Biologique Recherche Lotion P50’s cult status is further bolstered by how inaccessible and hard-to-get it is. But it’s not impossible.
Note: This is a follow-up to my last post proclaiming my love for and extolling the many benefits of the Biologique Recherche Lotion P50.
Based on my online sleuthing, it seems like the are four versions of the toner available. The easiest and most straightforward way to get the lotions would be at its original spa storefront in Paris’ Champs-Elysees.
I was visiting Nice, France and before I flew, I reached out to Biologique Recherche via their website’s contact form on whether they have any resellers there – but I didn’t get any response so… yeah.
Given their infamously “exclusive” nature, I shouldn’t be surprised.
Anyhow, here’s a mini breakdown on all of the P50 variations that I own, as well as how I managed to hunt down my new bottles.
P50T
My first bottle is the P50T version, and I purchased it in Singapore. Yes, that’s right – you can get the annoyingly elusive P50 in Singapore. Just not the OG P50 version. My first bottle was the Lotion P50T, and this is the only version available in Singapore.
Singapore’s regulatory board restricts the import of products with too-low acidity. Regular P50 is at pH 3; P50T is at slightly higher, at about pH 3.5. It’s a negligible difference and therefore, should not impact its efficacy. The P50T is also made in France, like all its other siblings. Funnily enough, P50T is not part of the Biologique Recherche’s European collection, which as of publish only entailed the: P50, P50V, P50W and the P50 PIGM 400.
Ingredients:
Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Sodium Gluconate, Niacinamide, Propylene Glycol, Lactic Acid, Magnesium Chloride, Vinegar (Acetum), Citric Acid, Cochlearia Armoracia (Horseradish) Root Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Capsicum Frutescens Fruit Extract, Serine, Urea, Allantoin, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Salicylate, Sodium Benzoate, TEA-Lactate, Sorbitol.
Where to Get:
I purchased my bottle from Coslab Spas. It would be wise to call ahead first to check for stocks. My bottle of 150ml costs SGD $115.
P50
I could get the P50T in Singapore, but I desperately wanted to try the original P50. You know, in the name of, uh, research. I can FEEL the difference with the P50 and the P50T. P50T is a lot gentler, and I don’t feel any tingling using it. Even when I first started using P50T, the tingle was negligible.
With the P50, I felt that sting that everyone else in the blogosphere had warned about. And I also felt the satisfaction from the stinging, that everyone else in the blogosphere had warned about. Masochists, we all are. The tingle is not bad though. It goes away within 10 seconds. Other than the sting, I don’t see any significant difference in formulas and feel.
Ingredients:
Water (Aqua), Gluconolactone, Lactic Acid, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Citric Acid, Ethoxydiglycol, Magnesium Chloride, Malic Acid, Vinegar (Acetum), Phytic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Cochlearia Armoracia (Horseradish) Root Extract, Arctium Lappa Root (Burdock Root) Extract, Rumex Acetosa Leaf Extract, Myrtus Communis Extract, Commiphora Myrrha Resin Extract, Allium Cepa (Onion) Bulb Extract, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Flower/Leaf Oil, Sulfur, Sorbitol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate.
P50 PIGM 400
The PIGM 400 is the latest addition to the P50 line. This has all of the benefits of P50, but with the added ingredients to specifically target hyperpigmentation. As a lady of colour, this piqued my interest very much, and I was convinced to get a 150ml bottle to try. Even though I knew the regular P50 is supposed to help with hyperpigmentation anyway. But again, you know, in the name of research.
I have not used it enough to really see if it’s any different to the regular P50. It doesn’t have the same sting as the regular P50, so on that front it seems a lot gentler. The ingredients list also differ from the P50.
Specifically, this has a rather high concentration of fermented wasabi extracts (as bold-ed in ingredients list below), which the brand lumped together with Lactobacillus with a “/”. As far as I know, lactobacillus is the good stuff in my kiddy yoghurt drink that helps me poop better. Can someone enlighten me on this science, why the “/”?
It is recommended that you switch up your routine every six months, since apparently your skin gets used to what you put on, therefore the efficiency of product is not maximised. This is some science that I don’t quite understand (nor am I really 100% agreeing with), but at this point, I don’t think P50 can ever fail me.
Planning to switch to PIGM400 in a couple of weeks and see if there’s any difference in ~glow~.
Ingredients:
Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Niacinamide, Sodium Gluconate, Lactic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Lactobacillus/Wasabia Japonica Root Ferment Extract, Magnesium Chloride, Mandelic Acid, Phytic Acid, Citric Acid, Gluconolactone, Magnesium Sulfate, Propylene Glycol, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Levulinic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Salicylate, Spiraea Ulmaria Extract, Vinegar (Acetum), Sodium Levulinate, Phenoxyethanol, Alcohol Denat., Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract, Prunus Persica (Peach) Leaf Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Ascorbic Acid, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit Extract.
Where to Get:
As I mentioned at the beginning of the last post, I purchased my newest bottles of P50 and P50 PIGM400 in Milan, Italy. To my Google-based knowledge, this is the only place in Milan that stocks Biologique Recherche: Myspa.
I know this barely helps, and I’m sorry, but I don’t know how much the shop was selling the each P50 lotions for. I purchased two bottles – the larger 250ml P50 lotion, and the 150ml PIGM 400 P50 – for 120 Euros, after tax refund.
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