BioElements

As the organic food movement grows, so does awareness about the potential dangers of artificial colors and fragrances in cosmetics. Bioelements is one of a growing number of cosmetics manufacturers that attempts to create products that aim benefit the skin by using only the most natural ingredients possible.

However, what makes these treatments truly unusual is that consumers may have them custom blended at the spa to suit their skin’s unique needs, making each product slightly different from the last. As appealing as this sounds, some of the ingredients that Bioelements uses to create these customized treatments may have the potential to cause another set of problems.

Some of the products in the Bioelements line include: Probotix Anti-Aging Serum, Flash Foam Cleanser, Makeup Dissolver, Active Astringent, Sun Diffusing Protector, Crucial Moisture, Lip Buff, Multi-Task Eye Oil, Measured Micrograins, CremeTherapy, Oxygen Cocktail, Urban Detox, Pigment Discourager, Sleepwear, and Monsoon Body Freshener.

Although Probotix Anti-Aging Serum is not one of the customizable products in the Bioelements skincare line it is nonetheless one of the stars. According to the website, it is never too early or too late start using this treatment, which is designed to help the skin resist the signs of aging by increasing firmness and infusing it with nutrients.

The website also claims that unlike other anti-aging products, Probotix is appropriate for women in their twenties, since it will not cause skin to “wear out,” and become resistant to treatments in the future. This statement alone is almost enough to discount the product altogether, since nearly all skin care experts agree that there is no way for the skin to become resistant to certain treatments by using them too early.

With all of its promises, one would think that Probotix contains some of the most advanced ingredients on the market, but unfortunately we could not find any specifics listed in the product description beyond milk proteins and “probiotic actives.”

The Bioelements website is fairly well organized, as one would expect from a fairly exclusive spa brand. However, as mentioned above, it falls a bit short in its product descriptions by providing only limited information on ingredients. On the other hand, it does provide a glossary custom blend ingredients so that consumers can be informed when they make their first trip to the spa.

Of course, the drawback of Bioelements customizable treatments is that they are available only through certain spas. This may present some difficulty for consumers who do not live in a metropolitan area, since they may have to travel some distance just to try the products.

As one might expect, the website does not offer free trial samples, most likely because it would be quite difficult to provide each consumer with a sample of their own custom blend. This is unfortunate, particularly since certain essential oils can irritate sensitive skin, and prospective users could benefit from testing treatments first.

• Company does not test on animals
• Does not use animal by-products

The idea of customized products is likely to appeal to a number of frustrated consumers who feel that they cannot find products that address all of their skin concerns. However, there are a few facts to take into account before jumping into the car and heading to the nearest spa. First of all, the secret behind these individualized blends is essential oils, which can irritate the skin as much as artificial fragrances. For this reason, those with sensitive skin may want to think twice.

BioElements does offer additional products that do not rely on essential oils, but unfortunately the company provides only minimal information on the active ingredients in these formulas. This is a bit unusual, since most manufacturers of high quality product post this information prominently.

In order to be sure that a product is going to live up to its promises, consumers may want to look for a manufacturer that offers free trial samples, as well as scientific explanations behind each ingredient.