Elemis vs Dr. Barbara Sturm
Elemis and Dr. Barbara Sturm are two distinct skincare lines known for their sophisticated formulations and targeted daily care. Elemis features thoughtfully formulated serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners harnessing glycerin and shea, while the other brand offers gentle moisturizers, clarifying exfoliants, and nourishing serums built on scientifically advanced formulas. Both lines suit mature, dry, and sensitive skin types best, though they differ through British heritage and L'Occitane ownership since 2019 versus German origins and Puig ownership since 2024.
Elemis is a British skincare brand founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group since 2019.
elemis.comau.elemis.comen.wikipedia.org
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 Elemis and Dr. Barbara Sturm products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular Elemis vs Dr. Barbara Sturm products
People Say
Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “Absorbs almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
- “whipped silk feel — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
- “sinks in immediately — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
- “sinks in quickly — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
Skin Smoothing and Softening Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “baby soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
- “skin feels baby soft — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
- “skin texture is immediately more even — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
- “lines less visible — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “The cream really hydrates and my face looks amazing. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
- “Quenches thirsty skin... immediate improvement. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
- “skin drank it up — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
- “skin feels softer — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
Radiance and Glow Often MentionedOften Mentioned
- “skin looks brighter — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
- “healthy glow — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
- “healthy glow — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
Gentle on Skin and Sensitive Areas Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
- “doesn't irritate my sensitive skin — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
- “reduced redness — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
- “no stinging or redness — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
Exfoliation and Deep Cleansing Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
- “deep yet gentle cleanse — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
- “non-stripping formula — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
Price and Value Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “Complete waste of money for me. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
- “very expensive — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
- “expensive — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
- “way too expensive — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
Limited or Slow Results Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
- “didn't see a difference — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
- “didn't see difference — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
- “Verdict still out. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
- “did nothing — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
Fragrance and Scent Issues Often MentionedRarely Noted
- “smells a bit weird — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
- “The smell is very strong... could not handle for long. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
Questions and answers
Elemis or Dr. Barbara Sturm: which is better?
Dr. Barbara Sturm is better for radiance and glow, gentleness on skin and sensitive areas, and exfoliation and deep cleansing, while Elemis offers better price and value among the products on this page.
What is the difference between Elemis and Dr. Barbara Sturm?
Elemis was founded in the UK in 1989 and features fragranced products on this page, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm was founded in Germany in 2014 and lists no fragrance in its products.
Elemis or Dr. Barbara Sturm: which moisturizer is better?
For moisturizers, Elemis fits mature skin and dry sensitive skin best on Lovi, while Dr. Barbara Sturm has fewer options like the Hyaluronic Serum that may work for various skin types. Reviewers note that Elemis offers hydrating moisturizers with luxurious textures, though the products on this page often feature added fragrance.
Which is more affordable, Elemis or Dr. Barbara Sturm?
Elemis is more affordable, as reviewers note high price points for both brands but price and value is an area where Elemis does better.
Which causes fewer breakouts, Elemis or Dr. Barbara Sturm?
Dr. Barbara Sturm may cause fewer breakouts than Elemis because the products on this page list no fragrance, whereas most Elemis products contain added fragrance that sometimes causes skin irritation.
How do the founding years and home countries of Elemis and Dr. Barbara Sturm compare?
Elemis was founded in 1989 in the United Kingdom, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm was founded in 2014 in Germany.
Which brand offers products with fragrance, Elemis or Dr. Barbara Sturm?
Elemis offers products with fragrance, as the products on this page include many scented options, whereas every product on the Dr. Barbara Sturm page lists no fragrance in its ingredients.
Which skin types does Elemis fit best according to its brand-focused routines?
According to its brand-focused routines, Elemis fits mature skin, dry sensitive skin, and skin with dark spots best.
Research behind their key ingredients
Bacterial cellulose membranes as drug delivery systems: an in vivo skin compatibility study
Effects of ascorbic acid on gingival melanin pigmentation in vitro and in vivo
Microneedling by dermapen and glycolic acid peel for the treatment of acne scars: Comparative study
Topical beta-carotene protects against infra-red-light-induced free radicals
A Rose Extract Protects the Skin against Stress Mediators: A Potential Role of Olfactory Receptors
Borage Oil Treated with Immobilized Lipase Inhibits Melanogenesis
Comparative measurement of hydration effects of herbal moisturizers
Topical Almond Oil for Prevention of Pressure Injuries: A Single-Blinded Comparison Study
Skin recovery by Lavandula angustifolia leaf callus extract: Redox control of Nrf2 signaling
Formulation and evaluation of exotic fat based cosmeceuticals for skin repair
Nanocomplex of quaternized cyclodextrin grafted chitosan and hyaluronic acid for a skin delivery
Effects of fermented tea seed oil on the skin lipid barrier and microbiome of sensitive skin
Treatment with Ascorbyl Glucoside-Arginine Complex Ameliorates Solar Lentigos
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.
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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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