Your Questions Answered

Our skin can be assigned a pH value because the hydrolipid film on the skin’s surface contains water. It was discovered about a hundred years ago that the skin is slightly acidic. Modern measuring techniques produced an average pH value of 5.5, which is due to natural acidic substances in sweat, sebum and horny cells. The significance of the acidic nature of the skin’s surface is demonstrated in the “acid mantle." Its job: to repel harmful microorganisms and negative environmental influences and, in doing so, protect the skin from infections, irritation, allergies and drying out. An intact acid mantle also functions as a natural deodorant, because it minimizes the bacterial breakdown of sweat which causes body odor. It is therefore vital that you don’t do anything that could damage your acid mantle. You should for example, avoid cleansing your body with “normal” soap, because the soapy water will have a pH value of 8 to 12 and will destroy the acid mantle. Washing with “pH neutral” products, whose pH values of 7 differ considerably from the skin’s of 5.5, can harm the acid mantle as well.

Sebamed is a so-called Syndet, which is a combined word of "synthetic detergent." The main difference from a normal soap is the pH value of 5.5 in our products. A normal soap is made using fatty acids that are formulated with mostly caustic soda. The result is a soap with a pH value high in alkaline. However, this is not conducive to our skin's acid mantle and therefore disturbs it so it cannot perform its job to protect the skin from harmful environmental influences. Some of the cleansing agents in Sebamed are naturally derived, like Cocamidopropyl Betain, Sugar Tenside and Amino Acid Tenside. Others are synthetic, like Sodium Laureth Sulfate (not to be confused with Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, which is not recommended). Sebamed is very mild and moisturizing. Our products don't interact with skin proteins and structure, or disrupt the protective lipid layer of the skin like traditional soaps. Sebamed rinses off clean and does not leave behind a film or residue.

All skin types benefit from Sebamed! From oily, dry and combination to sensitive, normal and problematic skin, Sebamed’s ultra-gentle formula is safe and effective. Every line is adjusted to specific skincare needs, and with the help of its pH 5.5 formulation, Sebamed helps to improve the skin's natural barrier.

We never give medical, skin-related advice, as we are not doctors. If you have extreme allergies, you should be in consultation with a licensed dermatologist. The fact is that we cannot say for sure how people will react to our products, although the likelihood of a negative allergic reaction is very small. However, we recommend sensitive users take the product home and try it in the following way: apply a small amount of the product to the inner side of the elbow for five consecutive days with careful observation for one week. If no reaction occurs during this time, problems with regular use are highly improbable. By using this method, you can also test two products at a time (one on each arm).

We do not conduct any animal experiments in the manufacturing of Sebamed products. This corresponds to the ban on animal testing, which has been used across the EU for cosmetics for a few years. Even before the ban, Sebamed products were not tested on animals.

Yes! You earn loyalty credit with every order you place. Loyalty credit is equal to 5% of the value of your order, excluding shipping charges. Loyalty credit is applied toward your next order after your current order has shipped. Loyalty credit is valid for up to 60 days from the date your order is shipped.

Sebamed’s Moisturizing Face Cream has a 2.3% Vitamin E concentration, creating a much stronger antioxidant effect than competitor brands. Other products that are advertised for sensitive skin may help soothe skin conditions like eczema, but they may not support the skin’s natural barrier like Sebamed does. In addition, our Moisturizing Face Cream has a significantly better value than many other products and is much more economical. Our cream comes in a 2.6 oz. jar, while many face creams are an average of 1.7 oz. in size. You also only need a small, pea-sized portion of our Moisturizing Face Cream per use whereas many competitors’ creams require a larger portion to cover the face.

Our ingredients are ultra mild and gentle, so most of our customers make the switch easily! If you are unsure if Sebamed suits your skin, we recommend conducting a patch test on your forearm as described in the next Question.

Yes! We offer subscriptions for all of our items. Customers will receive a discount on all subscription orders and have the ability to adjust their auto shipments to 30, 60, 90 or 180 days.

When combined with water, soap forms an alkaline solution with a pH value between 8 and 12. While the pH value of 7 marks the neutral point, the skin’s surface is naturally acidic and has a pH of 5.5, and so when an alkaline soap is used to wash the skin, it destroys the skin’s acid mantle. The acid mantle does regenerate itself within a few hours, but in the meantime the skin’s natural defense against pathogens, irritants, and dehydration is reduced. The chances of skin problems developing are also heightened, because soap makes the skin swell up. At first, your skin will feel soft and smooth when this happens, but the swelling will then encourage the penetration of harmful environmental influences and cause the skin to lose more moisture. As soap reacts with lime in hard water, which reduces its effectiveness, rather a lot is required to cleanse the skin properly when washing with it. The large volume of the alkaline solution is of course very unkind to the skin. Soap-free cleansers with a pH value of 5.5 do not cause the skin to swell up and preserve its natural acid mantle. They are therefore far more compatible with sensitive skin than soap.

Sebamed does sell items that contain SPF internationally, but those items are not available to the U.S. market at this time.

There is no product that can reverse aging. But Sebamed has a very popular range of Age Defense products with Q10. The products in this line are formulated with the coenzyme Q10, helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in just 28 days. Yet, using mild cleansers over time can also decrease damage and sustain healthy skin– even if they don’t contain Q10. Many Sebamed creams also have Vitamin E with antioxidant properties that fight those wrinkle-causing free radicals.

Coenzyme Q10 occurs naturally in the human body. It has antioxidant properties and is vital in slowing down the aging process. Basically, as we age, so does our natural production of Q10. Prior to using Q10 creams/lotions, we recommend using a mild cleanser such as our Liquid Face & Body Wash.

Yes, most of them. However, our fragrance-containing products are free of the known allergens in most scents. It’s worth noting that most other products claiming to be “fragrance-free” actually have fragrance or fragrance blockers so they are advertised as fragrance-free. Sebamed has a mild, pleasant, hypoallergenic scent. We do have a Fragrance Free line, which doesn’t contain any scents. Items included in this collection are the Fragrance Free Gentle Hydrating Cleanser, Fragrance Free Gentle Hydrating Lotion, and Fragrance Free Hydrating Facial Cream.

Sebamed’s philosophy is to use the best ingredients for skin, independent of origin. Sometimes natural ingredients are better. Sometimes synthetic ingredients are better. It largely depends on the individuals and which kinds of ingredients they prefer.

Color additives in skincare products rarely cause allergies. Color additives are contained in the Sebamed Cleansing Bar, Liquid Face & Body Wash, Spa Shower, and Clear Face Deep Cleansing Toner. Sebamed shampoos, creams and lotions DO NOT have color additives.

The following products contain plant extracts and, therefore, have about 1% alcohol: Bubble Bath, Children’s Shampoo, Body Lotion, and Cream Extra Soft. A solvent (e.g. – alcohol) is necessary to get the active substances from plants like chamomile. The chance of absorption, however, is extremely low because it’s so heavily diluted with water. In fact, 99% of the alcohol that is present in our products evaporates from the skin’s surface without ever being absorbed. In addition, the risk of dehydration and irritation because of alcohol was shown to be zero in clinical tests. Instead, the products revealed positive effects on the skin. Our Baby line has been thoroughly tested by clinical dermatologists and pediatricians and used by customers worldwide for many years. There has never been any indication of adverse, alcohol-related side effects.

Although they’re both wash-active substances with common chemical structures, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) affect the skin completely differently. SLS has a much higher irritancy rate than SLES. In fact, SLS is used as a standard irritant in dermatological patch testing. The CIR Review states that, if a formulation contains SLES as a whole, it should be a non-irritant. Sebamed products have been proven to be non-irritating via SLES in vitro and in vivo tests. We don’t use SLS in any Sebamed product.

According to the German Association of Patients with Celiac Disease - in the most severe form of gluten intolerance - only the ingestion of products with gluten causes problems. Sebamed products are usually not ingested. Some products contain sources that have gluten, e.g. wheat starch. Only the following Sebamed products are not free of gluten: Includes Triticum vulgare starch: • Sebamed Cleansing Bar  • Baby Sebamed Cleansing Bar • Sebamed Clear Face Cleansing Bar • Sebamed Clear Face Gentle Scrub With Triticum vulgare bran extract: Spent Grain Wax: • Anti-Aging Lotion  • Sebamed Conditioner • Baby Sebamed Cleansing Wipes

Maybe that lotion didn’t exactly jive with your skin type. Or maybe you just changed your mind. We want you to love everything you purchase from Sebamed, but we understand that returns sometimes happen. All Sebamed products are satisfaction guaranteed. Please check out our policy below before requesting any returns or exchanges. * All returns and exchanges must be made within 30 days of purchase and require a Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA). Contact us at [email protected] to get one. * All authorized exchanges can be exchanged for products of equal or lesser value. * Authorized returns may be sent back for a full refund to the original form of payment (refunds generally take 5-7 business days to appear on your statement). Once we receive your return, we will process your refund within 2 business days. * Customers are responsible for any shipping costs on all returns/exchanges, unless due to an order error from Sebamed USA.

Sebamed USA only ships inside the U.S.

All orders over $75 ship for free! For all other orders, the shipping costs are a flat rate of $5.95.