Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner for skin with dark spots
Fluidactiv Patent
Salicylic Acid
Fomes Officinalis Extract Mushroom Extract
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Average
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for skin with dark spots; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dark spots: hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. 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 normal skin due to salicylic acid and fomes officinalis extract, which help to exfoliate and mattify oily skin. While these ingredients support general skincare benefits like hydration and pore refinement, they are not specifically targeted for your main goal of pigmentation.
- The formula is highly suitable for normal skin due to the keratolytic action of salicylic acid and seboregulation from fomes officinalis extract.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your normal skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Apply this serum as part of your PM routine starting 3x/week and build up to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Place the serum after cleansing and toning, but before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute for it to absorb.
- Apply the serum on dry skin to help fade pigmentation effectively.
- Avoid the eye area and always use SPF 30+ during the day.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 3.2k+ reviewsBased 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
How well does Bioderma Pore Refiner work for skin with dark spots?
This product works for your skin, though other products fit it better because it focuses on pores rather than dark spots. To better address dark spots, this type of product needs a blend of effective antioxidants and soothing ingredients.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for skin with dark spots?
Salicylic acid and mushroom extract help refine pores and smooth normal skin, but this product is an average fit for skin with dark spots because it lacks specific brightening ingredients. A product of this type needs effective antioxidants and soothing ingredients that fade dark spots while keeping the skin calm.
What does Fluidactiv Patent do for skin with dark spots?
Fluidactiv Patent is not designed to target dark spots, as its main job is to help rebalance oily skin and keep pores clear. To fade dark spots effectively, skin of this type needs brightening ingredients like vitamin C or niacinamide alongside your regular oil-control routine.
What does Salicylic Acid do for skin with dark spots?
Salicylic acid helps fade dark spots and uneven skin tone left behind after breakouts. It gently clears away surface buildup, which may improve the look of dark marks and support a smoother, more even complexion over time.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before your moisturizer. Skin with dark spots needs products that contain targeted brighteners and antioxidants to help even out skin tone.
Can I use it with niacinamide, and in what order?
You can use this treatment with niacinamide by applying niacinamide first and letting it absorb before using this product. This approach helps support your skin while keeping the excellent safety profile of the formula.
How often should I use it?
Start by using this treatment once a week in the evening, and if your skin feels comfortable and handles it well, you can carefully use it more often. This product works for your skin with dark spots, though it is not specifically targeted for pigmentation and needs added brightening ingredients like vitamin C or niacinamide to better fade dark spots.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for skin with dark spots, as it has an excellent safety profile and contains salicylic acid to help keep pores clear. However, because it is not specifically targeted for dark spots, this skin needs brightening ingredients like vitamin C or niacinamide alongside gentle exfoliants.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
Is it 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, 2024The 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, 2023A 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, 2020Cryotherapy 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, 2010Treatment 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, 2024Topical 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, 2010White 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, 2012Topical 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, 2015A 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, 2015Topical 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
Why other serums fit skin with dark spots better
Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Treatment with 14% ferulic acid and 12% l-ascorbic acid significantly reduced pigmentation and erythema while improving hydration and elasticity in 20 women with photoaged skin, with neither acid proving definitively more effective overall though ascorbic acid showed slightly greater skin lightening.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022
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.
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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?
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