Biologique Recherche – French Beauty Haute Couture in Cosmetology

Paris, the city of love is one of the most romantic places in the World. The outstanding beauty of French women is legendary, French beauty recipes full of secrets. Paris fashion stands for elegance and grace.

Paris is also home to great skincare brands, such as Absolution, Etat Pur, Patyka, and Biologique Recherche.

The Company

Biologique Recherche was founded over 40 years ago by a biologist, a physiotherapist and a doctor. Their vision: to develop formulas for professionals which were dissatisfied with existing products at the time.

Today, these French beauty products are represented worldwide.

By cold formulation manufacturing (similar to cold pressed oils) the original structure of active ingredients is maintained.

Own and unique treatment protocols complement this extensive French beauty range.

What a shame, I have not yet had a chance to visit their Flagship store on the Avenue des Champs Élysées.

French Beauty Products

I admit, 90 facial products, 30 body products and 10 hair products can be a little overwhelming to me, which is why I prefer simpler ranges, with less options.

Yet highest quality of ingredients for unique products with high concentration (over 20% in most products) of botanical, marine and biological extract speak for itself. The vast product range gives the company the possibility to offer highly tailormade skin care regime to individual consumers.

The manufacturer does not use artificial fragrances in order to preserve the integrity of the formulas, and to avoid allergic reactions.

All Biologique Recherche products are made in France and available also in first class cabins on Air France flights.

Methodology: The Three Stages

Their unique treatment methodology has three fundamental stages:

‘1) The Assessment Stage:

This critical stage ascertains the Skin Instant®, which is the condition of the skin at any given time, to recommend the most appropriated tailored beauty products and treatments. When performed at one of our partner establishments, the approach combines hands-on skin assessment along with lifestyle and behavioural investigations.

2) The Initialisation Stage:

This stage prepares the skin for treatment by thoroughly cleansing, exfoliating and balancing according to the Skin Instant®, prior to introducing formulas that are highly concentrated in natural active ingredients.

3) The Treatment Stage:

The treatment stage addresses the unique requirements of the Skin Instant® with high concentrations of botanical, marine and biological extracts to deliver both immediate and long-lasting benefits.’

My Product Test

My test kit comes in a little clear zipper pouch, which is super handy for my travel essentials.

Lait VIP O2, oxygenating cleansing milk

I am not a great ‘milk’ fan when it comes to skin care. My skin is super dry and I find light and milky textures usually not doing the trick for me. Above, this one is meant for skin exposed to pollution, which does not apply to me most of the time, as I am a country-side girl.

So let me see how this cleanser milk works for the skin:

it removes makeup and impurities
said to brighten the complexion
said to be rebalancing the epidermis
hydrating
and said to reduce dark eye circles
not suitable for hypersensitive and rosacea-prone skin

I like the gentle scent and touch to the white milk. This is an every day product, easy to use.

Lotion P50 V, enriched exfoliating and purifying lotion for face

is a watery substance, not unlike a facial mist, and a strong exfoliator.

It speeds up the skin’s natural exfoliation process, eventually triggering self-regeneration potential of the skin.

Although the manufacturer has added vitamins and walnut extracts, the product did not work for my rather sensitive skin, for being a little to harsh.

The manufacturers ‘do-not-use-if’ list for this product is pretty long, hence I would not consider this an easy over-the-counter product for self-treatment.

Better to get a full consultation by a skin specialist before use.

U.V. Kit: before-during-after

I love the sun. I used to sunbathe carelessly when I was younger, and nowadays am much more aware of the damages to the skin by over excess to sun.

Biologique Recherche has developed a three stage U.V. protection ‘sun methodolgy’ with preparing, protective and repairing products:

Preparation U.V., pre-sun care for face

The preparation process is recommend to start four weeks prior to sun exposure. The white-yellow milky lotion is almost odourless and is said to stimulate natural tanning (something I could not test due to the large amounts of skin care products I am testing on almost a daily basis). It stimulates melanin production by agents such as tripeptide, sugars from brown algae, and monk’s pepper extract.

Protection U.V., sunscreen cream for face

This slightly stickier yellow sun lotion with a SPF of about 25 is 100% natural and water-resistant. Unlike common sun lotions, it does not leave this weird film after application to the skin, yet provides good U.V. protection.

Reparation U.V., soothing after sun care for face

The after sun care is used after sun exposure with active ingredients to soothe and regenerate and slowing down the signs of ageing. The outer layers of the epidermis are said to be re-hydrated by hydrating sugar derivatives. The product also fights free radicals with mimosa extracts and white tea extracts as agents.

Great, I have a super opportunity trying this whitish gel-like cream after a sunny ski day.

The product has a lovely soothing and slightly cooling effect with an immediate re-hydrating effect. The redness of my facial skin after the day in cold, sun and wind has entirely disappeared the next morning.