Bioderma Sébium Lotion for sensitive skin
Salicylic Acid
Zinc Gluconate
Fomes Officinalis Extract Mushroom Extract
Capryloyl Glycine
Glycerin
Low
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A weak match for sensitive skin; the toners alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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 exfoliation for your redness and irritation due to the presence of salicylic acid, which provides mild chemical exfoliation, and glycerin, which offers humectant action suitable for your normal skin.
- The formula contains xylitol and glycerin to provide moderate hydration for your normal skin, balancing the exfoliating effects.
How to apply
- Use your hydrating toner in both your AM and PM routines. Start 3 times per week and move to daily use if your skin feels good.
- Apply your hydrating toner right after cleansing and before putting on your moisturizer or SPF.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the hydrating toner into your skin and let it absorb for a minute before the next step.
- For sensitive skin, apply the hydrating toner on dry skin to keep it calm and comfortable.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid the sensitive eye area.
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 300+ reviewsUsers with combination to oily skin frequently praise this lotion for its effectiveness in regulating sebum and reducing shine, while also providing lightweight hydration. Many reviewers report a visible reduction in breakouts and refined pore texture, noting it as a beneficial prep step for balanced skin. A moderate number of users find the fragrance to be strong or artificial, and a low number report a sticky residue or minor irritation.
Highlights
Effective oil control Mostly Mentioned
- “kept my oils at bay all day”
- “skin isn't looking oily by evening”
- “mattifies naturally even after a long day”
Lightweight hydration Often Mentioned
- “hydrates without being sticky”
- “leaves skin super soft”
- “doesn't leave face feeling dry and tight”
Reduces breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “reduction in hormonal breakouts”
- “cleared up my chin pimples”
- “stops the process which causes pimples”
Refines pores Sometimes Noted
- “pores are not as clogged”
- “pores look tightened”
- “skin texture is refined”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “smell is hard to get used to”
- “fragrance feels too artificial”
- “smells like men's aftershave and cucumber”
Eye/skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “stings badly if it gets in eyes”
- “tingling sensation on cheeks”
- “caused a bit of redness initially”
Price point Rarely Noted
- “way too small for the price”
- “pricey for a toner”
- “can only buy it during sales”
Sticky residue Rarely Noted
- “can feel a bit sticky”
- “leaves a tacky feeling”
- “takes a while to absorb fully”
Sources: lovi.care, influenster.com, hometesterclub.com, lookfantastic.com, bioderma.us, boots.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is Bioderma S©bium Lotion a weak match for sensitive skin?
Bioderma Sébium Lotion is a weak match for sensitive skin because it contains salicylic acid, which may cause redness and irritation on delicate skin types. This skin needs products with multiple soothing and hydrating ingredients, rich moisture retention, and skin barrier support without potential irritants or allergens.
Which ingredients make this toner a poor fit for sensitive skin?
Salicylic acid makes this toner a weak match for sensitive skin because it provides chemical exfoliation that can trigger redness and irritation. A product of this type needs soothing and hydrating ingredients that protect the skin barrier and keep moisture locked in without causing irritation.
What does Salicylic Acid do for sensitive skin?
Salicylic acid may cause irritation on sensitive skin, so it requires careful use and good sun protection to keep skin comfortable. A product for this skin type needs gentle, soothing ingredients and a mild formula that respects the skin barrier.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 1999International Journal of Toxicology, 2003
What does Zinc Gluconate do for sensitive skin?
Zinc gluconate helps calm irritated skin and may reduce redness and swelling for sensitive skin types. This ingredient is generally well tolerated and is unlikely to cause irritation when used in skincare routines.
Where does this toner go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This toner is a weak match for sensitive skin and may cause redness and irritation due to salicylic acid. Sensitive skin needs a soothing toner with gentle, calming ingredients and plenty of moisture to keep the skin calm and comfortable.
Can I use this toner with retinol, and in what order?
How often should I use this toner?
You should use this exfoliating toner just once a week to see how your sensitive skin handles it, since acids may cause irritation. If your skin feels calm and smooth with no redness, you can carefully use it more often. Sensitive skin needs gentle hydrating ingredients like glycerin and soothing plant extracts to keep the skin barrier strong and comfortable.
Can this toner clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This toner may cause irritation or breakouts on sensitive skin because it contains salicylic acid, which provides chemical exfoliation. Sensitive skin needs gentle, fragrance-free hydration and soothing ingredients like centella asiatica or ceramides instead of exfoliating acids.
Is this toner fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017A formulation containing glycerol (5%) and xylitol (5%) applied twice daily for 14 days increased skin hydration, filaggrin protein quantity, interdigitation index, and biomechanical properties, and decreased transepidermal water loss compared to untreated and vehicle-treated skin in twelve volunteers with dry skin.
Acta Dermato-venereologica, 2017Cryotherapy 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, 2010A 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, 2020Treatment 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, 2024A dermocosmetic cream containing Punica granatum Pericarp extract, Salicylic acid, Niacinamide, Zinc gluconate, and Aqua Posae Filiformis significantly decreased inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesion counts in subjects with mild to moderate acne compared to untreated hemi-faces after 15 days.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Daily use of a deep cleansing gel containing salicylic acid 2%, zinc gluconate 0.2% and lipohydroxy acid 0.05% significantly reduced total lesion count by 56.3% after 84 days in 35 subjects with mild to moderate truncal acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Different strains of Propionibacterium acnes modulate cutaneous innate immunity with varying pro-inflammatory potentials, with P. acnes type III showing the highest and P. avidum the weakest, and zinc gluconate down-regulates the expression of most induced immune markers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2013White 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 formulation containing capryloyl glycine 4% significantly decreased hair density, median hair length, and terminal hair density on the forearms compared to placebo in female patients with hypertrichosis after 120 days.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012
Ingredients
Water, Peg-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Fomes Officinalis Extract Mushroom Extract, Capryloyl Glycine, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Citrate, Zinc Gluconate, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Mannitol, Sodium Metabisulfite, Xylitol, Rhamnose, Pyridoxine Hcl, Propyl Gallate, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Fructooligosaccharides, Phenoxyethanol, 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
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