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When I tore my ACL this past spring and needed surgery, it led me on a hunt for an effective scar treatment. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery is considered a major operation, and it left a mark fitting of its reputation: a large scar running down my knee. My research brought me to Bio-Oil — a cult-favorite amongst celebrities and editors alike — and after testing it for three months, I’m here to share my thoughts.
Bio-Oil is mainly known for reducing stretch marks and scarring overtime, but it also helps improve signs of aging and uneven skin tone across the face and body. Once I got the green light from my surgeon about a month post-op, I began massaging the oil onto my scar two to three times daily (Spoiler: It felt so nice on the skin, I started applying it all over my legs to combat dryness, too).
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Bio-Oil Skincare Oil
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What is Bio-Oil?
The skincare oil was the first ever oil to be used in clinical trials and display signs of improvement for scars and stretch marks, per the brand’s website. It’s now one of the leading scar and stretch mark formulas in the world, and has gained wide recognition through its over 400 skincare awards.
It’s packed full of natural oils like vitamin E, chamomile and lavender oil, to soothe distressed skin and correct a number of concerns, such as scarring, uneven skin tone, and aging. It’s also vegan, cruelty-free, non-comedogenic and free of parabens.
How Do You Apply Bio-Oil?
You can apply Bio-Oil directly onto the skin or into your hands first. It’s recommended by the brand to massage it into the skin for at least 30 seconds or until the oil has been absorbed, two to three times daily for the course of three months.
I would typically apply it morning and night (or whenever I remembered throughout the day) and massage it into my scar and the surrounding areas. I liked how it didn’t feel greasy or leave behind a gross residue—while it does take some time to sink into the skin after application, it wasn’t something that bothered me enough to stop using it.
My Honest Thoughts After One Month
I didn’t expect to see results overnight. That said, I was thoroughly surprised by the level in which Bio-Oil was able to help my scar within a month. In fact, the difference was so noticeable, even my physical therapists were wildly impressed by my scar’s healing in such a short timespan.
My Honest Thoughts After Three Months
I’m now four months post-surgery (and three months in on using Bio-Oil) and I can definitely tell a difference now compared to when I first started using it. For starters, my scar has turned more white than pink, and has shrunk in size quite well. It also feels a lot more smooth, in that it’s not as risen on the surface as it was before, and any dryness that surrounded the area has disappeared.
Scars can take a while to heal on their own, but I do attribute some of my fast improvements to the use of Bio-Oil. If anything, it helped keep the area moisturized and prompted me to bring some circulation to the scar daily.
I’ve made a pretty decent dent in the bottle, but I’ve still got tons of product left over to continue using. Since this was a pretty gnarly scar to begin with, I’ll keep applying Bio-Oil daily for at least a few more months—or until I’m happy with how it’s healed.
Bio-Oil is currently on sale
at Amazon ahead of Black Friday and I couldn’t recommend grabbing a bottle enough.