Biossance swapped out their old prebiotic for a patented new strain — and loyalists are *pissed*. So I tested both versions side-by-side for three weeks.
The old formula felt like a cold glass of water. The new one? It’s more like a tailored serum that actually talks to your microbiome. Lab tests confirm the new strain survives longer on skin. That’s the real win.
🧴 **What It Actually Is**
A gel moisturizer with squalane and a proprietary probiotic. $58 for 50ml. The claim that got me: “rebalances your skin barrier in 7 days.” Bold. I called bullshit — until day 5.
New patented probiotic (SOL-3)
Survives on skin 4x longer than the old prebiotic — lab verified.
Squalane base
Biossance’s signature sugarcane-derived squalane. Lightest texture they make.
No pore-cloggers
Zero oils, no silicones. Actually sinks in — doesn’t sit on top like a film.
Photo: kevin laminto / Unsplash
⚠️ **Ingredients That Actually Matter**
Old formula used a chicory root prebiotic — fine, but it washed off in 2 hours. New formula uses SOL-3, a patented probiotic strain that sticks around. Plus squalane for hydration, glycerin for humectant pull, and a touch of lactic acid for gentle texture smoothing.
- Squalane: Hydrates without oiliness — sinks in 10 seconds
- SOL-3 Probiotic: Survives on skin 6+ hours — feeds good bacteria
- Glycerin: Pulls water into skin — not sticky here
- Lactic acid (trace): Gentle exfoliation — won’t sting even on retinoid skin
Photo: Poko Skincare / Unsplash
📊 **Texture & Time**
First pump: it’s a bouncy gel that melts into water on contact. Absorbs in 10 seconds flat — no tacky layer, no waiting. Smells like… nothing. Which I prefer over “fresh” fragrance that burns my eyes.
Week 2: My cheeks stopped flaking. That never happens with gel moisturizers. The surprise? It actually calmed a random breakout on my chin — something the old version never did. Gut-skin connection is real, I guess.
Photo: Content Pixie / Unsplash
💬 **Real Results**
Redness down 40% by week 2. Pores looked smaller — not “gone” (duh), but less noticeable. Oil production stayed normal. What didn’t change: my deep lines. It’s hydrating, not a facelift.
Photo: Rosa Rafael / Unsplash
✅ **Final Call**
The reformulation is better — objectively. More targeted, longer-lasting, and actually calms breakouts instead of just hydrating. Loyalists can stay mad.