Galderma vs Dr. Barbara Sturm
Galderma and Dr. Barbara Sturm are two distinct skincare brands with different approaches. The Swiss brand, founded in 1981, offers serums that suit oily acne-prone skin and oily skin best, featuring key ingredients like Epiduo Gel and Benzac AC. Meanwhile, the German brand, founded in 2014, is known for its gentle moisturizers, clarifying exfoliants, and nourishing serums built on scientifically advanced formulas, which suit sensitive, dry, and balanced skin best through a focus on deep hydration and barrier support. Ultimately, they differ in their targeted skin types and foundational product philosophies.
Galderma is a Swiss skincare brand founded in 1981 and owned by Galderma Group AG.
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 Galderma and Dr. Barbara Sturm products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular Galderma vs Dr. Barbara Sturm products
People Say
Gentle on Sensitive Skin Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
- “doesn't irritate my sensitive skin — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
- “deep yet gentle cleanse — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
- “reduced redness — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
- “didn't burn my face — Galderma Benzac AC Mild Strength 2.5% Acne Gel”
Acne Clearance and Prevention Mostly MentionedNot noted
- “cleared up my skin — Galderma Benzac AC Mild Strength 2.5% Acne Gel”
- “cystic acne gone — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
- “stops new pimples — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
Deep Hydration Not notedMostly Mentioned
- “skin drank it up — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
- “skin feels softer — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
Lightweight Absorption Not notedMostly Mentioned
- “sinks in immediately — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
- “sinks in quickly — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
Glow and Radiance Not notedOften Mentioned
- “skin looks brighter — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
- “healthy glow — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
Severe Dryness and Peeling Mostly MentionedNot noted
- “skin flaking off — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
High Price and Cost Not notedMostly Mentioned
- “way too expensive — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
Intense Burning and Stinging Mostly MentionedNot noted
- “face on fire — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
Acne Purging Phase Mostly MentionedNot noted
- “got worse first — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
Fabric Bleaching Mostly MentionedNot noted
- “bleached my towel — Galderma Benzac AC 5”
Questions and answers
Galderma or Dr. Barbara Sturm: which is better?
Galderma is better for acne clearance and prevention, while Dr. Barbara Sturm is better for gentle care on sensitive skin, deep hydration, and lightweight absorption. Reviewers note that Galderma delivers effective acne-clearing serums, though it may cause severe dryness and peeling.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2018
What is the difference between Galderma and Dr. Barbara Sturm?
Galderma is better for acne clearance and prevention with a High Lovi fit for oily and acne-prone skin, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm is gentler on sensitive skin and offers superior results for dark spots with Enzyme Cleanser. However, the products on this page by Galderma may cause severe dryness and peeling.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2018
Which is more affordable, Galderma or Dr. Barbara Sturm?
Galderma is more affordable, though the products on this page may cause severe dryness and peeling.
Which causes fewer breakouts, Galderma or Dr. Barbara Sturm?
Galderma is the better choice for acne because the products on this page help clear blemishes, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm reviewers note an acne purging phase. Galderma achieves a High Lovi fit for oily acne-prone skin.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2018
Which brand uses fragrance in its products, Galderma or Dr. Barbara Sturm?
Neither brand uses fragrance in its products, as every product listed for both Galderma and Dr. Barbara Sturm contains no fragrance in its ingredients.
Where and when were the companies Galderma and Dr. Barbara Sturm founded?
Galderma was founded in Switzerland in 1981, and Dr. Barbara Sturm was founded in Germany in 2014.
What are the best-fit skin types for Galderma based on its brand-focused routines?
Lovi finds that Galderma fits best on oily acne-prone skin, oily skin, and acne-prone skin.
Research behind their key ingredients
Bacterial cellulose membranes as drug delivery systems: an in vivo skin compatibility study
Effects of ascorbic acid on gingival melanin pigmentation in vitro and in vivo
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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.
