Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner for combination skin
Fluidactiv Patent
Salicylic Acid
Fomes Officinalis Extract Mushroom Extract
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 combination skin, as salicylic acid and fomes officinalis extract work to decongest pores and manage oily shine. This formulation provides general skincare benefits, including hydration and pore-minimizing effects, which are supportive for your skin concerns.
- The presence of ginkgo biloba leaf extract and laminaria ochroleuca extract offers additional antioxidant and soothing benefits, complementing the primary pore-refining action for your skin type.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your serum as part of your PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, and right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏳for it to soak in.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive.
- Always do a patch test before using the serum for the first time, and avoid the eye area .
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 combination skin?
Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner works moderately well for combination skin by helping to clear out pores and manage oily shine. It is unlikely to irritate your skin, though other products fit your skin better. Treatments that fit combination skin best need ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, and propolis to balance moisture and oil without causing dryness or excess shine.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for combination skin?
Salicylic acid and fomes officinalis extract help decongest pores and manage oily shine, while ginkgo biloba leaf extract and laminaria ochroleuca extract provide soothing and antioxidant benefits for your combination skin. A treatment for this skin needs effective ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or zinc PCA to regulate oiliness, enhance radiance, and provide balanced hydration without causing excess oiliness or dryness.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
What does Fluidactiv Patent do for combination skin?
Fluidactiv Patent helps balance oil production and keeps pores clear so combination skin stays smooth and calm. It is unlikely to cause irritation and works well to prevent shine in oil-prone areas without drying out normal spots.
What does Salicylic Acid do for combination skin?
Salicylic acid helps clear clogged pores and balance oily areas while remaining gentle enough for dry spots on combination skin. It reduces breakouts and oiliness effectively with a low likelihood of irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, though products of this type for combination skin also need ingredients that hydrate dry areas and gently balance oil.
Can I use this cream with niacinamide, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this cream with niacinamide by applying niacinamide first and following with this treatment. This combination helps manage oily shine and keeps skin balanced, while salicylic acid clears out pores and niacinamide smooths the skin texture.
How often should I use this cream?
Start by using this treatment once a week in the evening, and if your skin tolerates it well and you see good results, you may carefully use it more often. This product works for your combination skin, though other products fit it better; for a better fit, combination skin needs a treatment that balances oil and provides targeted hydration without causing irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for combination skin, as salicylic acid and mushroom extract help keep pores clear and manage oily shine. Products of this type need ingredients like salicylic acid and soothing plant extracts to gently clear pores without causing irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
Is this cream 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, 2020Topical 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, 2023A 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, 2015Cryotherapy 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 cosmetic formulation combining green tea and Ginkgo biloba extracts synergistically improved skin elasticity and skin barrier function in 48 volunteers compared to individual extracts.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2014Laricitrin 3-rutinoside isolated from Ginkgo biloba fruits inhibited TNF-alpha-stimulated ROS generation, suppressed MMP-1 secretion, protected against collagen degradation, and diminished pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 in normal human dermal fibroblasts.
Antioxidants, 2023
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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.