Bioderma vs Galderma
Bioderma and Galderma are established European skincare companies originating in France and Switzerland, respectively. The French brand offers a thoughtful array of moisturizers, makeup removers, serums, and cleansers formulated with nourishing glycerin that suits dry skin and combination skin best, while the Swiss brand focuses specifically on targeted serums like the Epiduo Gel and Benzac AC variants. Ultimately, both differ primarily in their product breadth, with the former emphasizing gentle, moisture-rich compositions and the latter specializing in acne and spot care.
Bioderma is a French skincare brand founded in 1977 and owned by Jean-Noël Thorel Foundation since 2018.
Galderma is a Swiss skincare brand founded in 1981 and owned by Galderma Group AG.
This page compares some of the most popular Bioderma and Galderma products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
People Say
Acne Clearance and Breakout Prevention Rarely NotedMostly 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”
- “It brightened my skin and faded dark spots. — Bioderma Pigmentbio Sensitive Areas”
Gentle and Non-Irritating Formula Mostly MentionedNot noted
- “doesn't sting my eyes — Bioderma Sensibio H2O”
- “doesn't cause any irritation — Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Cleansing Oil”
- “mildest face wash I've tried — Bioderma Sensibio Gel Moussant”
Hydration and Moisturization Mostly MentionedNot noted
- “healed my dry skin — Bioderma Sébium Hydra”
- “absorbs instantly — Bioderma Hydrabio Serum”
- “leaves skin feeling hydrated — Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Cleansing Oil”
Miscellaneous Performance Notes Mostly MentionedNot noted
- “Keeps you shine free — Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner”
- “melts every bit of make up and SPF off — Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Cleansing Oil”
- “My skin feels fresh, balanced and less greasy after each wash. — Bioderma Sébium Gel moussant”
Dryness and Peeling Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
- “Skin looks like sandpaper — Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner”
- “It isn't a cleanser I can use every day... it can be very drying. — Bioderma Sébium Gel moussant”
- “dried out my skin — Bioderma Sensibio H2O”
- “skin flaking off — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
Skin Irritation and Burning Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
- “coat the eyes with a milky film — Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Cleansing Oil”
- “stings my eyes bad — Bioderma Sensibio H2O”
- “Stings on open pimples — Bioderma Sébium Pore Refiner”
- “face on fire — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
Caused Breakouts and Purging Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
- “broke me out — Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Baume”
- “clogged my pores — Bioderma Sensibio AR”
- “clogged my pores — Bioderma Atoderm Crème Ultra”
- “got worse first — Galderma Epiduo Gel”
Fabric Bleaching Not notedMostly Mentioned
- “bleached my towel — Galderma Benzac AC 5”
Miscellaneous Negative Notes Often MentionedNot noted
- “won't budge waterproof mascara — Bioderma Sensibio H2O”
Questions and answers
Bioderma or Galderma: which is better?
Bioderma is better for gentle, hydrating care, as the products on this page excel in soothing and moisturizing, whereas Galderma is better for acne clearance with effective breakout-fighting serums.
What is the difference between Bioderma and Galderma?
Bioderma is better for gentle, non-irritating hydration and barrier-repairing moisturizers, whereas Galderma stands out for effective acne-clearing serums. Reviewers note that Galderma's products may cause severe dryness and peeling, while Bioderma offers a more soothing formula with key ingredients like glycerin across the products on this page.
Which is more affordable, Bioderma or Galderma?
Reviewers note that Bioderma has a high price point and value concerns, while Galderma does not have this noted on this page.
Which causes fewer breakouts, Bioderma or Galderma?
Bioderma does better with gentle, non-irritating formulas, while Galderma focuses on effective acne-clearing serums for breakout prevention.
Between Bioderma and Galderma, which brand was founded earlier and in which country?
Bioderma was founded earlier in 1977 in France, whereas Galderma was founded in 1981 in Switzerland.
How many products from Bioderma on this page list no fragrance compared to Galderma?
On the Bioderma products on this page, 9 of 20 list no fragrance, whereas every product from Galderma lists no fragrance.
Which brand performs better for acne clearance and breakout prevention according to the review themes?
According to the review themes on the products on this page, Galderma performs better for acne clearance and breakout prevention. Its serums are frequently noted by reviewers for being effective at clearing acne.
Research behind their key ingredients
Hesperidin, Hesperetin, Rutinose, and Rhamnose Act as Skin Anti-Aging Agents
Development of Polymeric Micelles of Oleanolic Acid and Evaluation of Their Clinical Efficacy
Effect of topically applied lipids on surfactant-irritated skin
Potentially beneficial effects of rhamnose on skin ageing: an in vitro and in vivo study
Formulation strategies to modulate the topical delivery of anti-inflammatory compounds
Salicyloyl-phytosphingosine: a novel agent for the repair of photoaged skin
Interest in Micellar Solution to Reduce Unpleasant Skin Sensations
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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