Avène Hydrance Rich Hydrating Cream for acne-prone skin
Avène Thermal Spring Water
Glycerin
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil
Dimethicone
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 hydration for your combination skin, as glycerin and shea butter provide excellent moisturizing and barrier support, though it lacks specialized ingredients to directly target acne and blemishes.
- The formula is generally safe for your combination skin, with no harsh ingredients that would cause irritation.
- While beneficial for general skin hydration, the product does not offer targeted solutions for your primary concerns of acne and breakouts.
How to apply
- Use your moisturizer twice a day in your AM and PM routines. Apply it daily to help keep breakouts under control.
- Apply after your cleanser and toner, and make sure to use your SPF right after in the morning.
- Gently spread a small amount of moisturizer over your face using soft motions. Let it absorb into the skin for a minute before getting dressed or applying makeup.
- Apply on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture. This keeps your combination skin balanced without feeling heavy.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use. Stop using if you feel any irritation.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 1.5k+ reviewsUsers frequently report deep moisturization that alleviates tightness and flakiness, leaving skin soft and comfortable without a greasy feel. Some users note a strong fragrance that can be irritating, and a low number of reviews mention the cream being too heavy or causing mild irritation.
Highlights
Deeply hydrating Mostly Mentioned
- “It is rich, ultra hydrating, thick and goes on smoothly.”
- “It intensely hydrates, but does not feel or look greasy at all.”
- “My skin stay much more hydrated.”
- “Provides deep, long-lasting hydration for dry and dehydrated skin.”
Soothes sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “I have skin allergies and this stuff has been great.”
- “Putting this on my face was nothing but comfort.”
Non-greasy texture Sometimes Noted
- “Feels rich and moisturising but not sticky or heavy.”
- “Absorbs quickly... does not feel or look greasy at all.”
- “Absorbs beautifully without greasy residue.”
- “Very hydrating but breathable.”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “I absolutely detest the signature scent of AVENE.”
- “It is strong, it lingers and frequently can be irritating.”
- “Don't remember it having such a strong fragrance.”
- “The smell reminds me very much of an older persons cream smell.”
Can cause irritation Rarely Noted
- “It does make my skin a tiny bit irritated.”
- “The first week I felt my skin really sore.”
- “Frequently can be irritating... why use a horrible fragrance?”
Too heavy Rarely Noted
- “This is too rich for me now that my skin is back to normal.”
- “I would not recommend this for oily skin.”
- “Avoid over-application to prevent a greasy feel.”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, dermstore.com, adorebeauty.com.au, cocooncenter.co.uk, ozhairandbeauty.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Avène Hydrance Rich work for acne-prone skin?
Avène Hydrance Rich works moderately well for acne-prone skin, providing good hydration and barrier support with glycerin and shea butter, but it lacks targeted ingredients to directly address breakouts. To truly thrive, acne-prone skin needs a product with effective blemish-fighting ingredients and soothing extracts that calm irritation while maintaining hydration.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Glycerin and shea butter help make this cream a good fit by providing moisture and barrier support, though it lacks specialized ingredients to directly target acne and blemishes. To work well for acne-prone skin, a moisturizer of this type needs effective ingredients that target acne and blemishes, soothing extracts, and peptides.
What does Avène Thermal Spring Water do for acne-prone skin?
Avène Thermal Spring Water helps calm acne-prone skin by reducing dryness, stinging, pain, and itching when used alongside your regular acne treatments. It improves overall skin comfort and tolerability while keeping your face feeling soft and smooth.
The Medical Journal of Malaysia, 2024Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2007
What does Glycerin do for acne-prone skin?
Glycerin helps keep acne-prone skin hydrated and calm without clogging pores or feeling heavy. It supports the skin barrier so it stays soft and smooth while handling everyday treatments.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer goes near the end of your morning and evening routines, right before sunscreen in the morning and after your treatment product at night. While it provides good moisture and barrier support with ingredients like glycerin and shea butter, acne-prone skin needs specialized ingredients to directly target breakouts and blemishes.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream alongside a retinol treatment by applying the cream after your treatment step to help keep your skin calm and moisturized. Using a moisturizer with active treatments is unlikely to cause irritation and may help support your skin barrier while managing breakouts.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2016
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizer twice a day, in the morning and evening, as part of your daily routine. Regular daily use helps keep your skin well hydrated and supports your skin barrier, though acne-prone skin also needs targeted ingredients to actively manage breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause purging since it does not contain exfoliating active ingredients, but it may feel a bit heavy and lead to breakouts for acne-prone skin because it lacks targeted blemish-fighting ingredients. Acne-prone skin needs lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers with blemish-clearing ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cream around your eyes and on your body, though it is primarily formulated for the face. Because the skin around the eyes is very thin, rich moisturizers with glycerin and shea butter help keep it soft and comfortable without irritation.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum). Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Malaysian thermal spring water as an adjunct to standard acne therapy improved skin hydration, reduced dryness and stinging, enhanced overall tolerability, and improved the acne disability index in patients with mild to moderate acne.
The Medical Journal of Malaysia, 2024Petrolatum-based skin protectants demonstrated protection against irritants and maceration while providing skin hydration, whereas dimethicone and zinc oxide products showed varying or limited performance across parameters among 18 healthy volunteers compared to positive and negative controls.
Ostomy/wound Management, 2005Balneotherapy with thermal water altered specific skin microbiota at genus and species levels in healthy female volunteers compared to tap water, which produced no significant microbiome changes.
Life, 2023A 2% Sphingomonas xenophaga ferment extract cream applied twice daily for 4 weeks significantly decreased facial vascular disorder scores compared to vehicle in 86 Caucasian female subjects, alongside dose-dependent inhibition of pre-kallikrein activity in vitro.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025A formulation containing vitamin C, biopeptides, hyaluronic acid, and mineralizing water accelerated cell turnover to 17.1 days versus 19.2 days for untreated skin, and reduced crow's-feet, forehead, and nasolabial folds by 9%, 11%, and 5% respectively after 28 days in female subjects.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2021The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025Safflower oil body-human epidermal growth factor microgel emulsions mixed with xanthan gum enhance transdermal absorption, regulate inflammation, accelerate angiogenesis, and promote re-epithelialization and remodeling in full-layer skin wounds in rats.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2022Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.
Military Medicine, 2024Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007
Why other moisturizers fit acne-prone skin better
Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A facial serum containing snail secretion filtrate, Calendula officinalis, and Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract significantly reduced inflammatory acne lesions compared to placebo in 66 participants with mild-to-moderate maskne over 12 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Ingredients
Avene Thermal Spring Water Avene Aqua Avene Aqua, Paraffinum Liquidum Mineral Oil, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate, Triethylhexanoin, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Cetearyl Glucoside, Benzoic Acid, Beta-Sitosterol, Bht, Disodium Edta, Parfum, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Isostearate, Water, Xanthan Gum
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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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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