Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner for dry sensitive skin
Fluidactiv Patent
Salicylic Acid
Fomes Officinalis Extract Mushroom Extract
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract
Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract
Caution
- LowDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- RiskySafety
A poor match for dry sensitive skin; the serums alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 exfoliation for your dry and flaky skin due to salicylic acid and fomes officinalis extract, which help refine pores and mattify oily areas.
- However, the salicylic acid can have a drying effect on your dry skin, and the formula lacks deeply hydrating ingredients to counteract this.
How to apply
- Use this PM routine for your evening skincare. Start using the serum 3 times a week and increase to daily use if your skin feels comfortable.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer. This step locks in deep hydration for dry skin.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin using your palms. Let it absorb completely for a minute ⏱ before applying your next product.
- Since your skin is sensitive, apply the serum on completely dry skin for better tolerance and less irritation.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Always do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin reacts well.
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
Why does Lovi advise caution with Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner for dry sensitive skin?
This treatment may dry out your dry sensitive skin because it contains salicylic acid to refine pores and lacks deeply hydrating ingredients to counteract it. A product for this skin needs effective moisturizing and nourishing ingredients that provide excellent hydration, texture improvement, and skin barrier support without any risk of irritation.
Which ingredients make this cream a poor fit for dry sensitive skin?
Salicylic acid and fomes officinalis extract make this a poor fit by drying out your skin while lacking the rich moisturizing ingredients, ceramides, and vitamins needed to hydrate and protect dry skin.
What does Fluidactiv Patent do for dry sensitive skin?
Fluidactiv Patent is not a good fit for dry sensitive skin because it is designed to manage sebum in oily skin, whereas dry skin needs rich moisturizing ingredients like ceramides and gentle surfactants to protect the skin barrier.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2004The British Journal of Dermatology, 2000
What does Salicylic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?
Salicylic acid is generally a poor fit for dry, sensitive skin because it is designed to clear out pores by removing excess oil, which can easily leave dry skin irritated. A product of this type needs gentle exfoliating helpers paired with rich, soothing moisturizers and barrier-repairing ingredients to keep dry skin calm and comfortable.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine, starting at once a week to see how your skin handles it. A product for this skin needs gentle exfoliating ingredients alongside rich hydrating ingredients to keep dry skin comfortable.
Can I use this cream with niacinamide, and in what order?
You can use this cream alongside niacinamide by applying niacinamide first to calm and hydrate your skin before putting on this treatment. Because this product contains salicylic acid which can dry out dry skin, this type of product needs rich hydrators like glycerin and soothing ingredients like plant extracts to keep skin comfortable.
How often should I use this cream?
You should use this treatment just once a week in your evening routine, as salicylic acid can dry out your dry and sensitive skin. If your skin handles it well, you may carefully use it more often, but a product of this type needs gentle exfoliating ingredients paired with rich, deeply hydrating and soothing ingredients to keep your skin soft and comfortable.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores since it helps refine pores and mattify oily areas, but the salicylic acid inside may dry out your dry and sensitive skin. Because this product is a poor match for your skin type, a suitable treatment for dry sensitive skin needs gentle hydrating ingredients and soothing agents to prevent dryness and irritation.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).
What the research says
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, 2010A 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, 2020Treatment 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, 2024White 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 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, 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.
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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
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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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
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