🇦🇪United Arab Emirates

Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner for dry skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner

Caution

  • LowDry Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • RiskySafety

A poor match for dry skin; the serums alongside fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.

Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works

Lovi Assistant explains

  • Offers moderate pore refining for your dry or flaky skin due to salicylic acid and fomes officinalis extract, which provide mild exfoliation but can be drying.
  • The formula lacks sufficient emollient and humectant ingredients to counteract the drying effects of salicylic acid, making it moderately unsuitable for dry skin.

How to apply

  • Apply this serum PM, starting 3×/week and working up to daily use as your skin adjusts.
  • Place the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
  • Apply the serum on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture.
  • Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.4Overall rating based on 3.2k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this product is highly regarded by users with combination to oily skin for its immediate mattifying effect and ability to blur pores, creating a smooth canvas for makeup. A moderate number of users note it can be drying, especially for non-oily areas, while a low number of reviews mention temporary results or skin irritation.

Highlights

  • Instant mattifying Mostly Mentioned
    • “Keeps you shine free”
    • “Controls the oil on my skin”
    • “Matte effect lasts for hours”
  • Excellent primer Often Mentioned
    • “Foundation didn't settle into pores”
    • “Makeup applies smoother”
    • “Better than high-end primers”
  • Pore blurring Often Mentioned
    • “Noticeable difference in size of pores”
    • “Face looks like porcelain”
    • “Pores are definitely less visible”
  • Lightweight texture Sometimes Noted
    • “Soaks in immediately”
    • “Leaves no residue”
    • “Feels like a silky cream”
  • Can be drying Sometimes Noted
    • “Skin looks like sandpaper”
    • “Lack of moisture provided”
    • “Too drying for normal skin”
  • Price vs. quantity Rarely Noted
    • “Quite expensive for the amount”
    • “Tube is small”
    • “Pricey for a primer”
  • Skin irritation Rarely Noted
    • “Stings on open pimples”
    • “Caused breakouts”
    • “Ruined my skin barrier”
  • Temporary results Rarely Noted
    • “Pores are back after washing”
    • “Didn't notice long-term difference”
    • “Effect is temporary”

Sources: lovi.care, bioderma.com, amazon.com, dermstore.com, target.com, influenster.com, and more

Questions and answers

Why does Lovi advise caution with Bioderma Pore Refiner for dry skin?

This treatment can leave dry skin even drier because it lacks enough rich moisturizing and water-attracting ingredients to balance out the salicylic acid. Dry skin needs formulas loaded with soothing hydration, barrier-supporting ingredients like ceramides, and nourishing vitamins to stay smooth and comfortable.

Which ingredients make this cream a poor fit for dry skin?

Salicylic acid and fomes officinalis extract make this cream a poor fit because they provide mild exfoliation that can dry out your skin. A treatment of this type needs rich hydrating and skin-repairing ingredients like ceramides, niacinamide, and peptides to support dry skin.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024BioMed Research International, 2020

What does Fluidactiv Patent do for dry skin?

Fluidactiv Patent is not a good fit for dry skin because it is designed to manage sebum quality for oily skin. Dry skin needs rich moisturizing ingredients like ceramides, fatty acids, and nourishing oils to soothe tightness and keep the skin soft and smooth.

Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2023Cells, 2025

What does Salicylic Acid do for dry skin?

Salicylic acid is generally not a good fit for dry skin, as it is meant to clear out pores and remove dead skin rather than hydrate. Because dry skin needs soothing and moisture rather than exfoliation, a product for dry skin needs nourishing ingredients like urea to lock in moisture and keep the skin soft.

Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for dry skin?

This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, starting once a week to lower the likelihood of irritation on dry skin. Because it lacks enough softening and hydrating ingredients to balance out the salicylic acid, a product for this skin needs plenty of rich hydrators and soothing agents to keep it comfortable and smooth.

Can I use this cream with niacinamide, and in what order?

You can use this treatment alongside niacinamide, applying the niacinamide first and letting it absorb before putting on this pore-refining cream. Because this formula contains salicylic acid, it can be drying, so a product of this type needs plenty of soothing, rich moisturizing ingredients to keep dry skin soft and comfortable.

How often should I use this cream?

This treatment is a poor match for your dry skin and can be drying because it lacks enough smoothing and moisture-locking ingredients to balance out the salicylic acid. To use a product of this type on dry skin safely, it needs added rich moisturizers and hydrating ingredients to keep the skin comfortable.

Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?

This cream is unlikely to clog pores, but because it contains salicylic acid, it may cause dryness and flaking on dry skin. To work well for dry skin, this type of product needs rich moisturizing and softening ingredients to keep the skin comfortable.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024BioMed Research International, 2020

Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).

What the research says

  • Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

  • A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.

    BioMed Research International, 2020

  • The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

  • Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.

    CMAJ, 2010

  • Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

  • Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.

    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010

  • White button mushroom extract treatment increased VEGF densities, EGF, PCNA, and collagen fibers, while decreasing apoptotic cells and limiting TGF-beta and CD4 reactions in ICR mice and chorioallantoic culture, indicating beneficial effects on skin regeneration and injury.

    Microscopy Research and Technique, 2012

  • Topical application of a 2% cream containing combined fruit extracts for 56 days significantly reduced wrinkle depth by 11.5%, length by 10.07%, and area by 29.55% in 21 female subjects compared to a placebo.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015

  • A dermocosmetic containing bakuchiol, Ginkgo biloba extract, and mannitol improves inflammatory lesions, Investigator Global Assessment, and seborrhea intensity when added to adapalene 0.1% gel in patients with acne vulgaris.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015

  • Topical application of Ginkgo biloba cream for two weeks reduced wrinkles and improved skin shape, texture, and tautness in human volunteers compared to baseline.

    Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy, 2023

Ingredients

Water, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Dipropylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Fomes Officinalis Extract Mushroom Extract, Sodium Polyacrylate, Salicylic Acid, Dodecyl Gallate, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Mannitol, Xylitol, Rhamnose, Fructooligosaccharides, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Silica, Trideceth-6, C30-45 Alkyl Cetearyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Lauryl Peg Ppg-18 18 Methicone, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Paraffinum Liquidum Mineral Oil, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Peg Ppg-18 18 Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Disodium Edta, Parfum

Behind this fit score

Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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Prices checked 6 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for the United Arab Emirates.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
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