BioNike (you pronounce it bee-yo-nee-kay), Dis-Chem’s Italian cosmetics brand for those with sensitive or allergy-prone skin, has launched a new anti-ageing line up called Defence Elixage R3 that includes a day cream, night cream, eye and lip cream as well as an oil-serum. Like all BioNike products, everything’s free of gluten, fragrance, preservatives and nickel.

As you know I’m not crazy about products in jar packaging so my top pick of the bunch would be the oil-serum – BioNike Defence Elixage R3 Huile Serum regenerating oil (R645, Dis-Chem) that I’ve repackaged into a very unglamorous-looking air-free pump. Its ingredients include antioxidant, collagen-boosting vitamin E; hydrating Shea Butter esters (a lovely weightless form of Shea Butter) and other natural hydrators in the form of antioxidant-rich oils like grape seed, watermelon, olive and prickly pear.

BioNike say their oil serum makes use of something they refer to as GGP to help preserve the length of your skin cell’s telomeres. (To be honest, I’m not sure what this is as listed as in the ingredients list.) Telomeres help protect your cell’s chromosomes and get shorter over time, every time they replicate. Older skin will have short telomeres, whereas younger skin generally has longer telomeres. To date, scientists are still not sure shortened telomeres are merely a sign of aged skin or a cause but BioNike’s logic is that protecting the length of these structures could help delay the ageing process. It’s an interesting theory but I personally think its something that needs more research. Also, GGP isn’t the only thing that can help preserve your telomeres but comparative studies don’t exist so, if you did want to take a telomere preservation stance I’m not sure which ingredient would be your best bet in terms of efficacy.

Either way, from a mere antioxidant-rich facial oil point of view, BioNike’s new addition is a treat. I like its soft, sweet lollipop-like scent and the fact that it absorbs into your face in a flash but leaves it feeling comfy and supple, not greasy in the least. (For the record, I’m an oily-combo skin type and it’s a complete myth that this type of skin can’t tolerate oils. You just need to pick the right ones and grapeseed oil is fabulously light and non-occlusive, meaning it won’t clog your pores in the least.)

If you’re looking for an oil to add to your daily moisturiser to bump up it’s hydration factor or something to apply directly on a day when you’re feeling dry, know that BioNike’s newbie is an indulgent, sensory-pleasing pick.

Love, love

Leigh