🇳🇱Netherlands

Bioderma vs MAC

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

Bioderma and MAC are distinct beauty houses, with the French skincare brand founded in 1977 and owned by Jean-Noël Thorel Foundation since 2018, and the Canadian skincare brand founded in 1984 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994. Bioderma is known for its moisturizers, makeup removers, serums, cleansers, and more, anchored by nourishing glycerin, while MAC is beloved for its thoughtful approach to daily skincare, offering reliable moisturizers and makeup removers crafted from carefully balanced formulas. The former suits sensitive skin and acne-prone skin best, gently addressing reactivity with high-tolerance formulations, whereas the latter suits balanced skin best, supported by gentle and effective ingredients. They differ in their core focus, as the French house delivers key ingredients that improve skin hydration and restore barrier function, while the Canadian brand provides a calm and measured foundation for daily maintenance.

Bioderma is a French skincare brand founded in 1977 and owned by Jean-Noël Thorel Foundation since 2018.

bioderma.usnaos.com

MAC is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 1984 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994.

elcompanies.comen.wikipedia.org

This page compares some of the most popular Bioderma and MAC products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Bioderma vs MAC products

People Say

BiodermaMAC
  • Gentle and Non-Irritating Formula Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “doesn't sting my eyes — Bioderma Sensibio H2O”
    • “melts every bit of make up and SPF off — Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Cleansing Oil”
    • “doesn't cause any irritation — Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Cleansing Oil”
    • “Emulsifies beautifully and rinses off without a greasy film. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
  • Makeup Base and Primer Qualities Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “foundation glides on — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Sits beautifully under makeup — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “lit-from-within look — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Keeps you shine free — Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Absorbs in a snap — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “healed my dry skin — Bioderma Sébium Hydra”
  • Cleansing and Makeup Removal Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “feels like water — Bioderma Sensibio H2O”
    • “I love that it's non-greasy and absorbs quickly. — Bioderma Pigmentbio Sensitive Areas”
    • “Removes waterproof mascara completely without needing a separate remover. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
  • Price and Value Concerns Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “pricier than other brands — Bioderma Sensibio Gel Moussant”
    • “finished too quickly — Bioderma Hydrabio Serum”
    • “pricey for water — Bioderma Sensibio H2O”
    • “too expensive — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Texture and Residue Issues Often MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “Don't expect miracles — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “Felt sticky to me — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “requires a thorough follow-up — Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Cleansing Oil”
  • Skin Irritation and Breakouts Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “caused acne — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Breaks me out, I got pimples from this. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “Stings if it accidentally gets into the eyes. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “broke me out — Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Baume”

Questions and answers

Bioderma or MAC: which is better?

Bioderma is better for gentle, soothing care across the products on this page, while MAC tends to excel with makeup bases and primers. Reviewers note that Bioderma helps with barrier-repairing moisturization, whereas MAC often brings strong fragrance that may cause sensitivity.

What is the difference between Bioderma and MAC?

Bioderma is known for its gentle cleansers and soothing moisturizers that fit sensitive and acne-prone skin well, whereas MAC is recognized for its lightweight moisturizers and makeup bases. Reviewers note that MAC products often feature strong fragrances and potential sensitivity, while Bioderma offers several fragrance-free options among the products on this page.

Bioderma or MAC: which moisturizer is better?

Bioderma offers a wider selection of moisturizers that reviewers frequently praise as soothing and barrier-repairing, while MAC features lightweight moisturizers that may carry stronger fragrances. Glycerin helps provide moisture across the products on this page.

Which is more affordable, Bioderma or MAC?

Reviewers note high price point and value concerns for both Bioderma and MAC, meaning neither brand stands out as more affordable.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Bioderma or MAC?

Bioderma does better for skin irritation and breakouts compared to MAC among the products on this page.

Which brand has more fragrance-free options, Bioderma or MAC?

Bioderma has more fragrance-free options than MAC, as 9 of the 20 products on the Bioderma page list no fragrance, whereas all 3 products on the MAC page contain fragrance.

Which brand is better suited for sensitive skin, Bioderma or MAC?

Bioderma is better suited for sensitive skin, as its products on this page achieve High fit levels for sensitive skin types, whereas MAC formulas on this page frequently list fragrance and reviewers often note sensitivity issues.

How do the founding years and corporate ownerships of Bioderma and MAC compare?

Bioderma was founded in France in 1977 and is owned by the Jean-Noël Thorel Foundation, while MAC was founded in Canada in 1984 and is owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

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?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play