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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Bio-Oil Skincare Oil versus Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel .

Last updated on October 30, 2023. Published on November 15, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 18 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain retinoid and Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for fighting acne, anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, reducing pores, scar healing, dark spots and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, parabens or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain common allergens, fragrances and oils

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

Oil Brand

Oil

Oils are an emollient and can act as a supplement to your skincare routine.

General Moisturizer

All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.

Price

Shop

Buy Skincare Oil

Starts at $14.99
Shop

Buy Dry Skin Gel

Starts at $11.89

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

Bio-Oil Skincare Oil 27 ingredients

Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel 42 ingredients

alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free
alcohol-free
silicon-free
fragrance-free
sulfate-free
paraben-free
oil-free
fungal-acne safe
reef-safe
eu-allergen-free
vegan
cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Bio-Oil Skincare Oil 27 ingredients

Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel 42 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

Retinoid
Vitamin E (2)

Benefits

Hydrating (2)
Good For Oily Skin
Reduces Irritation
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging (2)
Dark Spots
Scar Healing (2)
Acne Fighting
Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin (3)
Acne Trigger
Irritating (3)
Rosacea
Eczema

Notable Ingredients

AHA
PHA
Retinoid
Vitamin E (2)
Exfoliators
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (6)
Good For Oily Skin (2)
Redness Reducing
Reduces Irritation
Skin Texture (4)
Reduces Large Pores (3)
Anti-Aging (4)
Dark Spots (3)
Scar Healing (3)
Acne Fighting (2)
Brightening (5)

Concerns

Drying
May Worsen Oily Skin (8)
Acne Trigger (3)
Irritating (3)
Rosacea (4)
Eczema (5)
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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

Bio-Oil Skincare Oil 27 ingredients

Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel 42 ingredients

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

1
What it does: Emollient, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Paraffinum Liquidum is also known as liquid paraffin. It is a type of highly refined mineral oil.

Like other oils, Paraffinum Liquidum has emollient properties. Emollients help soothe and soften the skin. By creating a barrier to trap moisture within, emollients help keep your skin hydrated.

Paraffinum Liquidum does not irritate the skin and is non-comedogenic. However, this ingredient may not work well for those with oily skin or fungal acne.

If you have concerns about using this ingredient in your routine, we recommend speaking with a professional.

Learn more about Paraffinum Liquidum

Bio-Oil Skincare Oil contains this as ingredient number 1.

Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel contains this as ingredient number 1.

2
What it does: Skin Conditioning

We don't have a description for Triisononanoin.

Bio-Oil Skincare Oil contains this as ingredient number 2.

Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel contains this as ingredient number 3.

3
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate is derived from cetearyl alcohol and sorbic acid.

It is an emollient and helps hydrate the skin. Emollients form a barrier on the skin to prevent water from escaping.

Bio-Oil Skincare Oil contains this as ingredient number 3.

Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel contains this as ingredient number 5.

4
What it does: Emollient, Masking
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Isopropyl Myristate is an emollient, thickening agent, and texture enhancer. It is created from isopropyl alcohol and myristic acid.

It is used to help other ingredients be better absorbed. It is also an emollient and may help soften and hydrate the skin.

The comedogenic rating of this ingredient depends on the concentration. Lower amounts results in a lower rating.

Isopropyl Myristate may not be fungal acne safe. It can potentially worsen acne prone skin.

Learn more about Isopropyl Myristate

Bio-Oil Skincare Oil contains this as ingredient number 4.

Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel contains this as ingredient number 6.

5
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Mixed

Retinyl palmitate is a form of retinoid. Retinoids are the superstar class of anti-aging ingredients that include tretinoin and retinol.

This particular ingredient has had a bumpy year with its rise and fall in popularity.

First, Retinyl palmitate is created from palmitic acid and retinol. It is a retinol ester and considered one of the weaker forms of retinoid.

This is because all retinoids have to be converted to Tretinoin, AKA retinoic acid. Retinyl Palmitate is pretty far down the line and has to go through multiple conversions before its effects are seen.

Due to this long and ineffective conversion line, the benefits of Retinyl Palmitate are debated.

Studies show Retinyl Palmitate to help:

Dermatologists say this ingredient is ineffective because it isn't used in high enough concentrations in cosmetics.

This ingredient used to be found in sunscreens to boost the efficacy of sunscreen filters.

The downfall of Retinyl Palmitate was due to released reports about the ingredient being correlated to sun damage and skin tumors.

While there is a study showing this ingredient to cause DNA damage when exposed to UV-A, there is no concrete proof of it being linked to skin cancer. It is safe to use when used correctly.

All retinoids increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun in the first few months of usage. Be especially careful with reapplying sunscreen when using any form of retinoid.

Currently, this ingredient is still allowed in cosmetics all over the world. In Canada, cosmetics must have a warning label stating the product to contain Retinyl Palmitate

Fun fact: This ingredient is often added to low-fat milk to increase the levels of Vitamin A.

Learn more about Retinyl Palmitate

Bio-Oil Skincare Oil contains this as ingredient number 5.

Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel contains this as ingredient number 28.

6
What it does: Emollient, Masking, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Disliked

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil is the oil derived from the seeds of a Sunflower. Sunflower seed oil is non-fragrant. It is an emollient, meaning it helps to soften the skin.

Sunflower seed oil contains many fatty acids. The fatty acids found in sunflower seeds include (from highest amount to least): linoleic acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid, oleic acid, and linolenic acid.

These fatty acids help the skin create ceramides. Ceramides play a role in repairing the skin barrier.

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil helps moisturize the skin. This in turn helps the skin look more rejuvenated and smoother.

Sunflowers are rich in vitamin E.

Historians believe Indigenous cultures of North America domesticated sunflowers before corn. Thus they relied on sunflower oil for a variety of uses. One such use is moisturizing skin and hair.

Sunflower seed oil may not be fungal acne safe. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.

Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Bio-Oil Skincare Oil contains this as ingredient number 6.

Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel contains this as ingredient number 25.

7
What it does: Antioxidant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Tocopheryl Acetate is AKA Vitamin E. It is an antioxidant and protects your skin from free radicals. Free radicals damage the skin by breaking down collagen.

One study found using Tocopheryl Acetate with Vitamin C decreased the number of sunburned cells.

Tocopheryl Acetate is commonly found in both skincare and dietary supplements.

Learn more about Tocopheryl Acetate

Bio-Oil Skincare Oil contains this as ingredient number 7.

Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel contains this as ingredient number 29.

8
What it does: Masking, Perfuming, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Mixed

This oil is the the volatile oil distilled from the dried flower heads of the Roman Chamomile flower.

Chamomile is rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties. Several compounds found in chamomile help with soothing, such as bisbolol.

Bio-Oil Skincare Oil contains this as ingredient number 8.

Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel contains this as ingredient number 34.

9
What it does: Masking, Tonic
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Lavandula Angustifolia Oil is more commonly known as lavender essential oil. Lavandula Angustifolia is known as the English Lavender and famous for creating purple fields in Provence, France.

Lavender imparts a scent and may sensitize skin. It contains linalool, a known allergen.

While lavender essential oil is commonly used in aromatherapy to help alleviate symptoms of anxiety and stress, more research is needed to confirm this.

However, lavender essential oil has shown to have anti-inflammatory activity due to its prostanoids and histamine content.

Lavandula Angustifolia Oil is the volatile oil obtained from the flowers of the Lavender, Lavandula angustifolia, Labiatae. ISO 8902:2009

Learn more about Lavandula Angustifolia Oil

Bio-Oil Skincare Oil contains this as ingredient number 9.

Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel contains this as ingredient number 37.

10
What it does: Masking, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil is oil expressed from the leaves of the rosemary plant.

Rosemary Leaf Oil is a fragrance and helps give your product a scent. If you are sensitive to irritating fragrances, this one contains camphor. Camphor has been found to irritate skin.

This oil also contains antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. As an antioxidant, it may protect you skin against damage. This can help slow down the signs of aging.

Learn more about Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Oil

Bio-Oil Skincare Oil contains this as ingredient number 10.

Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel contains this as ingredient number 36.

11
What it does: Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Calendula Officinalis Extract comes from the common Marigold plant.

Marigold flowers contain flavonoids. Flavonoids are a group of substances found naturally in plants. They possess antioxidant and inflammation properties.

Antioxidants help fight free-radical molecules. Free-radical molecules are capable of damaging our cells and other genetic material. Antioxidants help stabilize free-radicals by donating extra electrons. This may help reduce the signs of aging.

Calendula Officinalis Extract may help soothe your skin by reducing inflammation. Emerging studies show it inhibits NO production safely, therefore reducing inflammation.

Marigolds have been used in traditional medicine throughout Asia and Europe.

Learn more about Calendula Officinalis Extract

Bio-Oil Skincare Oil contains this as ingredient number 11.

Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel contains this as ingredient number 35.

12
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Glycine Soja Oil comes from the soybean. Glycine Soja is native to eastern Asia.

Soybean oil is an emollient. It is rich in antioxidants and fatty acids including palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids.

As an emollient, the fatty acids in soybean oil helps keep your skin soft and hydrated. It does so by creating a film on top that traps moisture in.

Soybean oil is also rich in vitamin E, a potent antioxidant. Vitamin E is also anti-inflammatory and provides a soothing effect.

Studies show soy may help fade hyperpigmentation from UVB. It does so by disrupting the melanin process from UVB induced skin inflammation.

This ingredient may not be malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne, safe.

Soybeans are rich in proteins and are part of the legume family. Foods made with soybeans include tofu, soymilk, edamame, miso, and soy sauce.

Learn more about Glycine Soja Oil

Bio-Oil Skincare Oil contains this as ingredient number 12.

Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel contains this as ingredient number 27.

13
What it does: Masking, Skin Conditioning, Soothing
Community Rating: Loved

Bisabolol is pimarily used to add fragrance to a product. However, it is also famous for helping soothe skin.

Bisabolol comes from German chamomile essential oil. Synthetic Bisabolol has been shown to be less effective.

Bisabolol helps soothe skin. It does this by blocking the inflammatory signals, helping to reduce your body's reaction to irritation.

Bisabolol also interferes with the process of hyperpigmentation. This can help with reducing dark spots and uneven tone.

Bisabolol is an antioxidant. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells. By fighting these free-radicals, Bisabolol may slow down signs of aging.

Studies have shown Bisabolol to have antimicrobial properties and may be a fungicide. These properties help preserve a product's shelf life.

Bisabolol also helps the absorption of other ingredients.

Learn more about Bisabolol

Bio-Oil Skincare Oil contains this as ingredient number 13.

Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel contains this as ingredient number 24.

14
What it does: Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.

Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.

Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.

You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.

There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.

Learn more about Tocopherol

Bio-Oil Skincare Oil contains this as ingredient number 14.

Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel contains this as ingredient number 33.

15
What it does: Masking, Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give aroma to products. Parfum, or fragrance, can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "Parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.

In the US, the alternative name for parfum is 'fragrance'. The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.

For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance. One example is Calendula flower extract. Essential oil ingredients still impart a scent or 'fragrance'.

Depending on the blend, it can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.

Products use parfum often to give products a scent or cover up smells of different ingredients.

The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.

Learn more about Parfum

Bio-Oil Skincare Oil contains this as ingredient number 15.

Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel contains this as ingredient number 38.

16
What it does: Perfuming

Farnesol is a compound extracted from essential oils such as lemongrass, rose, and more. It is used as a fragrance in products to help boost floral scents.

Farnesol is a known EU allergen and causes contact dermatitis.

This ingredient is hydrophobic, meaning it is not soluble in water.

Learn more about Farnesol

Bio-Oil Skincare Oil contains this as ingredient number 22.

Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel contains this as ingredient number 39.

17
What it does: Perfuming, Solvent
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Limonene is a fragrance that adds scent and taste to a formulation.

It's found in the peel oil of citrus fruits and other plants such as lavender and eucalyptus. The scent of limonene is generally described as "sweet citrus".

Limonene acts as an antioxidant, meaning it helps neutralize free radicals.

When exposed to air, oxidized limonene may sensitize the skin. Because of this, limonene is often avoided by people with sensitive skin.

The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term. For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance.

Learn more about Limonene

Bio-Oil Skincare Oil contains this as ingredient number 25.

Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel contains this as ingredient number 40.

18
What it does: Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Linalool is a fragrance and helps add scent to products. It's derived from common plants such as cinnamon, mint, citrus, and lavender.

Linalool has the same effect as Limonene when exposed to air. Oxidized linalool can cause allergies and skin sensitivity.

Linalool has a scent that is floral, spicy tropical, and citrus-like.

Learn more about Linalool

Bio-Oil Skincare Oil contains this as ingredient number 26.

Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel contains this as ingredient number 41.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

Bio-Oil Skincare Oil 27 ingredients

Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel 42 ingredients

15% are loved or liked
7% have mixed ratings
59% are disliked or very disliked
19% have no rating yet
31% are loved or liked
14% have mixed ratings
40% are disliked or very disliked
14% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

Bio-Oil Skincare Oil 27 ingredients

Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel 42 ingredients

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Bio-Oil Skincare Oil 27 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 3 ratings
OhHelloDeer's avatar

OhHelloDeer

10 months ago · Normal Skin
Review

Light-weight and amazing for dry skin and acne scars

fmlcrps's avatar

fmlcrps

12 months ago · Oily Skin
Review

Only use it for body if you have sensitive face.
Broke my fungal acne out like crazy after I use it on face for 2 nights. I wonder why it works so...

Only use it for body if you have sensitive face.
Broke my fungal acne out like crazy after I use it on face for 2 nights. I wonder why it works so well for other people acne scars. But it really has effect on lightening some scars on my body.

Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel 42 ingredients

Dry Skin Gel hasn't been rated yet.
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Alternatives

Our Dupe Finder has found 8 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Bio-Oil Skincare Oil.

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Our Dupe Finder has found 1 potential alternatives that have similar ingredients to Bio-Oil Dry Skin Gel.

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