Bubble Skincare has finally landed on Aussie shores, bringing its fresh branding and science-backed formulas with it. After putting the products to the test for a month, here are my honest thoughts.
In my line of work, I come face to face (literally) with the world’s best skincare brands, facial techniques and industry leaders almost every day. My bathroom cabinet – and every nook and cranny in my home – is stuffed full of cult-favourite products from almost every popular brand on the market.
I’ve had the pleasure of speaking to some of the most knowledgeable minds in skincare and experiencing world-class facials and treatments.
However, I’ll be the first to admit I have a habit of ‘drinking the Kool-Aid’, so to speak when it comes to new product launches. The undying faith I place in cult-skincare brands to fix every concern I have is not only foolish but also costly.
I’m If one thing is for sure, I can be talked into buying a 10-pack of chemical peels or LED treatments faster than you can say ‘sucker’.
Despite all this, my skin has been a total mess this past year, never quite responding to anything I try. And yes, I’m well aware that mixing up products too often is usually the cause of unhappy skin, but after using the same lineup of products for the last six months, I knew it was time to try a totally new tactic.
So one month ago, after meeting Shai Eisenman, the founder and CEO of Bubble Skincare, during her whirlwind press circuit in Sydney, I decided to put the brand’s stellar reputation to the test.
If your TikTok algorithm is anything like mine, you’ve probably seen Bubble Skincare’s bright products flash up on your feed. Considering how much the brand has grown (in both its product lineup and social media presence) it’s almost impossible to believe it only launched onto the market at the end of 2020.
Bubble’s most refreshing quality, however, is the passion the brand has for dispelling skincare myths and educating consumers on what ingredients they should be exposing their skin to – emphasising that more often than not, less is more when it comes to crafting an effective skincare routine.
“When I entered the beauty world and started conducting focus groups in 2018, everybody just did a full face of glam and did not care about any skincare ingredients,” Eisenmann says.
“The word Niacinamide did not exist in people's minds. I think it's way better now and they're much more educated, but it was such a situation where essentially people would use toothpaste on their pimples, they would use coconut oil on her face and all that.”
Despite making a big splash with Gen Z consumers, Bubble’s range is designed for everyone. Cute branding aside, every product in the Bubble range is also fully fragrance-free and free of essential oils, formulated carefully by a team of dermatologists and experts.
“We put a really, really, really big emphasis on not having any sensitising ingredients and really kind of no controversial – I don't like to say clean because in fact, the word clean is overused and it's not regulated and it doesn't mean much – But we don't formulate with any controversial ingredients, the founder and CEO says.”
The brand’s range is also super varied, offering a range of textures and formula variations of each major product pillar. Regardless of whether you’re a gel kind of girl or stick to oil or milky formulas, Bubble has your back.
Skincare that won’t send you into bankruptcy
With nothing priced over $30, Bubble has landed on Australian shelves at the perfect time. With most people struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living right now, splurging on expensive products that need to be replaced every three months is a luxury few can afford.
“The reason why I felt like Bubble had to exist is because it felt like consumers always had to make compromises,” Eisenman says. “When you look at lower price points, people are still stuck with the same stuff they were stuck with 10, 20 years ago.”
“So it felt like there was really room to create something different and to create a brand that was going to have the best possible ingredients, that was going to have the best possible science and efficacy and results.”
Like most new global brands, Australia has been patiently waiting for the chance to try Bubble’s beloved range for months. Now, available exclusively at Priceline pharmacies, Bubble has finally reached our shores, bringing a fresh take on with it.
The Bubble routine that has transformed my skin
If like me, you’re fed up with spending obscene amounts of money on products that don’t seem to be making a difference and want to shake up your routine and put Bubble to the test, here’s the exact routine I’ve found works wonders on my skin.
After just one month of totally overhauling my routine with Bubble’s range, stubborn skin concerns I’ve battled for years have noticeably subsided.
Here are the steps I’ve been following morning and night:
Step one: Cleanse!
Fresh Start Gel Cleanser, $25 from priceline.com.au
As much as I’d love to get behind milky cleansers, my skin never truly feels cleansed unless I go in with a foaming gel formula. This product is super hydrating while at the same time able to lift everything off my skin in one go. At night, I’ll still double-cleanse with my favourite cleansing balm, ensuring any makeup or product residue front throughout the day is taken off before going in with the gentle gel cleanser. A little but of this product goes a long way, so if really, if you look at the cost per pump through the trusty lens of girl math, you're practically cleaning for free.
Step 2: Hydrate and nourish!
Bounce Back Balancing Toner Mist, $20 from priceline.com.au
If you’re yet to use a mist in your skincare routine, I suggest you start now. Not only does a daily spritz add a much-needed dose of refreshment after waking up, but applying your serums and other products to damp skin significantly improves their performance. “The reason why we have rosewater is not for the scent, it’s for the efficacy,” says Eisenman. “It helps with redness and it helps with acne in the middle.”
Water Slide Hyaluronic Acid + Peptides Hydration Boosting Serum, $29 from priceline.com.au
Hyaluronic acid has been the one staple ingredient I have consistently used on my face for the last 10 years, so ensuring Bubble’s formula lived up to its reputation was absolutely key when it came to overhauling my entire routine. As the name suggests, two pumps of this lightweight serum leave my skin feeling immediately plumped and hydrated after every application. I’ve been using it both morning and night and don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
Super Clear Acne Treating Serum 2% Salicylic Acid, $29 from priceline.com.au
Probably the most active product in Bubble’s range, this acne-focussed serum is largely responsible for my skin’s fast turnaround. In addition to the hero ingredient of salicylic acid, Super Clear is formulated with colloidal oatmeal – a duality that sets this serum apart from other acne treatments on the market. “It's one of the only acne serums on the market that is also calming,” the founder shares. I’ve been applying the serum after cleansing and misting every morning and evening, and despite containing a relatively high level of active ingredients, haven’t experienced any issues with sensitivity.
Day Dream Vitamin C + Niacinamide Tone & Texture Serum, $29 from priceline.com.au
Prior to overhauling my routine, I hadn’t regularly used a product containing vitamin C or Niacinamide for months. Despite being well aware of the benefits attached to both ingredients, I was fed up with the number of serums and potions I needed to pull out of the cabinet and apply each time I did my skincare. Bubble’s Day Dream serum, however, combines both ingredients in one handy formula, minimising my bathroom clutter. The formula is gentle, and hydrating and absorbs immediately into the skin.
Step 3: Lock it all in!
Slam Dunk Hydrating Moisturiser, $28 from priceline.com.au
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For those with combination skin (or skin that drastically changes depending on the season), the brand’s impressive lineup of moisturisers makes hydrating fussy skin a breeze.For the past month, I’ve been using the fan-favourite Slam Dunk Hydrating Moisturiser for an extra boost of hydration morning and night, finding the slightly thicker formula to be the perfect weapon against the uncharacteristically cool spring weather Sydney has endured. When the temperatures (and humidity) start to ramp up in the coming weeks, I’ll switch to Level Up, a lighter gel moisturiser.
As everyone should, I always follow up my moisturiser with a good quality sunscreen (SPF 50+). And while I don’t wear makeup every single day, I’ve found the above combination of products leaves my skin perfectly hydrated and primed for my go-to makeup look.
Mia EricksonOnline Content Producer
Mia is a Sydney-based writer and content producer at Body+Soul. When she’s not testing out the latest must-have wellness products or sweating out the morning at a Pilates studio, Mia is usually spotting (and chasing after) dogs out in the wild, or cooking up a storm at home.
