Biore vs Dr. Barbara Sturm
Biore and Dr. Barbara Sturm are distinct skincare lines from Japan and Germany that offer thoughtful sunscreens, cleansers, masks, makeup removers, gentle moisturizers, clarifying exfoliants, and nourishing serums. The Japanese brand suits sensitive and oily skin best with gentle and clarifying formulations, featuring standout items like the UV Aqua Rich, Makeup Remover Perfect Oil, and Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser. Meanwhile, Dr. Barbara Sturm suits sensitive, dry, and balanced skin best through deep hydration and barrier support, highlighted by The Good C Vitamin C Serum, Enzyme Cleanser, and Hyaluronic Serum. While both brands support a refreshed complexion, the former relies on effective formulas for balance, whereas the latter builds upon scientifically advanced formulas for a calm, smooth, and radiant finish.
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 better for lightweight texture, sun protection, hydration, and calming sensitive skin, while Biore is better for effective cleansing and ease of use. Dr. Barbara Sturm's products on this page help smooth skin texture, though users may experience drying or stripping effects.
What is the difference between Biore and Dr. Barbara Sturm?
Biore is Japanese and founded in 1980, while Dr. Barbara Sturm is German and founded in 2014. The products on this page show that Dr. Barbara Sturm better supports skin texture smoothing, lightweight textures, sun protection, and calming sensitive skin, whereas Biore offers better ease of use and cleansing. Additionally, topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of skin aging.
Which is more affordable, Biore or Dr. Barbara Sturm?
Biore is more affordable, while Dr. Barbara Sturm faces review complaints regarding a high price point and cheaper alternatives.
Which causes fewer breakouts, Biore or Dr. Barbara Sturm?
Dr. Barbara Sturm is generally favored for lightweight textures and skin smoothing, while the Biore products on this page are noted for effective cleansing and debris removal. Neither brand has direct comparative data showing which causes fewer breakouts, but Dr. Barbara Sturm's The Good C Vitamin C Serum achieves a High Lovi fit for acne-prone skin.
Which brand has products that are better suited for sensitive skin based on Lovi fit levels?
Dr. Barbara Sturm has products that are better suited for sensitive skin, with the Enzyme Cleanser achieving a High Lovi fit level compared to Biore products which mostly show Average or Low fits for this skin type. Reviewers also note that Dr. Barbara Sturm does better at calming sensitive skin.
How do the founding years and home countries of Biore and Dr. Barbara Sturm compare?
Biore was founded in 1980 in Japan, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm was founded much later in 2014 in Germany.
Which brand is noted for effective cleansing and debris removal according to reviewer themes?
Biore is noted for effective cleansing and debris removal according to reviewer themes, outperforming Dr. Barbara Sturm in this category.
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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