Bioderma Sébium Gel moussant for acne-prone skin
Zinc Sulfate
Copper Sulfate
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Lactic Acid
Fructooligosaccharides
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 cleansing for your combination, acne-prone skin as sodium cocoamphoacetate and lactic acid help decongest pores and gently exfoliate without causing irritation.
- Zinc sulfate and lactic acid provide seboregulation and keratolytic action, which are beneficial for combination skin, though the formula is not specialized for treating active acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it.
- This cleanser is the first step in your morning routine and the second step after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Always follow up with a toner and moisturizer .
- Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face in circular motions. Avoid harsh rubbing to keep your skin calm.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help it work effectively against breakouts. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water .
- Avoid the immediate eye area and do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 4.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this product is highly regarded for combination, oily, and acne-prone skin, with many users reporting effective sebum control and breakout reduction, leaving skin purified and matte. A significant number of users also find it gentle and non-stripping. However, a moderate number of users with sensitive or dry skin conditions mention that the formula can be drying or irritating.
Highlights
Cleanses effectively Mostly Mentioned
- “Probably the first cleanser that actually took all of my makeup off my face!!!”
- “Made my face feel fresh and clean.”
- “Loved how it took off my makeup without making me feel oily at all.”
- “I cleaned my face with the gel, and it took off the mascara!”
Controls oil Often Mentioned
- “My skin feels fresh, balanced and less greasy after each wash.”
- “Skin feels clean and matte right afterward, with shine visibly reduced.”
- “Removes excess oil effectively without being overly drying.”
- “It works well with combination skin... reduced my oiliness.”
Gentle and mild Often Mentioned
- “This cleanser is so gentle and mild on my sensitive skin.”
- “The gel is gentle on my skin and doesn't dry it.”
- “It did not strip my skin, no tight feeling after cleansing, no irritation, no redness.”
- “Loved my skin without making it feel dry and itchy.”
Clears acne Sometimes Noted
- “It removed my acne from my face.”
- “I noticed my black heads going away and reduction in pores.”
- “Very effective cleanser for my oily acne prone skin.”
- “Cumulative effect is clearer, less congested skin.”
Can be drying Sometimes Noted
- “It isn't a cleanser I can use every day... it can be very drying.”
- “It felt like it dried my face a little after I dried off.”
- “It's drying and harsh, but honestly I didn't use a proper moisturiser at the time.”
- “I tried to use it in daytime but it was drying.”
Unpleasant fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “Very unpleasant chemical smell. You definitely don't want this accidentally going into your mouth.”
- “I feel the scent is too strong for me.”
- “It smelled like chemicals to me.”
- “Smells like some chemical floor washing liquid with apple parfum.”
Causes irritation Rarely Noted
- “A lot of acne were showing after I started using this product.”
- “Awful for my skin barrier, now everything I use itches.”
- “Broke me out. Irritating. Strong scent.”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, target.com, bioderma.us, dermstore.com, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Bioderma Sébium Gel moussant work for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser works reasonably well for acne-prone skin by gently clearing pores and balancing oil without causing irritation, though it is not specialized for treating active breakouts. To truly excel on this skin, a cleanser needs powerful acne-fighting ingredients like Niacinamide along with barrier-repairing ceramides and hydrating agents to balance oily and dry areas.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, and lactic acid make this cleanser a good fit as they help control oil and gently clear pores. However, acne-prone skin needs a cleanser that also features powerful acne-fighting ingredients like Niacinamide and Ceramides, alongside hydrating and barrier-repairing agents to maintain overall balance.
What does Zinc Sulfate do for acne-prone skin?
Zinc Sulfate helps calm angry breakouts and may reduce oiliness in acne-prone skin. It works through antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties to improve blemishes and support healing.
What does Copper Sulfate do for acne-prone skin?
Copper sulfate may help calm acne-prone skin by reducing inflammation and supporting healing, though it is usually combined with other ingredients like madecassoside to prevent irritation. This type of product needs soothing ingredients and gentle antibacterial agents to clear breakouts without causing redness or dryness.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine as the main cleansing step. It gently clears pores with mild ingredients while keeping your skin calm, though acne-prone skin needs a cleanser that also treats active breakouts.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying the cleanser first, letting your skin dry completely, and then following up with your retinol treatment. This cleanser gently washes your face and helps clear pores without causing irritation, making it safe to use alongside active ingredients like retinol.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine to help clear pores without causing irritation. Because it is not specialized for active breakouts, this skin type needs ingredients that calm redness and target blemishes directly.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause purging because its gentle ingredients help clear out pores without harshness, though it is not specialized for treating active breakouts. An acne-prone skin type needs a formula with targeted blemish-fighting ingredients and oil-balancing actives for better results.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but it is best to avoid the thin skin around your eyes since facial cleansers can sometimes be too strong for that delicate area. Because skin varies significantly in thickness across different areas of the body, gentle body-specific washes are typically preferred for larger skin surfaces.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).
What the research says
Topical 10% zinc sulphate solution achieved an 85.7% full response rate in plane warts compared to 42.8% for 5% zinc sulphate and 10% for distilled water, while showing no significant efficacy in common warts.
Saudi Medical Journal, 2007Topical zinc sulfate augmentation significantly increased the cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity response to Candida antigen in subjects with normal plasma zinc concentrations compared to Aquaphor alone.
Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1985A hydrogel containing pomegranate rind extract and zinc sulphate delivered punicalagin and zinc across porcine epidermal, buccal, and vaginal membranes while achieving a 2.5 log reduction against HSV-1 and a 64% reduction in COX-2 expression in ex vivo skin.
European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2017A single application of a topical formulation containing copper sulfate pentahydrate and Hypericum perforatum effectively managed HSV-1 and HSV-2 lesions with lower odds of burning, stinging, acute pain, erythema, and vesiculation compared to topical 5% Acyclovir cream in adult patients.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 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 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, 2015Topical 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, 2023Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.
Cutis, 2004Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020
Why other cleansers fit acne-prone skin better
Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Methylpropanediol, Disodium Edta, Mannitol, Xylitol, Rhamnose, Fructooligosaccharides, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Peg-90 Glyceryl Isostearate, Lactic Acid, Laureth-2, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Chloride, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, 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.
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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, 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
How does it fit your skin?
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