🇨🇦Canada

Avène Cleanance for sensitive skin

Avène Cleanance

Average

  • HighNormal Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for sensitive skin; other sunscreens fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.

Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works

Lovi Assistant explains

  • Offers moderate protection against UV damage due to butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane and bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine, which are beneficial for normal skin with sensitivity. Tocopheryl glucoside and zinc gluconate provide antioxidant and seboregulating benefits, supporting overall skin balance.
  • The formula is generally safe for your normal skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
  • While it offers general hydration and soothing benefits that can support redness and irritation, its primary function is UV protection, not targeted treatment for these specific concerns.

How to apply

  • Apply this sunscreen during your AM routine every morning. Reapply every two hours if you are staying outdoors under direct sunlight.
  • Order in routine: apply the sunscreen as the final step after your moisturizer and before applying makeup.
  • Application method: gently press a nickel-sized amount over your face and neck without harsh rubbing.
  • Skin condition guidance: apply the sunscreen directly onto dry skin for even coverage and reliable sun protection.
  • Safety note: avoid direct contact with your eyes and do a patch test before first use to check for sensitivity.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 1000+ reviews

Users with oily, acne-prone, and sensitive skin highly recommend this cleanser for its deep yet gentle cleansing action, effectively managing excess oil and preventing breakouts without stripping moisture. While most users appreciate the fresh, matte, and soothed complexion it provides, a moderate number of reviews mention a strong fragrance, and a few users with drier or very sensitive skin experienced some dryness or irritation.

Highlights

  • Gentle and non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
    • “leaves face clean but not dry”
    • “doesn't strip moisture”
    • “gentle on sensitive skin”
    • “no tight feeling”
  • Effective oil control Often Mentioned
    • “keeps skin matte”
    • “reduces excess sebum”
    • “controls oil well”
    • “less greasy throughout the day”
  • Helps clear acne Sometimes Noted
    • “keeps breakouts at bay”
    • “cleared up my acne”
    • “reduces blackheads”
    • “prevents new spots”
  • Pleasant texture and lather Sometimes Noted
    • “lathers really well”
    • “light blue gel feels nice”
    • “little goes a long way”
    • “foams up easily”
  • Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
    • “smell is too strong”
    • “heavily fragranced”
    • “artificial scent”
    • “wish it was unscented”
  • Can be drying Rarely Noted
    • “dried out my skin”
    • “left face feeling tight”
    • “caused peeling”
    • “too harsh for dry areas”
  • Caused irritation Rarely Noted
    • “burned my skin”
    • “caused redness”
    • “broke me out”
    • “irritated my eyes”
  • Price point Rarely Noted
    • “a bit pricey”
    • “expensive for a face wash”
    • “pricier than standard cleansers”
    • “cost is high”

Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, boots.com, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, aveneusa.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Avène Cleanance work for sensitive skin?

Avène Cleanance works reasonably well for sensitive skin, offering moderate sun protection and gentle ingredients that help keep skin balanced without causing irritation. However, because it is mainly a sunscreen rather than a targeted treatment, sensitive skin often needs a product specifically formulated with extra soothing properties and high-quality calming ingredients to truly manage redness and irritation.

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1987International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2021

Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for sensitive skin?

This cream contains tocopheryl glucoside and zinc gluconate, which provide antioxidant benefits and support overall skin balance. To be a better fit for sensitive skin, a product of this type needs soothing properties and high-quality ingredients that actively calm redness and irritation without any risk of irritation.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2021

What does Avobenzone do for sensitive skin?

Avobenzone provides protection against UVA rays for sensitive skin. It is unlikely to cause skin irritation or allergic reactions in everyday use, though its breakdown under the sun may sometimes require careful formulation to keep the skin calm.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine, 2014

What does Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine do for sensitive skin?

Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine helps protect sensitive skin by absorbing UV rays efficiently and maintaining stability under the sun. It is unlikely to break down quickly, which helps keep the skin safe from UV damage.

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2026

Where does it go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?

This product goes in the morning routine as a moisturizing sunscreen after your toner. To better fit sensitive skin, a product of this type needs extra soothing plant extracts and gentle hydrating ingredients that calm redness and irritation.

Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?

This cream works in the morning alongside a retinol routine used at night. Because it is an SPF, apply it as the final step of your morning skincare routine after your other products.

How often should I use it?

You can use this sunscreen every morning as part of your daily routine to help protect your sensitive skin from UV damage. An effective product for this skin type also needs soothing ingredients and gentle hydration that actively calm redness and irritation.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2021

Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?

This product is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for sensitive skin because it lacks harsh ingredients that could cause irritation. However, since it is a sunscreen meant for UV protection rather than a targeted treatment, sensitive skin dealing with breakouts or redness needs formulas with soothing ingredients and lightweight hydrators to properly calm and balance the skin.

Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).

What the research says

  • Parsol 1789 and Eusolex 8020 provided slightly better photoprotection than oxybenzone in both normal and sensitized human skin when assessed using pigmentation end points, whereas all three sunscreens performed similarly against UVA-induced erythema.

    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1987
  • Combining oxothiazolidine and delta-tocopheryl glucoside in a sunscreen formulation provides complementary immediate and 24-hour prolonged sunlight protection against oxidative stress markers in a reconstructed human epidermis model compared to individual antioxidants.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2021
  • Incorporation of avobenzone and oxybenzone into ordered mesoporous silica SBA-15 significantly reduced their cutaneous penetration and transdermal permeation in porcine skin compared to free filters, while enhancing the sun protection factor by 94%.

    International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2019
  • Encapsulating avobenzone in low-porosity TiO2-embedded mesoporous silica (TiO2/SBA-S) reduced cutaneous avobenzone absorption from 0.76 to 0.50 nmol/mg while providing effective pollutant adsorbability, UVA protection, and a two- to three-fold reduction in photoaged skin cytokines/chemokines compared to the non-treatment control.

    European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2023
  • Encapsulation of ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane in lipid microparticles significantly reduced their in vivo human skin penetration compared to nonencapsulated filters.

    Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2011
  • Microencapsulation of the BMDBM/HP-beta-CD complex in lipid microparticles significantly decreased the percutaneous penetration of the UV filter into the stratum corneum of human volunteers compared to the non-encapsulated sunscreen agent.

    Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 2011
  • Following human skin application of an O/W emulsion containing 2% BMDBM loaded in lipospheres, 15% of the sunscreen accumulated in the uppermost layers of the stratum corneum without remarkably modifying skin permeation compared to unencapsulated sunscreen.

    Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2008
  • Maximal topical applications of 6% bemotrizinol in a model sunscreen formulation did not result in meaningful systemic exposure in humans.

    Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 2023
  • A dermocosmetic cream containing Punica granatum Pericarp extract, Salicylic acid, Niacinamide, Zinc gluconate, and Aqua Posae Filiformis significantly decreased inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesion counts in subjects with mild to moderate acne compared to untreated hemi-faces after 15 days.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
  • Daily use of a deep cleansing gel containing salicylic acid 2%, zinc gluconate 0.2% and lipohydroxy acid 0.05% significantly reduced total lesion count by 56.3% after 84 days in 35 subjects with mild to moderate truncal acne.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023
  • Different strains of Propionibacterium acnes modulate cutaneous innate immunity with varying pro-inflammatory potentials, with P. acnes type III showing the highest and P. avidum the weakest, and zinc gluconate down-regulates the expression of most induced immune markers.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2013
  • Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
  • Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.

    Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021
  • Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

Ingredients

Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Silica, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Benzoic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium Edta, Parfum, Glyceryl Laurate, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Zinc Gluconate

Behind this fit score

Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

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Prices checked 13 Oct – 3 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for Canada.

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