BioNike
Italian pharmaceutical dermocosmetics for the most demanding skin — nickel-tested on every batch, fragrance-free, preservative-conscious, and trusted by Italian dermatologists for six decades.
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BioNike is the brand behind every Italian pharmacy counter that dermatologists actually write on prescription pads. Founded as a pharmaceutical company in 1930 and pivoting to dermocosmetics in the 1960s, BioNike built its reputation on a single obsession: formulating for skin that reacts to everything. Every product is nickel-tested (not just nickel-free — tested per batch, a higher standard), fragrance-free, and formulated without conventional preservatives like parabens. The Defence Hydractive line is the hydration workhorse — adaptive moisturizers with triple-weight hyaluronic acid and carnosine antioxidant protection. Defence B-Lucent handles pigmentation with a vitamin C concentrate that Italian dermatologists prescribe for melasma. Defence Sun is the post-procedure sunscreen range — SPF 50+ with modern EU filters, mattifying finishes, and the kind of cosmetic elegance that gets patients to actually reapply. The packaging is pharmacy-functional, the marketing is restrained, and the formulations are quietly excellent. BioNike doesn't chase trends — it formulates for the dermatologist's office and lets the results do the talking.
Strengths
- + nickel-tested on every production batch — gold standard for reactive skin
- + fragrance-free across the entire range, no essential oils
- + Defence Hydractive delivers adaptive hydration with triple-weight HA
- + Italian dermatologists prescribe it — pharmacy-counter credibility
Weaknesses
- − pharmaceutical packaging lacks aspirational appeal
- − international availability is limited outside Italy and Southern Europe
- − some silicone-heavy textures may not suit silicone-avoiders
- − the Defence sub-line naming (Hydractive, Xage, B-Lucent) is confusing
The BioNike Story
BioNike traces its roots to 1930, when Istituto Ganassini's pharmaceutical labs in Milan began developing dermatological formulations. The brand as consumers know it emerged in the 1960s when the company pivoted from pure pharmaceuticals to dermocosmetics — skincare formulated to pharmaceutical standards but sold through pharmacy counters. The defining decision was the nickel-testing protocol: not just claiming nickel-free (which is unregulated), but testing every single production batch for nickel contamination and printing the test date on the packaging. This made BioNike the default recommendation for contact dermatitis and allergic skin across Italian dermatology. The Defence line — launched in the 2000s — became the workhorse range: Hydractive for hydration, B-Lucent for pigmentation, Tolerance for reactive skin, Xage for anti-aging, and Sun for photoprotection. Each sub-line carries the same DNA: fragrance-free, preservative-conscious, nickel-tested, and formulated with the kind of clinical restraint that dermatologists trust. BioNike is now distributed across Italian pharmacies, parapharmacies, and select EU markets. The brand doesn't do influencer campaigns or viral moments — it does dermatologist endorsements and pharmacy shelf space, which in Italy is worth more.
Shop BioNike by skin type
Curated picks from BioNike's lineup, ranked for each skin type.
All BioNike Products
20 products reviewed and rated.
Defence Tolerance Extreme Cream
BioNike's Defence Tolerance Extreme is the brand's most cushioned cream for skin that reacts to everything — 21-ingredient INCI, fragrance-free, nickel-tested per batch. Beta-glucan + panthenol + bisabolol + allantoin = real soothing trifecta, plus shea butter, squalane, and vitamin E. The cream Italian dermatologists prescribe for clients post-laser or with cosmetic intolerance.
Defence Sun SPF 50+ Mattifying Face Cream
The post-procedure sunscreen Italian dermatologists actually prescribe. BioNike's Defence Sun SPF 50+ uses modern EU filters (Tinosorb A2B + S, Uvinul T150) for broad-spectrum protection, illite clay for oil control, niacinamide for barrier support, and panthenol + allantoin for post-procedure calming. Fragrance-free and nickel-tested — the sunscreen for skin that's just been peeled, lasered, or is simply too reactive for anything with fragrance.
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