Balea vs Dr. Barbara Sturm — side by side, no bias.
Our pick
Cleanser
8.3/10 · Dr. Barbara Sturm
| Soft & Clear Anti-Pickel Waschgel | Cleanser | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Balea | Dr. Barbara Sturm |
| Category | cleanser | cleanser |
| Editor Rating | 7.8/10 | 8.3/10 ★ |
| Category | cleanser | cleanser |
| Texture | Clear gel | Gentle milky gel |
| Finish | Fresh, matte | Clean, soft, calm |
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| Verdict | The €3 Balea acne-prone cleanser that every German teenager buys and no one else talks about. Salicylic at effective levels, niacinamide for the panic-pore-flare days. It's unglamorous and it works. | Dr. Barbara Sturm's daily cleanser — and the product that anchors her entire anti-inflammatory skincare philosophy. The formulation centers on purslane extract (Portulaca oleracea), Dr. Sturm's signature ingredient: a telomere-protecting, anti-inflammatory botanical that she identified during her orthopedic research into blood-based healing therapies. The coco-glucoside surfactant is one of the gentlest available — it cleans without disrupting the lipid barrier. Panthenol, urea, and betaine form a hydrating trio that actively replenishes moisture during the cleansing step rather than stripping it. At ~$80 for 150ml, it's luxury pricing for a cleanser — but Dr. Sturm's argument is that harsh cleansing is the first point of barrier destruction in most routines, and investing in gentle cleansing pays dividends across every subsequent step. The milky gel texture is satisfying: it spreads easily, emulsifies makeup and SPF, and rinses clean without residue. A genuinely well-formulated cleanser with a luxury tax. |
