Hey there! If you‘ve heard of the skincare brand Bubble before, you‘re probably just as curious as I was about whether their fun branding and promises actually live up to the hype.
As someone who has battled acne since my teen years, I‘m always on the lookout for skincare that works without irritating my sensitive skin. Bubble seemed like it could fit the bill. So I took the plunge and purchased their entire line to see if it measured up.
After a few months of testing, I‘m ready to give you the real deal on this buzzy brand. Read on for a detailed friend-to-friend review!
Bubble Skincare: The Brand Behind the Bubbles
Before we dig into the products, let‘s take a quick look at who Bubble is and what they claim to offer:
- Founded in 2020 by entrepreneur Shai Eisenman
- Target audience is teenagers and young adults
- Cruelty-free and vegan formulas
- Branding aims to empower youth to embrace their natural skin
- 1% of sales donated to nonprofits supporting youth mental health
So in a nutshell, Bubble sets out to give teens and Gen Zers clean, gentle skincare in cute packaging, while also giving back. Nice mission in theory, but does it actually work out in practice?
Testing Bubble Skincare for Myself: The Moment of Truth
I‘ll cut to the chase: While I applaud the brand‘s desire to keep things simple and natural, almost too simple is Bubble‘s biggest downfall. The formulas rely more on nice-sounding botanicals than hard-hitting ingredients proven to treat skin concerns.
That said, teen skin that‘s on the sensitive side may tolerate Bubble better than my acne-prone complexion in my late 20s. Below I break down all the hits and misses I discovered using an entire routine of Bubble exclusivel
Bubble Skincare Wipe Out Makeup Remover
- My experience: Removed makeup decently without stinging, but required quite a bit of rubbing and left some residue
- Key ingredients: Raspberry seed oil, chickweed extract
- Benefits: Hydrating, soothing
- Downsides: Not as effective or rinse-free as oil-based balms; potential for pore-clogging
My rating: 3/5
Bubble Skincare Fresh Start Gel Cleanser
- My experience: Felt refreshing but didn‘t foam up much or seem to deep clean pores
- Key ingredients: Gluconolactone (PHA exfoliant), caffeine, glycerin
- Benefits: Provides light exfoliation, antioxidant protection
- Downsides: Contains menthol which can irritate; gel texture could leave skin dry without added hydrators
My rating: 3/5
Bubble Skincare Slam Dunk Hydrating Moisturizer
- My experience: Felt nice and cool going on but seemed to evaporate quickly, leaving skin a bit tight
- Key ingredients: Glycerin, dimethicone, aloe vera
- Benefits: Soothing hydration
- Downsides: Relies on glycerin rather than advanced hydrators; dimethicone can clog pores
My rating: 2.5/5
The Verdict: Best for Beginner Skincare
While none of Bubble‘s products wowed me enough to keep using long-term, I could see the simple, budget-friendly formulas serving as a decent intro to skincare for skin newbies. Just don‘t expect dramatic anti-aging or acne-busting prowess.
For my fellow acne sufferers, I‘d suggest looking into actives like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide instead, or even gentle retinoids. And remember to always patch test unfamiliar products, especially with reactive skin!
How Bubble Compares to Popular Skincare Brands
To give more context around where Bubble lands in the world of skincare, I compared their formulas and pricing to other popular brands.
Here‘s an overview of how Bubble stacks up:
| Brand | Key Features | Price Range | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bubble Skincare | Vegan, fragrance-free, botanical extracts | $12-$19 | Beginners, sensitive skin |
| CeraVe | Gentle, dermatologist-developed, focus on ceramides | $6-$30 | Sensitive, eczema-prone skin |
| Cetaphil | No-fuss, non-irritating cleansers | $7-$23 | Sensitive skin |
| Paula‘s Choice | Science-backed formulas with anti-aging actives | $7-$95 | Anti-aging, acne, hyperpigmentation |
| The Ordinary | "Clinical formulations with integrity", actives at low prices | $3-$100 | Actives at bargain prices |
| Drunk Elephant | Clean, active formulas with biocompatible ingredients | $22-$90 | Anti-aging |
| Tatcha | Botanical-based luxury skincare inspired by geisha beauty rituals | $22-$105 | Anti-aging |
As you can see, while Bubble is budget-friendly like drugstore brands CeraVe and Cetaphil, its formulas aren‘t quite as specialized. For serious skincare treatment, I‘d spring for science-led brands like Paula‘s Choice or The Ordinary.
For natural luxury, Tatcha harnesses botanical power better than Bubble in my opinion. But everyone‘s skin is unique – ultimately finding your perfect products means trial and error!
The Last Word on Bubble Skincare
At the end of the day, Bubble Skincare is a well-intentioned brand making wave primarily through savvy marketing aimed at teens wanting to fit in. While the formulas fall short for my skincare needs, Bubble works nicely as a basic system for newbies or very sensitive skin able to tolerate essential oils and extracts.
The cutesy branding can also help make skincare feel fun and approachable versus clinical and boring! So if you‘re dipping your toes into skincare for the first time or find most products too harsh, give gentle little Bubble a try. 👍
But for those with more stubborn skin concerns like breakouts or early wrinkles, I suggest looking beyond the bubble at formulations with proven anti-acne and anti-aging actives. Skincare technology has come so far, there‘s no need to settle!
No matter where you are on your skincare journey though, remember to be kind to your unique skin. Try introducing new products slowly and pay attention to how each makes you feel. Your complexion will thank you!
