Last year I received the Biotherm Aquasource Shine Free Starter Kit when I attended the Biotherm Workshop at mYoga, The Gardens. I was informed that it was for oily skins but I could use it once in a while if I wanted to. I chose not to as my skin is already dehydrated enough and so I passed it to Fatin as I thought it’d be more suitable for her skin but was it? Let’s find out:-

My only experience with Biotherm is with its Aquasource Non-Stop Emergency Hydration Mask which I’m currently using and works great at hydrating my skin.

This starter kit consists of Biosource Oil Free Hydra-Mineral Cleanser Purifying Mousse, Biosource Oil Free Hydra-Mineral Lotion Purifying Water and Aquasource Clarifying Hydrating Gel Lasting Fresh Matte Finish. The combine use of these products are meant to hydrate, purify and mattify – a 3 step for Shine-Free skin in 7 days.

The Biosource Oil Free Hydra-Mineral Cleanser Purifying Mousse is a non- aggressive cleanser specially designed for normal to combination skin. The main ingredient in this cleanser is Zinc which acts as a balancing agent and is known for facilitating skin regeneration. It is also an anti-oxidant that helps fights off free radicals responsible for premature skin aging.

I’m always a tad apprehensive with mousse textured cleansers as it doesn’t completely rinse off my skin. This cleansing mousse transforms into a light, silky mousse upon contact with water. When it came to washing it off, I found that it left a thin white layer on my skin despite rinsing properly. My skin felt a tad unwashed with this mousse. Well it’s designed for normal to combination skin after, all how could work on oily skin right?

The Biosource Oil Free Hydra-Mineral Lotion Purifying Water is a daily hydra-mineral moisturizing ritual, this rich, active water enriched with Zinc and is again made for normal to combination skin. This radiance-activating lotion balances and moisturises the skin by replenishing nutrients lost due to cleansing with water.

It has a light textured liquid with a fresh clean scent. My skin feels refreshed upon application and it cleans off the dirt and residue that the cleanser missed. It also managed to clean up most of the thin white layer left by the cleanser.

Aquasource Clarifying Hydrating Gel Lasting Fresh Matte Finish is from the shiny- prone skin range. Formulated for those with oily skin it is enriched with purifying copper to reduce shine on the skin. It ideally moisturises leaving the skin soft and long-lastingly matte and takes on a fresh and healthy appearance. The ultra- hydrating texture contains the equivalent of 5,000 liters of thermal spring water that is oil-free and non-comedogenic.

Copper is a sebo-regulator which inhibits an enzyme that contributes to sebum production in the sebaceous glands. It also has the ability to mattify the complexion by helping to reduce shine.

This moisturiser is transparent and non-greasy with a light texture. It absorbs quite fast upon application making it non-sticky. My skin appears matte after it is fully absorbs, however it looks a tad dry enhancing fine lines. I don’t feel it moisturises my skin all too well either.

The combination of these three products are meant to control shine while hydrating but I found my skin still doing its usual thing of looking shiny after about 45 minutes of completing all three steps. I think it has to do with using a cleanser and toner which is not suitable for my skin type.

I personally find that oily skin is better controlled if my skin is well hydrated and moisturised not only on the surface but also from the inside. So far the current range I’m using is doing that rather well.

Fatin’s note : Products provided by Juniper’s Journal.

Editor’s note : Thanks to Fatin for the review and images.