Back when I first discovered Biotherm, I wasn’t yet fully on the green beauty bandwagon, but something about their products caught my eye. They boasted natural ingredients that sounded like they’d be great for my skin. The problem? They were a bit too pricey for me at the time, and I couldn’t justify the splurge. The marketing was excellent, and almost convinced me to buy.
Biotherm caught my eye again years later as I became more interested in natural beauty. This time, I had more information and was a little more critical. I was turned off by the fact that there were a lot of synthetic ingredients mixed with natural ingredients. I decided not to add their products to my daily routine.
Now, as the beauty world embraces more natural, less synthetic products, I’m curious—has Biotherm kept up with the times? I’ve decided to take a fresh look at their products to see if they might have a place in the routine of someone who loves green beauty.
Green Beauty Movement
In a nutshell, green beauty is all about skincare that’s kind to both our bodies and the planet. It’s a movement that’s gained momentum as we’ve become more aware of what goes into our products and more importantly, what we want to leave out. We’re talking harsh chemicals, synthetic additives—stuff that doesn’t exactly scream ‘back to nature.’
Green beauty for me means transparency and simplicity. It’s about using products that I can trust to be both effective and gentle without compromising my health or the environment. It’s not just a trend; it’s a lifestyle choice that’s here to stay.
Biotherm’s Brand Philosophy and History
Biotherm has been around since the 1950s, and they’ve always had a bit of a natural angle, drawing on thermal plankton from mountain springs. They’ve built a reputation for blending this natural ingredient with more scientific ones to create their skincare line. But does that mean they’re a green beauty brand? Well, it’s complicated.
Biotherm’s Ingredients: A Closer Look
I decided to play detective and take a deep dive into the ingredient lists of some of Biotherm’s products. There are some natural ingredients, like plankton or other botanicals. But there’s also a fair share of ingredients that wouldn’t pass the green beauty test. It’s a mix, and it’s clear that while they use some natural elements, they’re not fully on the green beauty bandwagon.
To give you a clearer picture, let’s examine some of their popular products more closely.
LIFE PLANKTON™ ANTI-AGING EYE CREAM
This eye cream is a prime example of Biotherm’s blend of science and nature. It’s packed with their patented Life Plankton™, which is full of nutrients and promises to rejuvenate the skin. The product claims that it will make the eye contour look firmer, denser and more resilient. Wrinkles, puffiness and dark circles are reduced in 8 days. It’s dermatologist and ophthalmologist-tested, suitable for all skin types, and is designed to be gentle even for those with sensitive eyes.
The ingredients list is more complex. The cream is made with cyclohexasiloxane. It’s a synthetic silicone that gives the cream a silky feel, but environmentalists don’t like it. Alcohol denat. Alcohol denat. More surprising is the inclusion of PTFE, commonly known as Teflon, which you wouldn’t typically associate with natural beauty products.
Biotherm’s eye cream is free of parabens and other fragrances that can cause allergies. This gives them a lot of points for their clean beauty products. Yet, they’ve included synthetic fluorphlogopite, a man-made alternative to natural mica, and phenoxyethanol, a widely used preservative that some in the green beauty community are cautious about.
While the product does showcase Biotherm’s commitment to infusing natural ingredients where they can, the presence of these synthetics suggests a compromise that may not sit well with green beauty enthusiasts who prioritize purely natural ingredients in their skincare.
OIL THERAPY BODY LOTION
After examining Biotherm’s LIFE PLANKTON™ ANTI-AGING EYE CREAM, I decided to take a similar look at their OIL THERAPY BODY LOTION. This product boasts 24-hour nourishment and supple skin. It’s enriched with apricot oil and claims to restore dry skin to its ideal qualities: softness, firmness, and smoothness. According to Biotherm 90% of women who use the product report that their skin is more supple and soft.
The inclusion of three precious oils—musk rose oil, passiflora oil, and apricot oil—is impressive. These oils have a high concentration of essential fatty acid, are nourishing, and contain vitamins that benefit the skin. This fits in well with the green-beauty ethos that emphasizes nutrient rich, natural ingredients.
However, as with the eye cream, the OIL THERAPY BODY LOTION’s ingredient list reveals a blend of both natural and synthetic components. While it’s free from parabens and fragrance allergens, and includes Life Plankton™, the formula also contains ingredients like Paraffinum Liquidum (mineral oil) and Dimethicone, which are synthetic and often viewed with skepticism by natural skincare advocates. Paraffinum Liquidum, a petroleum by-product, can occlude pores and cause clogging. Dimethicone, a silicone, provides a smooth, but not biodegradable, application.
Phenoxyethanol appears again as a preservative, which, although it’s a safer alternative to some other preservatives, is still a synthetic ingredient that some prefer to avoid. For those who are committed to using only natural products, the presence of synthetic colorants such as Ci 15985, and fragrance components like Limonene or Linalool that can irritate sensitive skin might be an issue.
In conclusion, the OIL THERAPY BODY LOTION, much like the LIFE PLANKTON™ ANTI-AGING EYE CREAM, reflects Biotherm’s approach of combining natural ingredients with synthetics. It contains some beneficial oils, and it is free of some of the more controversy ingredients. However, it does not meet the strict criteria of green beauty purists due to the addition of certain synthetics.
Biotherm’s Natural Offerings
Despite the mixed ingredient profiles we’ve seen, Biotherm does offer some standout products that lean more towards the green beauty ethos, particularly within their deodorant line.
Deo Pure Natural Protection
Deo Pure Natural Protection deodorant, certified by ECOCERT, is a natural product that’s free of aluminum and parabens. It’s enriched with soothing aloe vera and features a 100% natural fragrance. This product offers long-lasting protection, thanks to ingredients such as organic orange flower water and clove oil. It is appealing to people who prefer to use a natural approach in their personal care routine.
24H Day Control – Natural Protection
For men, Biotherm Homme’s 24H Day Control offers a similar commitment to natural ingredients, with 99% of its composition being of natural origin and also boasting ECOCERT certification. This deodorant uses the natural deodorizing qualities of organic orange extract and aloe vera to provide 24-hour freshness.
Green Beauty: Embrace it!
These deodorants show that Biotherm has dipped its toes in the green beauty pool. These products, while not fully immersed in the green beauty pool, show that Biotherm is willing to meet the needs of consumers who increasingly seek out organic and natural options.
Biotherm: Final thoughts
What is Biotherm’s place in the world of green beauty? They’re dabbling, especially with their natural deodorants, which honestly, I’m tempted to try. But for the full skincare lineup, they’re still straddling the line between natural and synthetic.
Biotherm may not be for the purists. And personally, I’m holding off on their skincare until it’s a bit greener. But for those who don’t mind a blend and are looking for a gentle nudge into the natural realm, Biotherm’s deodorants could be a good start.
Your skincare choices are just that—yours. Biotherm’s making strides, and if you’re open to a brand that’s evolving, they might be worth exploring. Remember to pay attention to the ingredients, and use your own beauty philosophy as a guide.