Scouted: OMG, Biologique Recherche’s Iconic Lotion P50 1970 Toner Is Being Discontinued

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It is a sad day for skincare obsessives across the globe. Lauded French beauty brand Biologique Recherche has reportedly discontinued its cult-favorite Lotion P50 1970. According to The Cut, the last shipment of the original Lotion P50 1970 toner was sent to the U.S. sometime in Jan. 2025, and once the stock runs out, it’ll be gone forever. This is utterly tragic. The facial toner works by “speed[ing] up the epidermis’s natural exfoliating process and the reconstruction of the epidermal shield,” BR says in its product description. In other words, it gently sloughs off dead skin and boosts cellular turnover for reduced skin congestion, fine lines, dark spots, discoloration, and dullness thanks to a potent cocktail of both conventional and unusual complexion-boosting ingredients, from lactic acid and niacinamide to sulfur and vinegar.

The exfoliating toner, collectively dubbed a ‘facial in a bottle’ by its loyal fanbase, including countless beauty editors, aestheticians, and celebs like Bella Hadid, is going extinct due to one of its controversial hero ingredients: phenol, an antiseptic acid compound often used as a paint thinner. According to Paulla Brecque, an NYC Biologique Recherche Skincare Spa and Biologoque Recherche retailer, BR isn’t nixing its holy grail elixir solely to panic its devotees—new FDA regulations are forcing it to discontinue the product based on safety concerns regarding its inclusion of phenol. “New FDA ingredient regulations now prohibit phenol to be included in cosmetic skincare products. Although the percentage in the formula was extremely low, it is still not an acceptable ingredient in the USA,” the spa and retailer says in a post that announced the (devastating) news.

It’s worth noting that Biologique Recherche currently has several versions of the lotion P50 ranging in strengths for different skin types and concerns, and the original (and undoubtedly most beloved) 1970 formula will be the only one going extinct. Am I spiraling? Yes. Am I stockpiling? Also, yes. I’ve been a loyal user of the vinegar and onion-scented magical potion for seven years now. Do I care that it stinks? No.

I also don’t particularly care that it’s potentially toxic either because since using the P50 lotion consistently, my skin has never looked better. And despite its harsh ‘fragrance’ (I love this stuff so much that I wouldn’t dare call its signature scent an odor), it’s actually been perfectly tolerable to my highly sensitive, reactive skin. Even when I tried its P50W, supposedly formulated specifically for sensitive skin, my skin turned bright red and splotchy and felt tighter (in a bad way) and downright disturbed for an entire day.

If, like me, you are also a loyal user of the formula, know that you are not alone. P50 lovers have flocked to Reddit to speculate on supply issues and turn to one another for support and dupe recommendations. “I just bought 8 large bottles last week—they don’t expire until 6/2028. I’ll have to cut down my use to once a day. I love the P50 1970 so much—it’s really improved my skin in only 6 weeks,” one Redditor says. As for replacements, one helpful Reddit user suggested Danucera D22 Tonic. “Was die hard p50 user for the last several years but now I use Danucera D22 Tonic. I find it super effective—as good if not better than p50.”

If you’re looking for a non-toxic substitute, Moon Juice’s Acid Potion is the best choice, in my opinion. In fact, Moon Juice’s founder Amanda Chantal Bacon actually created this exfoliating toner because, as a former P50 loyalist herself, she wanted something as effective without the toxic ingredients. It works *almost* as well, but it takes longer to see results than its phenol-infused counterpart.

I have stocked up on a backup bottle, and, like many other heartbroken BR fans, I will be rationing my remaining supply.