ISDIN and Galderma are established European skincare brands founded in 1975 and 1981, respectively. The Spanish brand offers advanced moisturizers, sunscreens, serums , and eye products suited best for sensitive and acne-prone skin, while the Swiss company features targeted serums. Through thoughtful formulas like Fusion Water , Eryfotona Actinica, and K-Ox Eyes, the first maker helps maintain a balanced complexion, whereas both brands differ primarily in their product types and specific key ingredients.
ISDIN is a Spanish skincare brand founded in 1975 and owned by Puig.
puig.com beautymatter.com uploads.puig.com
Galderma is a Swiss skincare brand founded in 1981 and owned by Galderma Group AG.
en.wikipedia.org
This page compares some of the most popular ISDIN and Galderma products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app .
Popular ISDIN vs Galderma products
People Say
ISDIN Galderma
+ Acne clearance and prevention
Not noted Mostly Mentioned
“cleared up my skin — Galderma Benzac AC Mild Strength 2.5% Acne Gel” “cystic acne gone — Galderma Epiduo Gel” “stops new pimples — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
+ Lightweight and fluid texture
Mostly Mentioned Not noted
“absorbs instantly — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica” “ultra-light fluid product, which makes it super easy to apply — ISDIN Fusion Water” “Lightweight formula absorbs fast — ISDIN Hyaluronic Concentrate”
+ Hydration and plumping
Mostly Mentioned Not noted
“Improved moisture and texture — ISDIN Hyaluronic Moisture” “skin looks smooth and healthy — ISDIN K-Ox Eyes” “Skin feels intensely hydrated — ISDIN Hyaluronic Concentrate”
+ Makeup compatibility and finish
Often Mentioned Not noted
“doesn't leave you white as a ghost — ISDIN Fusion Water” “acts like a primer — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica” “dries down matte — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
+ Skin tolerance and sensitivity
Often Mentioned Not noted
“Sensitive/reactive skin tolerates — ISDIN Hyaluronic Moisture” “no excessive exfoliation — ISDIN Retinal Intense Serum” “doesn't sting eyes — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
– Initial irritation and side effects
Rarely Noted Mostly Mentioned
“I think the serum is too strong for my face as it has burned and left very rough and a peeling face. — ISDIN Flavo-C Serum” “slight peeling — ISDIN Retinal Intense Serum” “face on fire — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
– Fabric bleaching
Not noted Mostly Mentioned
“bleached my towel — Galderma Benzac AC 5”
– Price and value concerns
Often Mentioned Not noted
“very expensive — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
– Fragrance and scent issues
Often Mentioned Not noted
“smell is overpowering — ISDIN Eryfotona Actinica”
Questions and answers
ISDIN or Galderma: which is better?
ISDIN does better for hydration, texture, and sensitive skin, while Galderma achieves better acne clearance and prevention. Reviewers find that ISDIN offers ultralight sunscreens and lightweight moisturizers, whereas Galderma provides effective acne-clearing serums .
What is the difference between ISDIN and Galderma?
ISDIN offers products on this page that are well-suited for sensitive and oily skin, providing lightweight textures and hydration, whereas Galderma specializes in effective acne-clearing serums that may cause initial irritation and dryness. ISDIN sunscreens and moisturizers help maintain skin comfort, while Galderma treatments help target blemishes.
Which is more affordable, ISDIN or Galderma?
Galderma is noted by reviewers for price and value concerns, whereas reviewers frequently mention a high price point for ISDIN.
Which causes fewer breakouts, ISDIN or Galderma?
Galderma is better for acne clearance and prevention, making it a stronger choice for reducing breakouts.
Which brand has more products containing fragrance, ISDIN or Galderma?
ISDIN has more products containing fragrance, with five out of eight products on this page listing fragrance, while Galderma lists no fragrance for any of its products on this page.
How do the skin types that ISDIN and Galderma fit best compare?
ISDIN fits sensitive, acne-prone, and oily skin best with its products on this page, whereas Galderma does not have a specific brand-focused routine fit for any single skin type.
What are the main drawbacks reviewers mention for ISDIN versus Galderma?
Reviewers note that the products on this page by ISDIN commonly have a high price point and strong fragrance, whereas Galderma's drawbacks include severe dryness and peeling along with severe irritation and discomfort.
2 more questions
Research behind their key ingredients
Skin delivery of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and hyaluronic acid loaded nano-transfersomes for antioxidant and anti-aging effects in UV radiation induced skin damage
Antioxidants · Drug Delivery, 2017 Benefits of topical hyaluronic acid for skin quality and signs of skin aging: From literature review to clinical evidence
Sodium hyaluronate, Hyaluronic acid · Dermatologic Therapy, 2022 Topical use of dexpanthenol in skin disorders
Panthenol · American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002 Anti-aging and brightening effects of a topical treatment containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract: A split-face, randomized controlled trial
Ascorbic acid, Tocopherol · Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020 Prospective, randomized, double-blind assessment of topical bakuchiol and retinol for facial photoageing
Bakuchiol · The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019
42 more studies
Topical benzoyl peroxide for acne
Benzoyl peroxide, Benzoyl peroxide 25mg g · The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020 Antiaging efficacy of melatonin-based day and night creams: a randomized, split-face, assessor-blinded proof-of-concept trial
Melatonin · Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2018 Effect of a topical antioxidant serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and ferulic acid after Q-switched 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser for treatment of environment-induced skin pigmentation
Ascorbic acid · Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020 The 24-hour skin hydration and barrier function effects of a hyaluronic 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract moisturizing fluid: an intra-subject, randomized, assessor-blinded study
Glycerin · Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017 Randomized controlled study for the anti-aging effect of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide after laser therapy
Niacinamide · Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021 Prevention and Reduction of Atrophic Acne Scars with Adapalene 0.3%/Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5% Gel in Subjects with Moderate or Severe Facial Acne: Results of a 6-Month Randomized, Vehicle-Controlled Trial Using Intra-Individual Comparison
Adapalene · American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2018 Benzoyl peroxide treatment decreases Cutibacterium acnes in shoulder surgery, from skin incision until wound closure
Benzoyl peroxide, Benzoyl peroxide 25mg g · Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 2021 Efficacy and Safety of a Fixed-Dose Clindamycin Phosphate 1.2%, Benzoyl Peroxide 3.1%, and Adapalene 0.15% Gel for Moderate-to-Severe Acne: A Randomized Phase II Study of the First Triple-Combination Drug
Benzoyl peroxide, Benzoyl peroxide 25mg g · American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2022 A new topical panthenol-containing emollient: Results from two randomized controlled studies assessing its skin moisturization and barrier restoration potential, and the effect on skin microflora
Panthenol · The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017 Stable Ozonides with Vitamin E Acetate versus Corticosteroid in the Treatment of Lichen Sclerosus in Foreskin: Evaluation of Effects on Inflammation
Tocopheryl acetate · Urologia Internationalis, 2019 A Double-Blinded, Randomized, Vehicle-Controlled Study of the Efficacy of Moisturizer Containing Licochalcone A, Decanediol, L-Carnitine, and Salicylic Acid for Prevention of Acne Relapse in Asian Population
Salicylic acid · BioMed Research International, 2020 Senomorphic activity of a combination of niacinamide and hyaluronic acid: correlation with clinical improvement of skin aging
Niacinamide · Scientific Reports, 2024 A topical gel of tea tree oil nanoemulsion containing adapalene versus adapalene marketed gel in patients with acne vulgaris: a randomized clinical trial
Adapalene · Archives of Dermatological Research, 2022 Development of Multifunctional Cosmetic Cream Using Bioactive Materials from Streptomyces sp. T65 with Synthesized Mesoporous Silica Particles SBA-15
Silicon dioxide · Antioxidants, 2020 Biomimetic hyaluronic acid-stabilized zinc oxide nanoparticles in acne treatment: A preclinical and clinical approach
Zinc oxide · Journal of Controlled Release, 2025 Efficacy of a multitargeted, salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic cream compared to benzoyl peroxide 5% in Acne vulgaris: Results from a randomized study
Salicylic acid · Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024 Evaluation of dermal extracellular matrix and epidermal-dermal junction modifications using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometric imaging, in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy, echography, and histology: effect of age and peptide applications
Palmitoyl tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 · Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2015 Formulating octyl methoxycinnamate in hybrid lipid-silica nanoparticles: An innovative approach for UV skin protection
Silicon dioxide · Heliyon, 2020 A Salicylic Acid-Based Dermocosmetic is Effective as an Adjunct to Benzoyl Peroxide for Mild to Moderate Acne and as Monotherapy in Maintenance Post Benzoyl Peroxide
Salicylic acid · Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023 Clindamycin phosphate 1.2%/adapalene 0.15%/benzoyl peroxide 3.1% gel for moderate-to-severe acne: Efficacy and safety results from two randomized phase 3 trials
Adapalene · Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2023 Efficacy and safety of microencapsulated benzoyl peroxide and microencapsulated tretinoin for the treatment of acne vulgaris: Results from two phase 3 double-blind, randomized, vehicle-controlled studies
Benzoyl peroxide, Benzoyl peroxide 25mg g · Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2023 Semi-Solid Dosage Forms Containing Pranoprofen-Loaded NLC as Topical Therapy for Local Inflammation: In Vitro, Ex Vivo and In Vivo Evaluation
Carbomer 940 · Gels, 2023 Botulinum toxin injection as a single or combined treatment with non-cross-linked high molecular weight and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid gel for neck rejuvenation: A randomized clinical trial
Hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid · Dermatologic Therapy, 2022 Comparison of methods for assessing photoprotection against ultraviolet A in vivo
Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane · Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1987 Using ordered mesoporous silica SBA-15 to limit cutaneous penetration and transdermal permeation of organic UV filters
Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane · International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2019 Topical Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle Formulations for Acne Vulgaris: A Systematic Review of Pre-Clinical and Early-Phase Clinical Evidence
Zinc oxide · Biomedicines, 2025 Influence of vitamin E acetate on stratum corneum hydration
Tocopheryl acetate · Arzneimittel-Forschung, 1998 Enhancing Photoprotection and Mitigating Ex Vivo Stratum Corneum Oxidative Stress: A Multifunctional Strategy Combining Rosmarinic Acid with UVB Filters
Octocrylene · Antioxidants, 2025 Evaluation of the Efficacy and Safety of a Panthenol-Enriched Mask for Skin Barrier Recovery After Facial Laser Treatment: Results of a Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Study
Panthenol · Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025 TiO2-embedded mesoporous silica with lower porosity is beneficial to adsorb the pollutants and retard UV filter absorption: A possible application for outdoor skin protection
Butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane · European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2023 Efficacy and Tolerability of Stable Hybrid Cooperative Complexes of High- and Low-Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid in Asian Patients: An Open-Label Study
Hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid · Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2026 Ginkgo biloba leaves extract's cosmeceutical evaluation: a preliminary assessments on human volunteers towards achieving improved skin condition and rejuvenation
Ginkgo biloba leaf extract · Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy, 2023 Nanostructured Lipid Carrier Based Gel Containing α-Tocopherol and α-Tocopheryl Acetate for Synergistic Cutaneous Antiaging Efficacy
Tocopheryl acetate · Scientific Reports, 2025 Nanocomplex of quaternized cyclodextrin grafted chitosan and hyaluronic acid for a skin delivery
Hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid · Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces, 2022 Effect of an Emollient Emulsion Containing 15.0% of Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride on the Urocanic Acid of the Stratum Corneum
Caprylic capric triglyceride · Life, 2023 Safety assessment on comedogenicity of dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate in Asian subjects: A double-blind randomized controlled trial
Tocopheryl acetate · Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021 Facial disbiosis and UV filters
Ethylhexyl salicylate · Archives of Dermatological Research, 2024 The clinical efficacy of a new emulsion for acne and conspicuous facial pore amelioration
Lens esculenta seed extract · Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024 Retrospective Review of Dermal Safety Studies of Organic Sunscreens
Ethylhexyl salicylate · Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025 Targeting Circadian Rhythm for the Regulation of Skin Collagen Metabolism
Palmitoyl tripeptide-1 · Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026 Mechanistic understanding and peptide ingredient screening for type III collagen via biological knowledge graph and molecular docking
Palmitoyl tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 · International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026 Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind Assessment of Supramolecular Bakuchiol and Terminalia Chebula Extract for Facial Photoaging in Chinese Sensitive Skin Population
Bakuchiol · Health Science Reports, 2025
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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
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
Aishani Shah, MD
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
Asya Zubkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
Hanna Kurets, MD
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist