Bioderma - My First Beauty BFF

Bioderma might be old news in the blogosphere, but that's not going to stop me paying homage to the first ever product I deemed worthy of 'Holy Grail' status...

Bioderma - My First Beauty BFF

My skin hates me. No really. It does. After a rather nasty six month episode of viral meningitis and a really stressful period in my life, my previously clear skin broke out into a severe case of adult acne. 

It's been nearly two years since the acne appeared, I've been fighting constantly to improve the state of my skin and happily in the last month or so I've actually seen a real improvement. In the battle for a blemish free complexion I've spent hundreds on luxury skin care, made changes to my diet and gone through never-ending rounds of various antibiotics.

While I was burning through 'miracle' products and wailing in doctors offices there was one thing that didn't change, and that was Bioderma.

What Bioderma Says

"At the cutting edge of innovation, BIODERMA has pioneered micellar solutions. Specially formulated for sensitive, normal to dry skins, the Sensibio H2O micelle solution gently cleanses face and eyes. It removes water-resistant make-up. The micelles contained in its formula effectively micro-emulsify impurities while maintaining the skin’s balance (soap-free, physiological pH)."

For all of us without a PHD in science jargon, a micellar solution is basically tiny oil molecules suspended in water that cling onto unwanted particles on your skin and dissolve them. Bioderma can remove make-up without the foaming, the harsh chemicals and any other potential irritants (it's fragrance and alcohol free) having to get involved!

Why Bioderma Gets a Great Big 'THUMBS UP" From Me

As I mentioned, my skin was a war zone. A combination of acne, the side effects of the various treatments trying to combat the acne and the make up used to attempt to cover the acne, left it irritated, painful and incredibly sensitive.  I trailed a number of various make-up removers targeted at blemish prone/acne prone/sensitive mugs but each one seemed only seemed to aggravate my skin further. Then came the fateful day when I broke the first of those vibrant pink seals... and there was no going back.

Bioderma is effective, it's gentle and it leaves my face feeling fresh. There's no tightness, no stinging, no irritation. It removes make up extremely well, and though on nights when I've decided to pack on the eye liner it might take a few more cotton pads than usual, it's not failed me yet! This glorious bottle is a favourite among MUA's, and I can see why. It performs well and is extremely unlikely to cause any reaction.

Whilst Bioderma suggests that if used correctly there's no need to follow with further products, I always team mine with a cleanser. I've been on a similar journey with cleansers as I have make-up removers (long and arduous), but FYI my current trusted products are the REN - Hydra Calm Cleansing Gel and the Murad - Time Release Blemish Cleanser (there will be posts on both these products in the near future). This combination of Bioderma and a good cleanser leaves me super confident that I've got all the daily muck and grime off my face.

I don't have huge thumbs... its just perspective... honest!

OOOOH! Has anyone read 'Even Cowgirls Get the Blues?' It's a freakin' awesome book by Tom Robbins about a hitchhiking twenty-something sexy type female with giant thumbs. Read it!

Now I've tried other micellar waters and while they are good, and a little easier to get your hands on, for my skin it has to be Bioderma. That said, for those of you with less rebellious complexions this offering from L'Oreal is a fantastic alternative and less expensive (£3.33 for 200ml).

Where to get your hands on the stuff? Well until very recently Bioderma wasn't really available in the UK in shops or online. For that reason I tracked down and checked out some ebay sellers. The best I've found and have ordered with time and time again is ZK Natural.

They offer Bioderma in all sizes 500ml - £12.45, 250ml - £7.65, and 100ml - £4.75 (P&P is £2.99, but if you order more than one item usually you only pay the once for the delivery).

They also do an excellent offer of 2 x 250ml for £13.57 and devlivery is always super fast. Escentual do now stock the 250ml & 100ml sizes but they are more expensive than ZK Natural.

I have a 500ml for day to day use, a 250ml at the boys flat and a 100ml on hand for travelling. I'd honestly never be without the stuff. 

So there you go girls and boys. This is a friendship that's likely to last a lifetime. If you've got sensitive skin that could do with an understanding buddy all of it's own, I highly recommend giving Bioderma a call, it's always got time for a chat.