The bottle isn't half empty, it's just bi-phase.

<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/bella-hadid-bikinis-best-swimsuits">Bella Hadid&rsquo;s</a> beauty brand launch in 2024 sparked Internet conversations for more reasons than one. For one, those fatigued by the endless wave of celebrity-founded beauty brands sighed and rolled their eyes. Meanwhile, beauty obsessives rejoiced at the idea of <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/september-2025-beauty-launches-dior-patrick-ta-diptyque">new products to try</a>&mdash;because when you spend most of your free time experimenting with lip combinations, peeling the seal off a crisp new palette, or spritzing perfumes, more simply seems more. And the fact that the <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop-culture/science-says-bella-hadid-most-beautiful-woman-in-world">most beautiful woman in the world</a>, as science deems her, is behind the latest launch only amplified the buzz. There&rsquo;s also a certain satisfaction in knowing that the brand's name, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/bella-hadid-orebella-fragrance-launch-eternal-roots">Orebella</a>, cleverly plays on her first name without veering into gimmick. For those who&rsquo;ve followed her modeling career, the debut read like a declarative exit from the industry, save for a couple of <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/bella-hadid-iconic-runway-moments">fashion week runway appearances</a> and brand <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/bella-hadid-frankies-bikinis-collaboration-swimwear-shop">collaborations</a>. But when Hadid finally introduced her fragrance line, one detail in particular stood out: the bi-phase formula.&nbsp;
Since then, bi-phase formulas have been everywhere: setting sprays, toners, serums. Any kind of liquid in the beauty family, you name it, and there&rsquo;s a bi-phase iteration to match. But it&rsquo;s not a new innovation by any means. In fact, Orebella&rsquo;s skin parfum line isn&rsquo;t even the first bi-phase fragrance; that title belongs to <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/jil-sander-creative-director-simone-bellotti-details">Jil Sander&rsquo;s</a> Sun Shake eau de toilette, which debuted back in 2016. Still, when one of the most influential faces in fashion and culture puts her stamp on it, the concept takes on a new weight and immediately becomes an industry disruptor.&nbsp;
So, what is bi-phase, really? L&rsquo;OFFICIEL breaks down the bi-phase beauty trend, the benefits behind it, and why it&rsquo;s having such a moment right now.

<h2 style="text-align: center;">What is Bi-Phase?</h2>

Merit Great Skin Double Cleanse. Photography courtesy of Merit.

Essentially, bi-phase refers to a formula that separates into two layers: oil and water. Because the two don&rsquo;t naturally mix, the product often settles in the bottle, sometimes giving the illusion that they&rsquo;re half-empty even when they&rsquo;re brand new. A quick shake before use is all it takes to activate the formula, blending the phases so the product dispenses evenly. Before bi-phase expanded across various beauty categories, it was most commonly found in makeup removers, a savior for stubborn products like waterproof mascara and longwear lip liners.&nbsp;
The oil phase typically delivers nourishment, moisture, and a luxurious texture, while the water phase is designed to refresh, hydrate, or carry active ingredients deeper into the skin. When combined, they neutralize each other&rsquo;s drawbacks&mdash;oil is no longer overly greasy, and water is no longer too lightweight&mdash;creating a balance that leaves skin with both hydration and nourishment.&nbsp;

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Benefits of Bi-Phase</h2>

Herbivore Botanicals Nova Bi-Phase Glow Facial Oil. Photography courtesy of Herbivore.

One of the most frustrating problems of having dry skin (aside from feeling like an overbaked croissant the morning after skipping just one night of moisturizer) is constantly having to walk such a fine line&mdash;especially during the daytime. Over-moisturize, and you risk looking shiny and greasy within minutes. Skimp, and you spend the day uncomfortably tight and flaky. That elusive sweet spot? It requires mastering the exact formulas and amounts. Good luck experimenting with new skin-prep products. And don&rsquo;t even get us started on how makeup loves to cling to dry patches, making them nearly impossible to blend away. Enter: the beauty of bi-phase.
Because they mix oil and water, bi-phase formulas deliver the potency of nourishing oils without the heaviness, while water phases ensure quick absorption and hydration. The result? Balanced moisture that sinks in rather than sits on top of the skin. And since oil- and water-soluble active ingredients remain separate until you shake the bottle, brands can pack in higher concentrations of ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and niacinamide. In other words, bi-phase formulas are especially effective for dry skin compared with counterparts designed for normal, oily, or combination skin (though they can still benefit different skin types as well).&nbsp;
As far as beauty trends go, this isn&rsquo;t one of those fleeting TikTok aesthetics destined to vanish in a season&mdash;at least we hope not, now that brands have finally gotten it right for all the dry skin folks. It really does feel like an answer to a long-standing struggle. Sure, shaking a bottle before use might seem like one extra step, but it&rsquo;s a small price to pay for the alternative.

<h2 style="text-align: center;">Bi-Phase Beauty Products</h2>

Starting off with what kicked off the bi-phase buzz: Orebella by Bella Hadid. Truth be told, the &ldquo;skin parfum&rdquo; branding didn&rsquo;t quite make sense to me&mdash;that was until I got my hands on it. It&rsquo;s more than a fragrance; it leaves a subtle glow on the skin. Compared to most perfumes I&rsquo;ve tried, it&rsquo;s incredibly wearable. It doesn&rsquo;t strip or dry out your skin, and it even adds a touch of hydration. Obviously, it&rsquo;s not skincare, but thanks to its alcohol-free formula, it definitely feels nourishing. Over time, you can notice the effect on your neck and chest: pores appear less visible, and the skin looks healthier.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Eternal Roots, which launched just last month, has been particularly addictive for me. The scent is a perfect balance of woody and fruity notes, equal parts fresh and warm, and surprisingly long-lasting with just two spritzes. Even for someone who gravitates towards gourmand, I can&rsquo;t get enough. 
Orebella by Bella Hadid Skin Parfum in Eternal Roots, $100, <a href="https://www.ulta.com/p/eternal-roots-parfum-pimprod2053934?sku=2638392" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ulta Beauty</a>

Orebella by Bella Hadid. Photography courtesy of Orebella.

Orebella

Merit&rsquo;s &ldquo;simplicity&rdquo; beauty philosophy extends to its skincare, and the Instant Glow Serum is a perfect example. Thanks to its niacinamide, it helps improve texture while leaving a lovely, non-greasy glow. It works beautifully as a prep step after toner or essence and before moisturizer&mdash;or even on its own after toner. It&rsquo;s also very lightweight and sits well under makeup, giving skin a subtle, radiant finish.
My only quibble is the pump: it&rsquo;s a bit hard to control, and because the serum is so liquidy, it can splash if you&rsquo;re not careful.
Merit Great Skin Instant Glow Serum with Niacinamide, $38, <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/P502966" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sephora</a>

Merit Great Skin Instant Glow Serum with Niacinamide. Photography courtesy of Merit.

Merit

I&rsquo;ve been using Clarins&rsquo; Hydra Essentiel Serum morning and night for just a week, and I have to say, it&rsquo;s already made a noticeable difference in my skin. As far as serums go, it&rsquo;s on the thicker side, but it still feels lightweight and locks in hydration thanks to its hyaluronic acid infusion. It&rsquo;s ideal for dry skin, but its texture also works well for normal and combination skin types. That said, for those with oily skin, it might not be the best daytime option.
Clarins Hydra Essentiel Serum, $65, <a href="https://www.ulta.com/p/hydra-essentiel-bi-phase-face-serum-with-double-hyaluronic-acid-pimprod2043933?" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ulta Beauty</a>

Clarins Hydra Essentiel Serum. Photography courtesy of Clarins.

Clarins

The Fresh Rose &amp; Squalane Oil-Infused Serum lives up to the brand&rsquo;s motto: fresh, uplifting, and gently dewy without feeling greasy. It leaves a subtle glow on the skin and makes for a great prep step before the rest of your routine. While it&rsquo;s marketed as a serum, it feels more like a toner due to its watery, liquidy texture&mdash;which I actually like.
Of course, as a serum (or more like a toner), it&rsquo;s not a standalone product for hydration, but it works beautifully as a first step before moisturizer. For those with oily skin, it could even work solo for daytime use. That said, it also has a subtle rose fragrance, so it&rsquo;s something to keep in mind if you have sensitive skin.
Fresh Rose &amp; Squalane Deep Hydration Oil-Infused Serum, $64, <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/fresh-rose-deep-hydration-oil-serum-P457005" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sephora</a>

Fresh Rose & Squalane Deep Hydration Oil-Infused Serum. Photography courtesy of Fresh.

Fresh

Glossier&rsquo;s Future Dew has been a part of my summer rotation for as long as I can remember. It&rsquo;s great at locking in your skincare and keeping your skin hydrated. It&rsquo;s not a miracle &ldquo;save-it-all&rdquo; product, but I really enjoy how moisturizing it is. For an oil-serum hybrid, it&rsquo;s on the thicker side, but it never feels heavy on my skin (unless I overdo it, that is).
When I&rsquo;m in a rush during the summer, I just use this and call it a day&mdash;and I actually like the results. Bonus: if you dab a little on the high points of your face instead of highlighter, it gives a subtle, dewy glow. My only gripe is the slightly waxy scent, but I can tolerate it. Even on my eczema-prone skin, it&rsquo;s not irritating, and the smell fades away pretty quickly. 
Glossier Future Dew Oil Serum Hybrid, $30, <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/glossier-futuredew-facial-oil-serum-hybrid-P504523" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sephora</a>&nbsp;

Bi-Phase Beauty: The Dry Skin Dream

Tags

Related Articles

Beauty

Lip Contours: Beauty’s Most Divisive Debate in 2025

Beauty

Meet La Prairie’s Gold-Infused Skincare Breakthrough

Beauty

I Bought $155 Worth of Medicube, and Some Are My Favorite New Skincare Products

Recommended posts for you

Beauty

Martha Stewart Takes On Anti-Aging Skincare With Elm Biosciences

Shopping

The Ultimate Holiday Gift Edit for the Style-Obsessed

Fashion

L'OFFICIEL's December/January 2026 Issue: Letter From the Editor

Film & TV

Michelle Yeoh Harnesses Her Power in ‘Wicked: For Good’

Film & TV

7 Things to Know About Michelle Yeoh

Film & TV

6 Michelle Yeoh Movies to Watch Before 'Wicked: For Good'

Fashion

Michelle Yeoh's Best Style Moments

Music

Everything to Know About Olivia Dean’s 2026 Tour