My experience at Parisian facial spot Biologique Recherche
In December, I visited Parisian facial hotspot Biologique Recherche, a luxury beauty haven located inside a private mansion on the famous Champs-Elysées.
My sister was visiting, and I wanted to do something fun, relaxing, and quintessentially Parisien. We’re both skincare aficionados, so I knew I wanted to book us a spa treatment. After confirmation from two of my very chic Parisian colleagues, I reserved us two-hour personalized facials (225€/person) at Biologique Recherche, and the experience did not disappoint.
We arrived ten minutes before our scheduled appointment time, but as we were the first appointments of the day, we had to wait outside until they opened at 10:30 am. When the doors were unlocked, we were quickly ushered in and shown to our treatment room, which was beautiful enough to be featured in AD Magazine.
We told the estheticians that we were interested in Biologique Recherche’s philosophy and to walk us through their method during the treatment. Given it was two hours, we had ample time to learn about the products and relax.
The epidermis is everything
Biologique Recherche is a traditionally discreet brand, which has gained notoriety over the years, notably due to its iconic lotion, P50. Before going through the products, my esthetician explained the company was founded over forty years ago by the Allouche family (Yvan, Josette, and Phillipe—a biologist, physiotherapist, and doctor, respectively).
The family approach? The epidermis is the ultimate shield protecting the integrity of our inner world, and it must be at the center of our skincare concerns. Biologique Recherche’s method is based on a clinical and personalized approach using highly concentrated active ingredients.
Cue: P50, an exfoliating lotion (e.g., toner), containing a potent combination of Poly, Alpha, and Beta-Hydroxy-Acids and designed to speed up the epidermis’ natural exfoliating process. The cult product is aptly named P50 as P stands for peeling and 50 stands for days, which represents roughly two epidermal cycles for a gentle yet effective exfoliating process.
During my treatment, the esthetician used a cocktail of products and ingredients but mainly focused on facial massage, using her hands and various skin gadgets like the Biologique Recherche Remodeling Machine, which uses electric currents to lift, refine, and sculpt. For products, she used serums, masks, and moisturizers—no grainy face scrubs. Two hours later, I had glowing skin. My new-mom undereye circles and signs of fatigue were long gone. I was living proof that lymphatic drainage and pure, active ingredients are key to skincare success.
After my facial, I sat down with the esthetician to review her product recommendations (while sipping on a delicious green tea). To my surprise, she said if I had to leave with one product, it would be the milk cleanser, although she also recommended the P50 lotion and placenta serum. I purchased everything along with their lip balm, which has replaced both my Nuxe lip balm and my By Terry rose lip balm.
Tips and tricks to take home
My esthetician also gave me a few tips:
Apply the P50 lotion directly to a cotton pad, add a few drops of water for the first few days, and press into the skin. Note: I did not dilute with water, and I broke out because my sensitive skin was not ready for the potency of ingredients. I have since eased into the P50 by watering it down and have had zero problems.
Avoid using cream-based eye products at night as the cream can get stuck in the folds and cause puffiness. My esthetician recommends eye creams for day-time only. (If you’re wondering, she didn’t say anything about gel-based products, and I forgot to ask.)
Jade and rose quartz lose their properties when used on top of an oil; thus, they’re no more beneficial than using your hands or any other facial massage tool.
To book an appointment at Biologique Recherche, either call or send an e-mail (information below).
Biologique Recherche, 32 Avenue des Champs Elysées, Paris 75008. Tel: +33 1 42 25 02 92. Open Monday - Saturday 9:30 am - 7:45 pm // Sunday 10:30 am - 6:15 pm. Email: ambassade@biologique-recherche.com. Website: www.biologique-recherche.com