Bioderma vs Galderma
Bioderma and Galderma are established European skincare brands founded in France and Switzerland, respectively. The French brand offers gentle moisturizers, soothing makeup removers, targeted serums, and purifying cleansers enriched with glycerin, while the Swiss brand focuses specifically on serums like Epiduo Gel and Benzac AC. Both brands suit acne-prone skin best, though they differ in their product ranges and foundational heritages.
Bioderma is a French skincare brand founded in 1977 and owned by Jean-Noël Thorel Foundation since 2018.
Galderma is a Swiss skincare brand founded in 1981 and owned by Galderma Group AG.
This page compares some of the most popular Bioderma and Galderma products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular Bioderma vs Galderma products
People Say
Acne Clearance and Breakout Prevention Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
- “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”
- “It brightened my skin and faded dark spots. — Bioderma Pigmentbio Sensitive Areas”
Gentle and Non-Irritating Formula Mostly MentionedNot noted
- “doesn't sting my eyes — Bioderma Sensibio H2O”
- “doesn't cause any irritation — Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Cleansing Oil”
- “mildest face wash I've tried — Bioderma Sensibio Gel Moussant”
Hydration and Moisturization Mostly MentionedNot noted
- “healed my dry skin — Bioderma Sébium Hydra”
- “absorbs instantly — Bioderma Hydrabio Serum”
- “leaves skin feeling hydrated — Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Cleansing Oil”
Miscellaneous Performance Notes Mostly MentionedNot noted
- “Keeps you shine free — Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner”
- “melts every bit of make up and SPF off — Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Cleansing Oil”
- “My skin feels fresh, balanced and less greasy after each wash. — Bioderma Sébium Gel moussant”
Dryness and Peeling Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
- “Skin looks like sandpaper — Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner”
- “It isn't a cleanser I can use every day... it can be very drying. — Bioderma Sébium Gel moussant”
- “dried out my skin — Bioderma Sensibio H2O”
- “skin flaking off — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
Skin Irritation and Burning Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
- “coat the eyes with a milky film — Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Cleansing Oil”
- “stings my eyes bad — Bioderma Sensibio H2O”
- “Stings on open pimples — Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner”
- “face on fire — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
Caused Breakouts and Purging Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
- “broke me out — Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Baume”
- “clogged my pores — Bioderma Sensibio AR”
- “clogged my pores — Bioderma Atoderm Crème Ultra”
- “got worse first — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
Fabric Bleaching Not notedMostly Mentioned
- “bleached my towel — Galderma Benzac AC 5”
Miscellaneous Negative Notes Often MentionedNot noted
- “won't budge waterproof mascara — Bioderma Sensibio H2O”
Questions and answers
Bioderma or Galderma: which is better?
Bioderma delivers a better experience for gentle formulas and hydration among the products on this page, whereas Galderma is more effective for acne clearance.
What is the difference between Bioderma and Galderma?
Bioderma focuses on gentle hydration, featuring a High Lovi fit for sensitive skin and soothing moisturizers, whereas Galderma specializes in acne-clearing serums with a High Lovi fit for acne-prone skin.
Which is more affordable, Bioderma or Galderma?
Reviewers note that Bioderma has a high price point and value concerns, while Galderma does not have this noted on the products on this page.
Which causes fewer breakouts, Bioderma or Galderma?
Galderma does better for acne clearance and breakout prevention, according to reviewers on the products on this page.
How do the founding years and countries of origin compare between Bioderma and Galderma?
Bioderma was founded in France in 1977, whereas Galderma was founded in Switzerland in 1981.
Which brand has more fragrance-free options among its listed products, Bioderma or Galderma?
Galderma has more fragrance-free options among its listed products, as every product on its page lists no fragrance. In contrast, only 9 of 20 Bioderma products on this page list no fragrance.
According to reviewer feedback, how do the reported side effects of Bioderma products differ from those of Galderma?
Bioderma products are sometimes noted for side effects like high prices, texture issues, fragrance problems, and occasionally feeling drying. By contrast, Galderma products are mostly reported to cause severe dryness, peeling, irritation, and discomfort.
Research behind their key ingredients
Hesperidin, Hesperetin, Rutinose, and Rhamnose Act as Skin Anti-Aging Agents
Development of Polymeric Micelles of Oleanolic Acid and Evaluation of Their Clinical Efficacy
Effect of topically applied lipids on surfactant-irritated skin
Potentially beneficial effects of rhamnose on skin ageing: an in vitro and in vivo study
Formulation strategies to modulate the topical delivery of anti-inflammatory compounds
Salicyloyl-phytosphingosine: a novel agent for the repair of photoaged skin
Interest in Micellar Solution to Reduce Unpleasant Skin Sensations
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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