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Biore vs Dr. Barbara Sturm

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

Biore and Dr. Barbara Sturm are two distinct skincare brands representing thoughtful Japanese formulation from 1980 and scientifically advanced German care from 2014, respectively. The Japanese line is beloved for its sunscreens, cleansers, masks, and makeup removers suited for sensitive and dry skin, while the German brand is deeply loved for its gentle moisturizers, clarifying exfoliants, and nourishing serums tailored for sensitive, dry, and balanced skin. Both brands offer targeted standout solutions for acne-prone skin, dark spots, and mature skin, yet they differ fundamentally in their origins, ownership, and core ingredient approaches. Ultimately, choosing between them depends on whether one prefers the accessible daily care of the former or the intensive hydration and barrier support of the latter.

Biore is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1980 and owned by Kao Corporation.

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Dr. Barbara Sturm is a German skincare brand founded in 2014 and owned by Puig since 2024.

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This page compares some of the most popular Biore and Dr. Barbara Sturm products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Biore vs Dr. Barbara Sturm products

People Say

BioreDr. Barbara Sturm
  • Effective cleansing and debris removal Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Gets the gunk out — Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips”
    • “Face feels squeaky clean — Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser”
    • “No greasy film, leaves skin fresh, rinses easily. — Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil”
    • “deep yet gentle cleanse — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
  • Lightweight texture and finish Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “sinks in immediately — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
    • “sinks in quickly — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
    • “melts into skin — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
  • Sun protection and hydration Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin drank it up — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
    • “skin feels softer — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
    • “SPF 50+ PA++++ — Biore UV Aqua Rich”
  • Calming sensitive skin Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “doesn't irritate my sensitive skin — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
    • “reduced redness — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Ease of use Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Minimal effort required — Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips”
    • “Works in shower, effective on wet hands/face. — Biore Makeup Remover Perfect Oil”
    • “practical for travel — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
  • Skin texture smoothing Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “skin texture is immediately more even — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
    • “Leaves skin feeling clean — Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips”
  • High price point and cheaper alternatives Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “way too expensive — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Inconsistent or temporary results Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Doesn't get all blackheads — Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips”
    • “Doesn't shrink pores — Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips”
    • “did nothing — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Drying and stripping effects Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “face feels a bit tight — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
    • “Made my skin peel — Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser”
  • Scent and fragrance complaints Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “smells a bit weird — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
    • “smells like alcohol — Biore UV Aqua Rich”

Questions and answers

Biore or Dr. Barbara Sturm: which is better?

Dr. Barbara Sturm performs better for lightweight texture, sun protection, hydration, and skin texture smoothing, while Biore is better for effective cleansing and ease of use. Dr. Barbara Sturm helps improve hydration and signs of aging with ingredients like hyaluronic acid.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

What is the difference between Biore and Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Biore products on this page are rated High for sensitive skin, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm products range from Average to Superior across various skin types, such as a Superior fit for dark spots with its Enzyme Cleanser. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which is more affordable, Biore or Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Biore is more affordable, although reviews on this page note a high price point and cheaper alternatives as a downside for the brand.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Biore or Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Dr. Barbara Sturm is better suited for avoiding breakouts because the products on this page achieve a High fit level for acne-prone skin, whereas Biore products on this page generally achieve only an Average fit.

Which brand has products that are better suited for sensitive skin according to their brand-focused routines?

Biore has products that are better suited for sensitive skin because its brand-focused routines explicitly best fit sensitive skin, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm has no such routines listed on this page.

How do the origins of Biore and Dr. Barbara Sturm differ in terms of founding year and country?

Biore was founded in 1980 in Japan, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm was founded in 2014 in Germany.

Between Biore and Dr. Barbara Sturm, which brand's products list no fragrance in their ingredients?

Both Biore and Dr. Barbara Sturm list no fragrance in the ingredients for every product on this page.

Research behind their key ingredients

Behind this comparison

Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated 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

How does it fit your skin?

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