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Bioderma: the buyer's guide
Bioderma invented micellar water in 1991 and Sensibio H2O is still the product every French makeup artist carries. The rest of the range is sorted by skin concern and colour-coded, which makes it one of the easiest pharmacy brands to shop.
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What the brand is known for
Bioderma is a Lyon company (part of NAOS) with a dermatological positioning and a clear line structure: Sensibio (pink) for sensitive skin, Hydrabio (blue) for dehydrated skin, Sébium (green) for oily and acne-prone skin, Atoderm (white and blue) for dry and eczema-prone skin, and Photoderm for sun care.
Sensibio H2O micellar water
The original and still the benchmark. It removes makeup, including waterproof mascara, without rinsing and without the tight feeling. The 500 ml bottle with the pump is the value buy; the 100 ml is for travel. Hydrabio H2O is the same idea with added moisturizing agents, for dehydrated skin.
Atoderm for dry and eczema-prone skin
Atoderm Intensive Baume is the body moisturizer French pharmacists recommend for eczema; Atoderm Shower Oil is the companion cleanser and one of the best-value body washes for dry skin anywhere. Both are fragrance-free in their intensive versions.
Sébium for oily skin
Sébium Gel Moussant foaming cleanser and Sébium Global treatment are the oily-skin line. Sébium H2O is the micellar water for the same skin type.
Photoderm sun care
Bioderma's sunscreens are highly rated in France. The Photoderm range includes the AKN Mat for oily skin, the Nude Touch tinted fluid, and the Max line for high protection. As with La Roche-Posay, the EU and US formulas differ because of FDA filter rules.
What to buy
| Product | Why |
|---|---|
| Sensibio H2O 500 ml with pump | The original micellar water; best-value size. |
| Hydrabio H2O | Micellar water for dehydrated skin. |
| Atoderm Intensive Baume | Body balm for very dry and eczema-prone skin. |
| Atoderm Shower Oil | Cleansing oil for dry skin; a family-size bottle lasts months. |
| Sébium Gel Moussant | Foaming cleanser for oily, combination skin. |
| Sensibio Defensive cream | Daily moisturizer for sensitive skin. |
Questions people ask
Do I need to rinse off Sensibio H2O?
No. That is the point of micellar water. If you wear heavy sunscreen or makeup, a second cleanse with a gel or cream cleanser is a good idea.
Why are there so many fakes?
Sensibio H2O is one of the most counterfeited beauty products in the world. Buy from listings sold or fulfilled by Amazon, check that the cap and label match the current packaging, and be suspicious of a 500 ml bottle priced far below the others.
Is Bioderma cruelty-free?
Bioderma does not test on animals in the EU but sells in mainland China, so it is not certified cruelty-free.
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