Bio-Oil: a Guru Score of 45% from 6 skincare experts

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

✕Mixed

"You can certainly try things like almond oil or even Bio-Oil, that may offer some skin hydration and indirectly maybe prevent stretch marks from forming or prevent pre-existing ones from worsening. I don't think it hurts to try, but I would never tell someone to use this oil and you're guaranteed no stretch marks, because that's just not the case."

Dr. Sam Ellis

882k subs

✕Nay

"Things like Bio-Oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, these really prey on a person's insecurity about developing stretch marks, but they have never been shown to actually be effective in preventing them."

All 2 takes from Dr. Sam Ellis

Products I Would Never Let My Family Use (Dermatologist Approved NO List) | Dr. Sam Ellis

"Things like Bio-Oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, these really prey on a person's insecurity about developing stretch marks, but they have never been shown to actually be effective in preventing them."

Skincare Trends That Need to STOP | Dr. Sam Ellis

"Any time I talk about stretch marks I will always get comments that are like well I used Bio Oil on my belly during pregnancy and I didn't have a single stretch mark that is so wonderful but that's not the Bio Oil that is just what your body is naturally doing."

Dr. Vanita Rattan

1.23M subs

✕Nay

"I actually made a video on Bio Oil years ago. Bio Oil is the number one product right now for stretch marks. And when I made the video, I was shocked to learn that it contained vitamin A, retinyl palmitate. It's a blanket no when it comes to vitamin A during pregnancy, just like it's a blanket no on using Botox during pregnancy. [...] When I looked into it, it was loaded with fragrance. It contained vitamin A and it didn't contain any collagen stimulating actives."

All 3 takes from Dr. Vanita Rattan

I Tested Stretch Mark Creams So You Don't Have To: Doctor V Reveals All!

"When I looked into it, it was loaded with fragrance. It contained vitamin A and it didn't contain any collagen stimulating actives."

TREAT Stretchmarks during Pregnancy Doctor V explains

"I actually made a video on Bio Oil years ago. Bio Oil is the number one product right now for stretch marks. And when I made the video, I was shocked to learn that it contained vitamin A, retinyl palmitate. It's a blanket no when it comes to vitamin A during pregnancy, just like it's a blanket no on using Botox during pregnancy. [...] When I looked into it, it was loaded with fragrance. It contained vitamin A and it didn't contain any collagen stimulating actives."

30s Haircare/Skincare Routines 2025

"Retinol palmitate, which is found for example in BIO Oil, is the weakest form of vitamin A."

Dr Dray

2.68M subs

✕Nay

"Bio oil, anyone who says that this is helpful, they're getting essentially the benefits of using mineral oil to lubricate the scar, cut down on frictional forces, but they're adding in a steeper price point, $38.49 mind you, plus fragrance which again can be irritating, not always but for some people it can be irritating. Fragrance and essential oils ultimately will worsen the appearance of the scar, so this is not something I recommend. People who use it and claim that it helped their scars, just know it worked by lubricating the skin surface. You can get that same effect for half the price without the risk of irritation from fragrance just by using mineral oil or any of the skin protectants."

All 4 takes from Dr Dray

*NEW* SKINCARE AT THE DRUGSTORE | Dermatologist

"I don't understand the hype. It's basically mineral oil with fragrance and not much else. Mineral oil certainly can lubricate scars and hydrate scars and ultimately may cut down on frictional forces that lead to scar thickening, but that's about it, and you don't need special Bio-Oil to do that. You could do that really with any body oil. The other thing about this is that it claims to help improve the appearance of stretch marks, that seems unlikely. That's a very lofty claim. Stretch marks originate down in deeper parts of the skin related to quick expansion of the skin with changes in weight or if someone's on an oral or topical steroid that can thin the skin and cause stretch marks. So that's a very lofty claim."

*BEST* Skincare For Scars: Dermatologist's Picks

"Bio oil, anyone who says that this is helpful, they're getting essentially the benefits of using mineral oil to lubricate the scar, cut down on frictional forces, but they're adding in a steeper price point, $38.49 mind you, plus fragrance which again can be irritating, not always but for some people it can be irritating. Fragrance and essential oils ultimately will worsen the appearance of the scar, so this is not something I recommend. People who use it and claim that it helped their scars, just know it worked by lubricating the skin surface. You can get that same effect for half the price without the risk of irritation from fragrance just by using mineral oil or any of the skin protectants."

NEW SKINCARE AT THE DRUGSTORE 🛍 DERMATOLOGIST @DrDrayzday

"I don't recommend Bio-Oil, there's nothing about it that is evidence based for treating scars other than the emollient effect may help reduce friction on the surface of the skin. It has fragrance in it, and that is more likely to cause problems, you run the risk of contact dermatitis which could ultimately worsen the appearance of the scar. It's also not going to do anything for stretch marks like they claim it helps improve the appearance of stretch marks."

DERMATOLOGIST SHOP WTH ME WALGREENS SKIN CARE | Dr Dray

"A few years ago I did a review on this. It's nothing but fragrance, literally."

James Welsh

1.58M subs

✕Nay

"Bio-Oil, in my opinion, the biggest scam ever, probably the biggest blatant lie in the skincare industry that we all fell for. [...] Bio-Oil has always advertised themselves [...] as a blend of oils that helps remove stretch marks, which it kind of is potentially maybe. [...] When you look at the ingredients, it's essentially just a cocktail of oils and 14 different fragrances. [...] This is really overboard and really potentially irritating for those with easily irritated skin. The fragrances are all listed individually because they have to be, because they are some of the most known irritants when it comes to skincare."

The Budget Dermatologist

723k subs

✕Mixed

"There has been some anecdotal evidence that Bio-Oil can help improve and prevent stretch marks, but I hypothesize that it may be the massaging effects more than the product itself that are most beneficial. Regardless, this is an enjoyable product to use and it is unlikely to cause side effects."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Retinoids

Retinoids are among the best studied ingredients in dermatology, with solid evidence for acne and for the fine lines and rough texture that come from sun exposure. Dryness and flaking in the first few weeks are common and usually settle.

Source: DermNet

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant, and it is often in a formula to keep the other ingredients stable rather than as the active itself. It pairs well with vitamin C, though on its own the evidence for visible change is limited.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

Frequently asked.

What is Bio-Oil?

A lightweight oil blend marketed to improve the appearance of stretch marks and scars, containing mineral oil, plant oils, vitamin A, and fragrance.

Is Bio-Oil worth it?

Mostly no. None of the 6 gurus who reviewed it came away sold, leaving it a Guru Score of 45%.

What is Bio-Oil's Guru Score?

Bio-Oil holds a Guru Score of 45%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 6 expert reviewers we have collected.