🇺🇸United States

Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner for acne-prone skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner

Average

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for acne-prone skin; other serums 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 pore refining for your combination skin due to salicylic acid and fomes officinalis extract, which help decongest pores and regulate sebum. While these ingredients are beneficial for combination skin, they lack the higher concentrations needed to fully address your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
  • The formula provides general skincare benefits like hydration and pore refinement, making it a decent addition to your routine.
  • The product is safe for your 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 and start 3x/week before working up to daily use.
  • Apply this treatment after cleansing and toner, and before your moisturizer.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
  • Apply the product on clean, dry skin to help manage your breakouts safely.
  • Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.4Overall rating based on 3.2k+ reviews

Based 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 Sébium Pore Refiner work for acne-prone skin?

Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner works moderately well for acne-prone skin, helping to clear out pores and manage oil with salicylic acid and mushroom extract. While it provides safe daily hydration and refinement, it lacks the stronger concentrations needed to fully clear up breakouts. This skin type needs products with ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, and zinc PCA to better target acne while keeping skin balanced and calm.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024BioMed Research International, 2020

Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for acne-prone skin?

Salicylic acid and fomes officinalis extract make this cream a moderate fit for your skin because they help clear out pores and manage oil. To better address breakouts and acne, this skin needs ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or zinc PCA that target blemishes while keeping skin balanced and hydrated.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024BioMed Research International, 2020

What does Fluidactiv Patent do for acne-prone skin?

Fluidactiv Patent helps improve the quality of your skin's oil so it stays clear and does not clog pores. This action helps reduce breakouts and keeps acne-prone skin looking smooth and balanced.

Dermato-endocrinology, 2011Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2017

What does Salicylic Acid do for acne-prone skin?

Salicylic acid helps clear acne-prone skin by reducing pimples and calming redness without causing many side effects. It works by dipping deep into pores to clear out blockages and control oil, making it a reliable choice for keeping skin smooth and clear.

BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?

This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, starting at once a week for safety. While it helps clear pores with salicylic acid and mushroom extract, acne-prone skin needs stronger blemish-fighting active ingredients to fully manage breakouts.

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 product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation.

How often should I use this cream?

This treatment works well in the evening for your acne-prone skin, starting just once a week and slowly using it more often if your skin tolerates it well. While it helps clear pores, this skin type needs stronger active ingredients to fully target breakouts and blemishes.

BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?

This cream is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog your pores because it is safe for your skin and has no harsh ingredients, though it may be slightly drying. While it offers moderate pore refinement, acne-prone skin needs products with higher concentrations of salicylic acid and mushroom extract to fully address blemishes and breakouts.

Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).

What the research says

  • A 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, 2020

  • 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, 2024

  • The 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, 2023

  • Cryotherapy 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, 2010

  • Treatment 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, 2024

  • Topical 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, 2010

  • White 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, 2012

  • Topical 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, 2015

  • A 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, 2015

  • Topical 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, 2023

Why other serums fit acne-prone skin better

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.

  • 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.

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

Buy online

Prices checked 6 Nov 2026

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