Weekly Must-Have: Biologique Recherche P50

October 9, 2014
If I were stranded on a desert island and could only bring one beauty product, Biologique Recherche P50 Balancing Exfoliator would be it. No question.
P50 is adored by celebrities and fashionistas like Jenna Lyons, Julia Restoin Roitfeld, the Olsen twins, and practically every top model, and for good reason. The multitasking magic potion (hey, it didn’t get the nickname “facial in a bottle” for nothing) exfoliates, hydrates, and balances the pH of your skin all with a single swipe of a cotton pad. It also preps your skin for additional product application by getting rid of excess gunk that accumulates on the surface so that your other products can really sink in and do their thing. It’s done a great job at shrinking my pores and clearing up some lingering acne. I like to think that P50 has made my visage brighter and tighter, and who doesn’t want/ need/ obsess over that?
After cleansing, douse a cotton pad with P50. Starting at the base of your neck, use a light patting motion to work your way up your face while avoiding the eye region. I pat a little extra around problem areas like my nose and chin. Make sure to let the product absorb fully before applying serums and moisturizers so that you can receive the utmost benefits from your beauty heavy hitters.
Made with a combination of Onion Extract, Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Burdock Extract, and Plankton, the scent isn’t exactly pleasant (hey, it’s not perfume), but the result is worth the stench. While your boyfriend may initially balk at the smell, he’ll quickly change his tune. I’m betting he’ll be stealing your P50 within days. If not for the glowing complexion, he’ll be reaching for the P50 to eradicate stubborn ingrowns from shaving (yes, it works for that, too!).
Use this baby daily, morning and night. If you are a bit sensitive like me, go with the milder P50 V version. This stuff is seriously hard to find stateside, so I suggest purchasing from here (one of only a handful of online retailers, but this site seems the least stressful).
PRICE TAG: $59 for 5.1 oz
Casey Sharbaugh currently resides in New York City and works in the fashion industry. In her spare time, you can find Casey spinning, trying new beauty products, or browsing the city for the best ice cream cone. Find her on Twitter at @chs_psu