🇮🇪Ireland

Medik8 vs Dr. Barbara Sturm

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

Medik8 and Dr. Barbara Sturm are two sophisticated skincare lines offering targeted serums, moisturizers, and clarifying treatments. The British brand Medik8 focuses on hyaluronic acid to suit dry and dry sensitive skin, while the German brand Dr. Barbara Sturm relies on scientifically advanced formulas to support sensitive, dry, and balanced skin. Both brands differ in their founding years, ownership, and specific hero products tailored for acne, dark spots, and mature concerns.

Medik8 is a British skincare brand founded in 2009 and owned by L'Oréal Groupe since 2025.

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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 Medik8 and Dr. Barbara Sturm products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Medik8 vs Dr. Barbara Sturm products

People Say

Medik8Dr. Barbara Sturm
  • Gentle and Non-Irritating Formulation Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “zero irritation or peeling — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “only Vitamin C my sensitive skin can tolerate — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “doesn't irritate my sensitive skin — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
    • “deep yet gentle cleanse — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
  • Texture and Lightweight Feel Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbed effortlessly — Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream”
    • “smoother skin — Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse”
    • “sinks in immediately — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
    • “sinks in quickly — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
  • Hydration and Plumping Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Restores moisture — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “Instantly quenched the skin — Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense”
    • “skin drank it up — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
    • “lines less visible — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Brightening and Glow Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “I wake up glowing. It adds back that youthful bloom that I've lost. — Medik8 Sleep Glycolic”
    • “unlocked a serious glow — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “skin looks brighter — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
    • “healthy glow — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Usability and Longevity Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “great for combination skin — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
    • “lasts almost 5 months — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
    • “practical for travel — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
    • “pores feel cleaner — Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse”
  • High Price and Value Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Expensive per bottle — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “very expensive for amount — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “hefty price tag — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “way too expensive — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Slow or Ineffective Results Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Not as effective as retinol — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “no difference — Medik8 Oxy-R Peptides”
    • “no difference yet — Medik8 Crystal Retinal Ceramide Eye 3”
    • “did nothing — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Dryness, Dry Skin, and Color Transfer Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “slightly drying — Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse”
    • “need a thick moisturizer — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “stained my white pillowcase — Medik8 CRYSTAL RETINAL 3”
    • “face feels a bit tight — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
  • Tackiness, Residue, and Finish Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “too oily for my combination skin — Medik8 C-Tetra Serum”
    • “Can feel sticky if over-applied — Medik8 Liquid Peptides”
    • “Oily texture unpleasant — Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides”
    • “tacky finish — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”

Questions and answers

Medik8 or Dr. Barbara Sturm: which is better?

Medik8 is better suited for dry, dry sensitive, and sensitive skin, while Dr. Barbara Sturm scores better for usability and longevity. Both brands show equal performance in gentle formulation, texture, hydration, and brightening.

What is the difference between Medik8 and Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Medik8 stands out for its extensive range of gentle serums and targeted options like Bakuchiol Peptides, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm achieves better user ratings for overall usability and longevity on this page. Both brands offer fragrance-free formulations, but Medik8 features prominently in routines tailored for dry and sensitive skin.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Medik8 or Dr. Barbara Sturm: which moisturizer is better?

Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream provides a High fit for dry skin and dry sensitive skin, while Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum achieves an Average fit for those skin types.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which is more affordable, Medik8 or Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Medik8 comes with a high price point according to reviewers, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm scores better for usability and longevity, but neither brand page features explicit budget-friendly pricing.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Medik8 or Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Both Medik8 and Dr. Barbara Sturm offer products on this page that are suitable for acne-prone skin, with Lovi rating options like Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse as Superior and Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser as High for this skin type.

When were Medik8 and Dr. Barbara Sturm founded, and who currently owns each company?

Medik8 was founded in 2009 in the United Kingdom and is owned by L'Oréal Groupe, while Dr. Barbara Sturm was founded in 2014 in Germany and is owned by Puig.

Which skincare products from Medik8 and Dr. Barbara Sturm are completely free of added fragrance?

All products from Dr. Barbara Sturm on this page and 11 out of 12 Medik8 products are completely free of added fragrance. The only product on this page containing fragrance is Medik8's Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream.

Which brand has products that achieve a superior Lovi fit for dry skin, Medik8 or Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Medik8 features products on this page that achieve a Superior Lovi fit for dry skin, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm does not have any products reaching this level for dry skin.

Research behind their key ingredients

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

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