Bio-Oil and Mederma are both big names in skincare, especially when it comes to treating stretch marks and scar tissue. Skimming through their descriptions, it might be hard to choose between Mederma vs Bio-Oil because they seem similar at first.
But are they really? A closer look reveals that there are plenty of differences. Let’s see how they compare in ingredients, purpose, price and which one is more effective.
Mederma vs Bio-Oil: Differences
What are the main differences between these two products? Both Mederma Quick Dry Oil and Bio-Oil are blended oils that are supposed to help your skin recover from trauma like stretchmarks and scars.
It turns out they’re actually quite different in almost every way that counts, including their ingredients, their effectiveness, the manufacturers that make them, and their price.
Ingredients
Perhaps the most obvious difference between these two products is also one of the most important: the ingredients list. You’ll notice immediately that “mineral oil” is the first ingredient in Bio-Oil’s list, which makes sense when you compare how long it takes to absorb into the skin compared to Mederma.
The first ingredient in Mederma’s list is caprylic/capric triglyceride. That’s a mouthful! But don’t be fooled by the technical name; this isn’t some scary chemical.
It’s actually a natural alternative to mineral oil, made by combining glycerin and coconut oil. Not only is it the perfect way to blend the other plant oils in Mederma, but it also has its own skin smoothing qualities.
Purpose
This is the one category in which Mederma and Bio-Oil seem to not differ too much. They’re both being marketed for similar purposes:
- Stretch marks
- Scars
- Dry skin
- Uneven skin tone
Mederma is best known for its scar treatment product line, but their quick-drying oil claims to reduce the appearance of scars as well.
This makes the next category that much more important—if they’re intended to solve exactly the same issues, then what really matters is how well they work.
Effectiveness
As far as dry skin goes, both seem to moisturize very well. Mederma comes out ahead when it comes to reducing the appearance of stretch marks and scars, according to nearly every one that’s used it.
Bottom line: If you’re just looking for an overall moisturizer that keeps your skin healthy, Bio-Oil and Mederma seem to be about equal.
If you’re looking for a product that is going to significantly improve the appearance of your skin, especially if you have stretch marks, Mederma is the winner of this round.
Manufacturer
What about the companies behind the products?
Bio-oil has longevity on its side. It was first developed in 1987, by a German chemist located in South Africa. He later sold the concept to two brothers, who faithfully retained the product’s original formula. Why fix what’s not broken?
Mederma hasn’t been around as a company nearly as long, but it’s certainly made a splash since arriving, first with its revolutionary, proprietary scar treatments, and now with its quick-dry oil.
While the makers of Bio-Oil stick with tradition, the minds behind Mederma are determined to stay on the cutting edge of skincare research.
Both approaches have merit, but we tend to side with the latter, simply because there are so many amazing advances being made in the health and beauty industries lately.
Kudos to Bio-Oil for staying loyal to their original formula, but we prefer Mederma’s strategy here.
Price
Generally speaking, Mederma is going to be a little more expensive than Bio-Oil, but that’s going to largely depend on where you purchase it and in what quantities.
Mederma vs Bio Oil: Which One is Better for Stretch Marks?
We’ve already touched on the fact that Mederma is more effective overall, and that includes making stretch marks less visible. But there are other reasons besides appearance for our choice.
Stretch marks appear when your skin is stretched beyond its capacity due to having to expand faster than it can grow.
Essentially, stretch marks are where your skin tears to accommodate rapid changes in size. This might be from having a growth spurt, from going through puberty, from gaining weight, or from being pregnant.
By applying a moisturizing oil that contains other ingredients that support healthy skin, these surface-level scars become less noticeable.
To some extent, both Bio-Oil and Mederma work for this, with Mederma being somewhat more effective. Having said that, Mederma would still be the better choice even if they were equally effective.
The reason? The ingredients list. Mineral oil has been used in cosmetics for a very long time, and it has been believed to be generally safe for that purpose.
However, there are growing concerns about mineral oil contamination that have many people choosing to avoid this ingredient when possible.
Aside from that, the only benefit it really offers is moisturization, whereas all of the ingredients in Mederma help your skin heal, smooth it, and improve its appearance. For my stretch marks, it’s Mederma all the way!
Mederma Review
It absorbs into the skin quickly, and you can start noticing a difference after a few weeks of use.
Bio Oil Review
It does help to moisturize the skin and keep it soft, but you won’t notice as much change in your stretch marks.
And it can leave you feeling oily!
Conclusion
Mederma vs Bio-Oil: And the winner is…
Of course, no one product is perfect for everyone. We all have different skin types and needs.
We found Mederma to be the clear winner for us though, but you may feel differently and like Bio-Oil.
Whether you want to agree with us, or tell us why we’re wrong, feel free to reach out or comment below! We’d love to hear your opinion.