Bioderma

Most people know exactly one Bioderma product, and it's the pink-capped bottle. Fair enough — Sensibio H2O invented the category. But the other forty-eight products here are organised into five lines that solve completely different problems, and the line names tell you everything you need.

Sensibio H2O, and what micellar water is actually for

Sensibio H2O works because of micelles, tiny surfactant clusters that grab makeup and oil on contact so you don't have to rub. That's the whole point: it was made for skin that reacts to being scrubbed, not as a shortcut for lazy nights. It's stocked in 100ml for travel, 250ml, 500ml, and a Victoria Beckham limited edition. Worth knowing: there's a Sebium H2O too, and it's the one for oily skin. If your skin is reactive daily rather than occasionally, Sensibio Defensive and Sensibio Forte are the creams from the same line. See Micellar & Makeup Remover and Redness & Sensitivity.

Sebium is the acne line, and it's underused here

Sebium Gel Moussant is the daily cleanser, in sizes from 100ml to 500ml. Pore Refiner is for enlarged pores specifically. The two most useful and least understood are Sebium Sensitive, for skin that's oily and irritated at the same time, and Sebium Hydra, made specifically for skin that's been dried out by isotretinoin or strong acne treatment. That second one solves a problem most brands ignore. See Oil Control & Shine and Acne & Blemishes.

Atoderm for dry skin, Cicabio for damaged skin

These get mixed up. Atoderm is for skin that is dry all the time — Atoderm Ultra for everyday, Intensive Baume for very dry and itchy eczema-prone skin, and Intensive Gel Moussant instead of shower gel. Cicabio is for skin that's temporarily damaged: Cicabio Cream and Cicabio Arnica+ SOS for irritation, scrapes, post-procedure. Ongoing versus one-off is the distinction. See Sensitive & Eczema-Prone Skin and Body Dryness.

Photoderm: pick by finish, not by number

All SPF 50+, so what matters is texture. Aquafluide is invisible and light for sensitive skin, Cream Invisible and Cream Claire Light are richer for dry skin, Max Tinted Aquafluid doubles as base, and Spot Age is the one to use if you already have sun-induced pigmentation. There's an Après Soleil after-sun in the range too. See Sunscreens.

Pigmentbio for dark spots

Pigmentbio Foaming Cream and C-Concentrate are the cleanse-and-treat pair, and there's a Sensitive Areas Cream for underarms and intimate areas, which is a specific need very few brands formulate for. See Dark Spots & Pigmentation.

Questions people actually ask

Do I need to rinse micellar water off?

Sensibio H2O is designed to work without rinsing. Most people still prefer to follow it with a gentle cleanser at night, especially after heavy makeup or sunscreen, and that's fine.

Sensibio or Sebium H2O?

Sensibio for sensitive, normal or dry skin. Sebium for oily and blemish-prone. Same idea, different formula.

Is Bioderma good for eczema?

Atoderm is the line for it, and Intensive Baume is the one to reach for during a flare. It isn't a medication though — if the skin is cracked or weeping, see a dermatologist.

Who owns Bioderma?

NAOS, an independent French group near Lyon. Unlike most pharmacy skincare brands, it isn't part of a large multinational, which is why you'll sometimes see it positioned differently to La Roche-Posay or Vichy.

Which is better for acne, Bioderma Sebium or La Roche-Posay Effaclar?

Genuinely close. Effaclar tends to be the stronger, more actively drying route; Sebium is gentler and better tolerated if your skin is oily but easily irritated. Sebium Hydra has no real Effaclar equivalent.

Not sure which line fits? Our team can help you pick. Or start with Sensibio H2O and browse more in Cleansers.