Biologique Recherche’s Iconic P50 Lotion Is Discontinued — But These 7 Dupes Are Just as Good
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, StyleCaster may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
French skincare brand Biologique Recherche has been making its line of the ever-elusive (yet highly praised) P50 lotions for more than 50 years now. This line of “balancing exfoliators” is just as well known for its skin-transforming benefits and unrivaled cult following as it is for its pungent stench. However, countless beauty editors and skincare aficionados are definitely more than willing to dismiss the potions’ signature scent—the result of a proprietary blend of vinegar and horseradish with a dash of onion—because fans swear it actually works.
According to the brand, these toners enhance the skin because they “speed up the epidermis’s natural exfoliating process and the reconstruction of the epidermal shield.” In other words, it sloughs off dead skin from the surface much like chemical exfoliants and retinoid products, thanks to its blend of trusted anti-aging ingredients including sulfur and lactic acid. But the P50 solution is different than its fellow exfoliators because it’s chock-full of unusual ingredients that you’re used to seeing in your kitchen cabinet, not your skincare: onion extract, horseradish, thyme. Despite the formula’s strong acid blend, the additional ingredients are said to help restore your skin’s PH levels and limit the amount of irritation associated with stronger exfoliating products.
There are currently seven versions of the lotion, with a range of strengths available depending on your exfoliation tolerance and personal skin concerns. The original—and undeniably most coveted—is the original P50 1970 solution. It contains a controversial ingredient called phenol, an antiseptic acid compound often used as a paint thinner but also found in some oral sore throat medicines (hence the numbing sensation upon application that many users have reported).
Best Lotion P50 Dupes at a Glance
- Most Popular: Pixi Glow Tonic, $15
- Best for Sensitive Skin: Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner , $18
- Best for Daily Use: REN Clean Skincare Ready, Set, Glow Daily AHA Tonic; $40
- Best for Clogged Pores: COSRX Niacinamide 2% + BHA 4% Blackhead Exfoliant Toner , $18.49
- Best Clean Option: Moon Juice Acid Potion , $40
- Best for Acne-Prone Skin: Glossier Solution, $30
- Best for Dry Skin: SkinCeuticals Equalizing Toner, $38
Fans of the lotion (aptly nicknamed “facial in a bottle”) praise the cultish elixir for its fast delivery of visible anti-aging benefits. Some even likened the results to Botox treatments. While it’s doubtful that P50 is a Botox alternative, it’s fairly evident that most people who have tried this stinky toner are pretty loyal to it, if not utterly obsessed. Unfortunately, as of January 2025, the original P50 1970 lotion was discontinued in the U.S. due to new FDA ingredients regulations that prohibit phenol from being used in cosmetic skin-care products.
While die-hard fans insist P50 is an irreplaceable skin-care hero in their beauty cabinets, we’ve found a few phenol-free dupes that will do a similar job without requiring an endless black market hunt or an invasive stench.
