A huge thank you to Biossance & ShopStyle for sponsoring this post.

You all know how much I adore Biossance. I’ve been a fan ever since switching to cleaner, safer skincare about five years ago and was introduced to the brand early on when a friend who works for the parent company gifted me a few samples, fresh outta the gate.

Unsurprisingly, it was love at first…pump? Drop? Every product they make feels ethereally light, yet super-hydrating. And I’ve yet to try a product that doesn’t actually do what it claims to do. I guess what I’m saying is: even before JVN made it cool (and I mean, talk about an excellent choice of spokesperson), I’ve been trusting a large percentage of my skincare routine to Biossance. So when they offered to send me a few products to try this season, my answer was a resounding heck yes.

Biossance Squalane: How I’m Calming, Brightening & Revitalizing My Skin This Winter

So this time around, we’re talking about four Biossance products in particular that, together, focus on calming, brightening and revitalizing skin tone in this lovely era of daily mask-wearing: two are tried-and-true basics that are already in heavy rotation in my skincare routine, and I thought it worth it to sing their praises again (the Squalane + Probiotic Gel Moisturizer and the Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil) — as well as the Squalane + Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum that S has been raving about aaaand the Squalane + Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum, which I didn’t realize I needed in my arsenal until this past year. More on all of them, below.

Quick note: if you’re new to Biossance skincare, squalane is the star ingredient in all their products. Squalane is a super-hydrating molecule that’s naturally produced in our bodies, but it diminishes over time. Clearly, it’d be ideal to replenish it in some way — but strangely enough, much of the squalane previously found in traditional beauty products was procured from harvesting — wait for it — ahem: sharks’ livers. Yeah, not ideal. Biossance, however, has engineered consistently high-quality squalane that is derived from sugarcane. It’s just as hydrating, plumping and multi-tasking (you can even buy the 100% Squalane Oil for use as a face/body/hair moisturizer) while also being 100% vegan and cruelty-free. So cool, and a large part of the reason I’m a lifelong devotee.

1. Squalane + Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum

Squalane + Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum
(Note: there’s a pump applicator under the cap, but you can see the fluidity of the product in this shot. And yes, my photographer and I made all. the. jokes.)

This product was the catalyst for this post since it’s Biossance’s newest offering, so I’ll start here. Made with a blend of 10% vitamin C and white shiitake, it’s developed to show visible brightening instantly while dissolving pigmentation and preventing new pigmentation over time. I haven’t been in the market for something to diminish dark spots, but the second I received this, I took a close look in the mirror and ohhh, why yes indeed, I do have plenty of dark spots cropping up on my cheeks and around my hairline. Lucky me, aging has never been so exciting! I’m almost certain it’s due to a combination of sweating off my SPF around my hairline, scarring from past blemishes (it’s so fun when they decide to make a repeat appearance), and just, well, aging. But now that I’ve noticed said dark spots? I’m all about parting ways with them.

I’ve only been using this product for a few days, but the before/afters online are pretty legit, so I’m feeling encouraged. (Most reviews say results are noticeable in as little as one week.) It goes on smoothly, so a little truly goes a long way (it’s perhaps just a little thinner and silkier than your average serum), and it does have a glowy, brightening effect right away. Looking forward to using it daily with the products below to really claim a brighter, more even-toned complexion. Oh, and if you’re curious about the smell (I always am, for some reason, and the shiitake element had me especially curious) — it smells like…well, skincare.

2. Squalane + Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum

Squalane + Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum

S has been using this for a few months, and just look at the lady: she’s glowing. (I mean, she’s always gorgeously glowing in that nonchalant S way, but if you’re telling me that glow comes in a bottle and I can use it, too? Well, I’m gonna jump aboard that train real quick.) And, no surprise here, this stuff is extremely legit. The active ingredient is 10% vegan lactic acid (and yes, it smells a little tangy, but not enough to be off-putting). After just a few days, I’m seeing brighter, more even skin, and those little bumpy imperfections — like the not-quite-pimples that I get on my cheeks from mask-wearing — have even calmed down and smoothed out a bit. I’ve been using the Dark Spot serum in the morning and this most evenings — and I’m trying to be even more diligent than usual about SPF so I don’t undo all these products’ hard work.

3. Squalane + Probiotic Gel Moisturizer

Squalane + Probiotic Gel Moisturizer

The last time I spoke at length about Biossance, I mentioned that this moisturizer is supposedly great for sensitive skin and for calming redness or problem areas — and as much as I believed that to be the case, I didn’t classify my skin as such. Until now. Since mask-wearing has become the norm, my skin is far more prone to breakouts and just feels generally more patchy and…unhappy? Especially on my cheeks and nose. So a few months ago, I dug this out of my drawer and started using it a few times a week as a daytime moisturizer, and my skin loves it. It’s super light, non-greasy and the patchiness on my cheeks is definitely improved. It costs s a little more than I would normally pay for a daily moisturizer (especially considering the fact that I still layer an SPF product over it), but it absolutely walks the walk.

4. Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil

Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil

Ah, another brightening product that does just what it claims to do — how refreshing! (Are you sensing a theme here? Let’s just bottle all the brightening, dewy things, please, and thank you.) Vitamin C is having a big ol’ moment in the skincare world, and I’ve tried a few different products, but this is the only one that I’ve purchased repeatedly so far. Biossance suggests pressing this directly into your skin following serum and moisturizer, but I find that I’m able to stretch it just a bit further if I apply 75% of my moisturizer and then mix a drop or two of this into the last little dab. It leaves such a pleasant, healthy glow — without being discernibly oily at all. Between this and the Squalane + Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum, I’m looking forward to having the face of a 24-year-old by next week. (Kidding, of course, but the two do seem to offer quite luminous results.)

Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil

Squalane + Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum | Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil | Squalane + Probiotic Gel Moisturizer | Squalane + Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum

More Tried & True Biossance Skincare Faves

I realize not everyone might be looking for a calming or brightening winter skincare routine. Below, I’ve rounded up the rest of the Biossance products I can vouch for — and what makes them worth it.

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I’ll pop onto Stories or post an update when I’ve had a chance to use the Squalane + Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum for a significant length of time, but in the meantime, I’m extremely happy with all of the products here. But then again, as you know, Biossance can pretty much do no wrong in my book. Solid, efficacious products that are more than just pretty packaging or a lot of overly-clinical mumbo jumbo.

Clearly, I can’t get enough.

xo,
Em

Big thanks to Biossance and Shopstyle for sponsoring this post. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I authentically love Biossance skincare products — they’re among the first skincare products I actually invested some decent dollars in after trying a few samples from a friend, and every Biossance product I’ve adopted into my regimen since delivers on its promise. Plus, there’s that whole sugarcane-derived squalane element that makes my inner geek (and clean beauty lover) squeal with glee. All good stuff!

Guys! Follow me on Instagram for more peeks into our life on the Northern California coast. And if you feel so inclined, pop over to my personal food + lifestyle blog, The Pig & Quill, where I share salty scribblings from my kitchen and home life. Byeeeeee!

Photos by Carolyn Stockman.