Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil: Reformulated — Better or Worse?

Reformulation Alert
Biossance just swapped its cult-favorite rose oil base—and early reviews are split right down the middle.
Expert Analysis · Honest Reviews · Real Results
🔍 **The New Base Feels Different**
Biossance just swapped out the oil base in their cult-favorite rose oil — and the internet is fighting about it. The old version was a lightweight, almost watery squalane; the new one is thicker, richer, sits on skin longer before it sinks in.

The real story? They quietly changed the carrier from 100% sugarcane-derived squalane to a blend that includes *caprylic/capric triglyceride* (coconut-derived). That’s not nothing for people who bought in for the pure squalane promise.

🧴 **What You’re Actually Getting**
$72 for 1 oz. The claim is “brightening + antioxidant protection with no irritation.” I tested it because my winter skin was begging for something that didn’t just sit on top.

1

Texture shift

Gone is the slip-and-disappear feel. This now leaves a slight film for about 90 seconds.

2

Scent change

Less rose, more… floral air freshener? The old one smelled like a garden. This one smells like a candle.

3

Pump vs dropper

Still a dropper. Still messy. Why does nobody fix this?

⚖️ **Ingredients — What’s Actually Doing the Work**
The vitamin C is still 12% ethyl ascorbic acid (stable, non-irritating). The squalane is now cut with that coconut derivative. Rosehip oil is still there, but lower on the list. The old formula had squalane as #1. This one doesn’t.

  • Ethyl Ascorbic Acid (12%): Stable vitamin C that actually brightens without stinging
  • Squalane (reduced): Still moisturizing, but no longer the star
  • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride: Coconut-derived filler that makes it greasier
  • Rosehip Oil: Antioxidant, but barely present

🧪 **Texture + Real Life Test**
First pump — thicker than I remembered. It spreads like a lightweight lotion, not an oil. Absorbs in about 45 seconds (old one was 10). My face felt *coated*, not hydrated. By morning? Fine. Not better.

Week 3: my skin did look slightly more even. But I also got two small whiteheads on my jaw — something that never happened with the old formula. The coconut derivative clogs pores for some people. I’m one of them.

💡 **One Thing**
Use 2 drops max and press, don’t rub. Rubbing makes the film worse. Pressing helps it sink in faster.

📝 **Results — What Changed**
My dark spots faded maybe 15% over 3 weeks. That’s… fine. Not amazing. My skin felt softer but also denser, if that makes sense. The glow was less “lit from within” and more “I just put oil on.”

Buy if
Your skin loves coconut derivatives and you want a richer vitamin C oil for winter
⏭️

Skip if
You’re acne-prone, you loved the old texture, or you expect pure squalane
💰

Worth it?
At $72, no. The old one was. This feels like a cost-cutting move dressed as an upgrade.

💬 **Final Verdict**

6.5/10
A downgrade dressed in new packaging

🛍️ **Where to Buy**
Direct from Biossance — but honestly? Try the travel size first ($22). Don’t blind-buy the full bottle like I did.