; a herbal scent, which I’m guessing is the tea tree oil (I don’t think I’d used anything with tea tree oil previously).

I have oily skin that is prone to breakouts, blackheads around the nose, congestion and redness. One of the reasons I chose this cleanser – for probably about 5 or 6 years I had gotten pimples on the right side of my face in one area on my lower cheek above the jawline; no idea why and I couldn’t get rid of them. One would break out, start to heal and a couple days later, the next would break out, until I had about six in various healing stages. About a year ago they disappeared; no idea why. Three months ago, the breakouts started again, in the same manner as before. I thought I’d give this cleanser a try, as tea tree oil is said to have antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory properties that can target acne.

The Squalane + Tea Tree Cleansing Gel is able to cleanse light coverage foundation, but for heavier full coverage foundation, heavier eye makeup and mineral sunscreen, needs two uses.

Having changed nothing else in my skincare routine (other than an eye cream; I’ve been using the Biossance Squalane + Peptide Eye Gel), I’ve used the Biossance gel cleanser for a month. As above, throughout the month, the breakouts have healed nicely and I haven’t gotten any new ones. My skin looks generally less congested with a bit less redness. My skin is perhaps a bit less oily overall (though salicylic acid works better to balance oil). I noticed at day 16 I had less blackheads on my nose, but by day 30, there were more. My skin doesn’t feel any softer.

I’m happy with the results of this cleanser, but I have to wonder if the cleanser itself provided the results or if, by some coincidence or other variable, the breakouts have stopped. Being a rinse-off product, I’m generally skeptical of a cleanser providing results beyond cleansing makeup and sunscreen from the skin.

I’ll continue to use the Biossance Squalane + Tea Tree Gel Cleanser (and would repurchase) and will update here if the breakouts start again with continued use or on switching to a new cleanser.

Thank you for reading.