Last Updated on September 28, 2026 by Giorgia Guazzarotti
Right now, I’m all about milk cleansers. But they weren’t alway my fave pick. Back in high school, when my skin was shinier than a frying pan and my nose and cheeks littered with blackheads, I turned to foaming cleansers to rid me of all that gunk. If your skin still plays those tricks on you, I recommend you give Bioderma Sebium Purifying Cleansing Foaming Gel a try. Here’s why:
The Verdict
My rating: 4/5
Best for: Oily and combination skin that needs a thorough cleanser to remove excess oil, makeup and sunscreen.
Skip it if: Your skin is dry or tends to feel tight after cleansing.
What I like: Cleans really well, removes excess oil without leaving my oily areas feeling stripped, and takes off makeup and sunscreen easily.
What I don’t: It can make drier areas of my face feel a little tight.
Bottom line: Bioderma Sébium Foaming Gel is a solid cleanser for oily and combination skin. It leaves my T-zone clean and soft and does a good job of removing the oil and grime that can contribute to clogged pores, but it’s too drying for already-dry skin.
- The Verdict
- Ingredients In Bioderma Sebium Purifying Cleansing Foaming Gel: What Does The Science Say?
- My Experience With Bioderma Sebum Foaming Gel
- WWho Should Use Bioderma Sébium Foaming Gel?
- Who Should Skip It?
- Does Bioderma Sebium Purifying Cleansing Foaming Gel Live Up To Its Claims?
- Price & Availability
Ingredients In Bioderma Sebium Purifying Cleansing Foaming Gel: What Does The Science Say?
SURFACTANTS TO CLEANSE SKIN AND PURIFY IT?
Ever wondered what’s the stuff in foaming gels that makes them clean and foam so well? Surfactants. They’re a family of ingredients that help water mix with oil and dirt so they can be easily rinsed off your face. The catch? If they’re too powerful, they do the cleansing job too well and strip your skin of all of its natural moisturising oils.
Bioderma Sebium Purifying Cleansing Foaming Gel uses Sodium Cocoamphoacetate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate, two gentle, medium-strength surfactants. They remove dirt, impurities and the extra sebum oily skin produces BUT still leave a little bit behind to keep it naturally soft and moisturised (that’s what sebum is, your skin’s natural moisturizer).
Do they decongest or purify skin? No. Cleansers can’t remove toxins from your skin and pores. That’s science fiction. What they can do is cleanse skin and remove superficial grime. Skincare brands are taking this basic cleansing function and blowing it out of all proportions to make you think your cleanser does more than it does. *sighs*
Related: Are Foaming Cleansers Bad For Skin?
SUGARS TO HYDRATE SKIN
A good cleanser doesn’t just cleanse skin. It also makes sure it stays well-hydrated during the stripping process. Bioderma Sebium Purifying Cleansing Foaming Gel uses a bunch of sugars (Mannitol, Xylitol and Rhamnose) to hydrate skin. They work by attracting moisture from the air and binding it into the skin.
FYI, sugars aren’t bad for skin. Sure, eating too much candy and processed fruits can make you age faster. But when topically applied to the skin, they hydrate it without side effects. Phew!
Struggling to put together a skincare routine that banishes shine, pimples, and blackheads? Download your FREE “Best Skincare Routine For Oily Skin” cheatsheet to get started (it features product recommendations + right application order):
My Experience With Bioderma Sebum Foaming Gel
Since I’ve moved to London, my skin becomes considerably drier during the cold winter months. But as summer’s around the corner, and my skin’s upping its sebum production once again, I thought it’d be safe to try Bioderma Sebium Purifying Cleansing Foaming Gel.
Light blue in colour, the gel texture conjures a little foaming action that removes everything it finds in its tracks. That includes dirt, makeup and even sunscreen. I haven’t tried it around my eyes (I prefer to use a separate remover for that). But this forming gel works against long-lasting foundation, bronzer, blush… You name it.
On my oily t-zone, it worked like a charm. Once I rinsed it off, my skin was both clean and soft. My cheeks felt a little tight, but the skin there has always been drier… Then, again, this is a cleanser for oily, NOT dry skin, so that was to be expected. That’s why it’s so important your cleanser is suitable for your skin type, ladies (here’s how to do it).
But can Bioderma Sebium Purifying Cleansing Foaming Gel decongest skin? Sort of. While it can’t remove impurities lodged deep inside your pores, it can and does get rid of any excess oil before it has a chance to clog your pores.
When you reduce the amount of oil on your skin, you won’t be so prone to blackheads and pimples anymore. One last thing: the scent is pretty inoffensive and clean, but I still prefer my products to be fragrance-free.
WWho Should Use Bioderma Sébium Foaming Gel?
- Oily skin that gets shiny quickly and needs help removing excess sebum without feeling completely stripped.
- Combination skin, especially if your T-zone gets oily but the rest of your face is fairly normal.
Who Should Skip It?
- Skin that already feels stripped after cleansing, because this probably isn’t the gentlest option for you.
- Dry skin, because it may leave your face feeling tight.
- Very dehydrated skin, especially if foaming cleansers tend to make that tight, squeaky-clean feeling worse.
Does Bioderma Sebium Purifying Cleansing Foaming Gel Live Up To Its Claims?
| CLAIM | TRUE? |
|---|---|
| Gently cleanses and purifies. | It gently cleanses. Purifies is a skincare term that means nothing. |
| Limits sebum secretion. | It removes excess sebum, but it’d have to stay on the skin for longer to control sebum production. |
| Keeps pores from becoming clogged. | True. It does this by removing excess oils and impurities from your skin. |
Price & Availability
$22.99 at Boots, Dermstore, Escentual and Ulta
Ingredient list
Aqua/Water/Eau, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Methylpropanediol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Chloride, Lactic Acid, Zinc Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Sorbate, Xylitol, Fructooligosaccharides, Mannitol, Rhamnose, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Fragrance.
Bioderma Sebium Foaming Gel
Can Bioderma Sebium Foaming Gel decongest pores and keep breakouts at bay? I've put it to the test to find out.
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 22.99
Product In-Stock: InStock
4
I have T-zone is very oily. For me, this cleanser does wonders. I have never experimented dry skin while using Bioderma’s sebium cleanser. I highly recommend it to those who have oily skin! I am so thankful I can find it in my country.