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SebaMed Clear Face Care Gel - USA Versus SebaMed Clear Face Mattifying Cream

General Moisturizer
General Moisturizer
German Brand Germany
German Brand Germany

Updated on February 06, 2025

Overview

What they are

These products are both cruelty-free, fungal acne (malassezia) safe, and reef safe general moisturizers. They have a total of 9 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain hyaluronic acid

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin, brightening skin, sensitive skin and scar healing

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that needs an update? Let us know.

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

About this product

About this product

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Benefits

Concerns

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water
Skin Conditioning

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice comes from leaves of the aloe plant. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice is best known for helping to soothe sunburns. It is also anti-inflammatory, moisturizing, antiseptic, and can help heal wounds.

Aloe is packed with good stuff including Vitamins A, C, and E. These vitamins are antioxidants, which help fight free-radicals and the damage they may cause. Free-radicals are molecules that may damage your skin cells, such as pollution.

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice also contains sugars. These sugars come in the form of monosaccharides and polysaccharides, folic acid, and choline. These sugars are able to help bind moisture to skin.

It also contains minerals such as calcium, 12 anthraquinones, fatty acids, amino acids, and Vitamin B12.

Learn more about Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Propylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients.

Another role of this ingredient is preventing a product from melting or freezing. Propylene glycol also adds antimicrobrial properties to a product, elongating product lifespan.

This ingredient is considered an organic alcohol and commonly added into both cosmetics and foods.

Those with sensitive skin or conditions may develop a rash when using this ingredient.

Learn more about Propylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning

Panthenol is a common ingredient that helps hydrate and soothe the skin. It is found naturally in our skin and hair.

There are two forms of panthenol: D and L.

D-panthenol is also known as dexpanthenol. Most cosmetics use dexpanthenol or a mixture of D and L-panthenol.

Panthenol is famous due to its ability to go deeper into the skin's layers. Using this ingredient has numerous pros (and no cons):

Like hyaluronic acid, panthenol is a humectant. Humectants are able to bind and hold large amounts of water to keep skin hydrated.

This ingredient works well for wound healing. It works by increasing tissue in the wound and helps close open wounds.

Once oxidized, panthenol converts to pantothenic acid. Panthothenic acid is found in all living cells.

This ingredient is also referred to as pro-vitamin B5.

Learn more about Panthenol
Humectant, Skin Conditioning

Sodium Hyaluronate is hyaluronic acid's salt form. It is commonly derived from the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid.

Like hyaluronic acid, it is great at holding water and acts as a humectant. This makes it a great skin hydrating ingredient.

Sodium Hyaluronate is naturally occurring in our bodies and is mostly found in eye fluid and joints.

These are some other common types of Hyaluronic Acid:

Learn more about Sodium Hyaluronate
Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Soothing

Allantoin plays a role in soothing and moisturizing the skin. Because of this, it is often added to products with strong active ingredients.

Some studies have shown this ingredient can promote wound healing with higher concentrations.

Allantoin is derived from the comfrey plant but produced synthetically for cosmetic products to ensure purity.

Learn more about Allantoin
Buffering, Masking

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and even out skin tone.

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid
Buffering

Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.

In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.

Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.

"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.

Learn more about Sodium Hydroxide
Preservative

Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that has germicide, antimicrobial, and aromatic properties. Studies show that phenoxyethanol can prevent microbial growth. By itself, it has a scent that is similar to that of a rose.

It's often used in formulations along with Caprylyl Glycol to preserve the shelf life of products.

When to use

508 Routines
53% use in am
47% use in pm
96% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
47 Routines
55% use in am
45% use in pm
98% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

SebaMed Clear Face Care Gel 12 ingredients

4.0 /5
from 22 ratings
No Scent (14) Light (11) Works Well (10)
BubbIes's avatar

BubbIes

1 year ago
Review

It’s official, after weeks of testing this out on my insanely sensitive and acne prone skin this has become my holy grail. Not a single moisturizer has worked for me except for this one, not even the Avene sensitive fluide. The ingredients are few, simple, and noncomedogenic. As someone who can’t tolerate occlusives of any kind, this is my saving grace. After a few uses this alleviates dryness.

#hydrating
#light
#absorbs well
#no scent
Elapidae's avatar

Ela

4 months ago
Review

I ❤️ it! It helps my skin and does not irritate! No break outs, no risks. Not enough moisture for dry skin though. Maybe add some Squalane oil to it.

#light
#absorbs well
#sticky
#no scent

SebaMed Clear Face Mattifying Cream 21 ingredients

3.0 /5
from 2 ratings
Absorbs Well (1) Great Value (1) Hydrating (1)
erika.'s avatar

erika 𖡼.𖤣𖥧.

5 months ago
Review

I was looking for a moisturizer that still has that moisturizing consistency BUT doesnt break me out. And honestly this is IT!!! I really liked the korean ones that would have that gel like texture (+ fungal acne safe, non comedogenic) but honestly I am focussing on healing my skin barrier and they were not enough for that. BUT THIS ONE!!! Oh my god I love this moisturizer so so so much. It costs Show more

#great value
#hydrating
#light
#absorbs well
leaxsta's avatar

Lea Kristin

2 months ago
Review

I have been using the Sebamed Mattifying Cream on- and off for 5 months now.
👉🏻 Pros:
✔️ non-comedogenic
✔️ fungal acne-safe
✔️ affordable
✔️ available at drugstores in Germany—no need to purchase it online
👉🏻 Cons:
❌contains citric acid, an ingredient that irritates my skin. I always got red after applying it on my face (see photo).
❌ using niacinamide twice a day might not be ideal — I Show more

#irritating