Dermatologist Review of Bioelements

Bioelements was founded in Chicago in1991 by Barbara Salomone, a licensed esthetician. Ms. Salomone started her esthetics career in the 70s as a makeup artist in a high profile Hollywood salon. In the late 70’s she became one of the first licensed estheticians in California with training focused on skin care rather than hair cosmetology. In the early 80’s she moved back to her home in Illinois and in 1985 opened the Conservatory of Esthetics in Chicago. The Conservatory became the precursor to her ongoing coast to coast and internet educational endeavors. Bioelements was born six years later out of Barbara’s passion for esthetic skin care. It reflects the joint effort of her team of cosmetic chemists, formulators and practicing estheticians and has become very successful.

The Conservatory of Esthetics was created to provide advanced education in both skin care and make up. Prior to the opening of the Conservatory, Barbara developed her own makeup line, Barbara Salomone Cosmetics. She thus had extensive experience in both skin care and makeup prior to founding her Conservatory. When the Conservatory opened it became a unique exciting option for education in advanced skin care. Barbara listened to the concerns of her students and decided to create a highly developed skin care line to address the needs of practicing skin care professionals. The feedback of her students at the Conservatory was instrumental in the development of Bioelements. Barbara took this feedback and, in conjunction with experts in pharmacology and cosmetic science, developed a wide range of products to fit every skin type.

Bioelements formulations are intended to fit the skin care needs of the individual. Bioelements achieves this goal using a system known as Biotypes. Biotypes are a way to categorize a variety of skin types and conditions. This is useful in helping consumers select from the Bioelements line the best combination of products for each particular skin type and condition.

Bioelements believes that just as there isn’t just one type of skin, there shouldn’t be just one choice in skin care products from any given manufacturer. Bioelements understands that skin ranges from oily to dry with both types existing on the same face in some people. As a result of this diversity, Bioelements believes that a variety of choices in skin care products are necessary for each person to achieve desired results. The primary basis for Bioelements Biotyping is the skin’s oil production. Biotypes range from Definitely Dry to Definitely Oily with steps in between. Within this range, each individual determines his or her own unique skin Biotype. Based on this information, products can be selected from the line to provide optimized skin benefit.

There are six different Biotypes in the Bioelements system. The Definitely Oily or O2 type is skin that is oily all over and the oil returns shortly after cleansing. The next Biotype is Moderately Oily, or O1. This skin type has more oil in the T zone, but is still oily in other areas. Combination skin or C0 has an oily T zone, but no oil in other areas. The next Biotypes are more on the dry side. The Combination/slightly dry or Cd type has an oily T zone, but some dryness on the cheeks. Moderately Dry or D1 has very little oil in the T zone and dry skin on the rest of the face. The last Biotype is Definitely Dry or D2. This skin type is dry and sometimes itchy. The guide to biotypes is located on every box of Bioelements products.

Once a Biotype is determined, selecting products is easy. Bioelements makes this process even easier with skin care kits designed for each skin type. The Skin Care to Go and Great Skin Care in a Box kits are made for every skin type from very dry to very oily. The kits contain a regimen of products tailored to each skin type. For those who want to try the products in a smaller size, the Travel Kits offer a convenient way to sample the products.

Bioelements formulations contain botanical ingredients. The products are free of artificial colors, comedogenic oils and synthetic fragrances that may cause irritation and potentially contribute to clogged pores and acne. Among the key Ingredients used in Bioelements are a variety of plant extracts, trace minerals, herbs and aromatherapy oils. Oriental herbs are used to help heal and strengthen the skin. Antioxidants are used to help deter signs of skin aging and sun damage. Liposomes are used to augment skin moisturization and health.

Bioelements selects high grade ingredients for their skin care formulas. The purest essential oils, the most potent and beneficial botanicals and the most effective herbs are chosen to promote optimum results. Research into the optimal ingredients is ongoing and formulas are improved and updated on a continual basis.

All Bioelements products are put through rigorous testing to ensure formulation stability and integrity. Quality control at Bioelements is among the most rigorous in the industry. Each product is reportedly put through approximately twice as much testing as other manufacturers. Testing is done not only in the lab, but also in the real world via professional estheticians. Much of this testing is conducted at Bioelements Learning Centers which are located around the world.

Bioelements Power Peptide was featured in the summer 2007 issue of New Beauty Magazine. The tonic is spritzed directly on the face and neck after cleansing. It is reportedly effective at improving skin tone and increasing moisture to the skin. The tonic helps prepare the skin to receive other skin care products by making it more receptive to the beneficial properties of other products thereby encouraging better overall results.

Bioelements has a very large product offering encompassing the full range of skin care as well as some makeup and bath and body products. The Bioelements logo is memorable and graces the entire offering. Bioelements packaging is quite diverse both in container type and, to a lesser extent, packaging design and color selection. This likely reflects the wide range of product types and the sheer number of different products within the line.

Bioelements products are quite popular and the brand has a loyal following. Crucial Moisture has been particularly well received as has the range of cleansers. The popularity of Bioelements cleansers is interesting in that they are designed to be optimally cleansing with minimal foaming. Bioelements also has mechanical exfoliant products that remain very popular.

Bioelements represents a leading esthetician developed skin care brand with a solid reputation. The product offering is vast with something for virtually every skin type. Bioelements continues to innovate and looks to have found its niche with Biotyping.