Biore vs Dr. Barbara Sturm
Biore and Dr. Barbara Sturm are two distinct skincare brands with globally beloved formulations. The Japanese brand is known for sunscreens, cleansers, masks, and makeup removers that suit oily and combination skin best, while the German brand is celebrated for moisturizers, clarifying exfoliants, and nourishing serums that cater to sensitive, dry, and balanced skin. Both offer reliable daily care through balanced components, yet they differ fundamentally in their targeted formulations and primary skin type suitability.
Biore is a Japanese skincare brand founded in 1980 and owned by Kao Corporation.
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
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 is generally better for lightweight texture, sun protection, hydration, and smoothing skin texture, while Biore offers effective cleansing, ease of use, and a lower price point. For instance, Dr. Barbara Sturm's The Good C Vitamin C Serum has a High fit for mature skin, backed by studies on vitamin C benefits.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
What is the difference between Biore and Dr. Barbara Sturm?
Biore offers more affordable and effective cleansing and debris removal with products like its Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser, while Dr. Barbara Sturm provides superior skin texture smoothing and sun protection and hydration through items like Enzyme Cleanser and Hyaluronic Serum. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of skin aging.
Which is more affordable, Biore or Dr. Barbara Sturm?
Biore is the more affordable option, whereas high price point and cheaper alternatives are a negative review theme for Biore.
Which causes fewer breakouts, Biore or Dr. Barbara Sturm?
Both brands offer products that fit acne-prone skin, though Biore is noted for effective cleansing and debris removal while the products on this page from Dr. Barbara Sturm help with skin texture smoothing. Dr. Barbara Sturm may carry a risk of drying and stripping effects.
Which brand has products that are better suited for oily and acne-prone skin types?
Biore fits oily and acne-prone skin best according to its routines, while Dr. Barbara Sturm also offers products like the Enzyme Cleanser that achieve a High fit level for these skin types. Both brands provide fragrance-free options across the products on this page.
Do either Biore or Dr. Barbara Sturm include fragrance in their skincare products?
Neither Biore nor Dr. Barbara Sturm include fragrance in their skincare products, as every product on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.
Which brand is noted for offering effective cleansing and debris removal according to reviewers?
Biore is noted for offering effective cleansing and debris removal according to reviewers.
Research behind their key ingredients
Bacterial cellulose membranes as drug delivery systems: an in vivo skin compatibility study
Psychophysical study of the effects of topical application of menthol in healthy volunteers
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
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