Avène Milk Cleanser for acne-prone skin
Avene Thermal Spring Water Avene Aqua
Glycerin
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
Glycine Soja Oil Soybean Oil
Average
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other cleansers 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 suitability for your combination skin as glycerin provides humectant action to hydrate, but it lacks sufficient ingredients for optimal oil control on your oily areas.
- The presence of tocopherol offers antioxidant support, which is beneficial for your acne and blemishes, though stronger actives would provide more targeted treatment.
- The formula is safe for your skin, with Avene Thermal Spring Water soothing potential and no harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it.
- This cleanser is the first step in your morning routine and the second step after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Always follow up with a toner and moisturizer .
- Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face in circular motions. Avoid harsh rubbing to keep your skin calm.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help it work effectively against breakouts. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water .
- Avoid the immediate eye area and do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 500+ reviewsMany users report that it leaves their skin feeling soft and supple. Some users express dissatisfaction with a recent formula change and find the fragrance to be strong. Its effectiveness for removing heavy makeup is also a point of concern for some.
Highlights
Gentle on skin Mostly Mentioned
- “Perfect cleanser for sensitive skin.”
- “So gentle and non-drying on my senior skin.”
- “Works great on my sensitive skin.”
Hydrating and soothing Often Mentioned
- “Leaves my skin feeling soft and hydrated.”
- “So hydrating and soothing.”
- “Leaves skin feeling soft, smooth and supple.”
Strong fragrance Often Mentioned
- “The fragrance is very present.”
- “Fragrance is so very strong.”
- “Fragrance is too overpowering and ends up burning my cheeks.”
Effective makeup removal Sometimes Noted
- “Remove a all of the makeup with ease.”
- “Cleans eyes and skin well.”
- “Removes dirt and make-up, and rinses off.”
Formula change Sometimes Noted
- “They have changed the formula recently, and it... is not as good.”
- “New formula is not good.”
- “Not the same formula.”
Poor makeup removal Sometimes Noted
- “It absolutely couldn't remove anything on its own.”
- “You need to cleanse two or three times.”
- “Unsuitable for makeup removal.”
Sources: lovi.care, aveneusa.com, lovelyskin.com, walmart.com, dermstore.com, hwahae.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Avène Milk Cleanser work for acne-prone skin?
Avène Milk Cleanser works okay for your acne-prone skin, though other products fit it better. It helps calm your skin and hydrate it, but lacks strong ingredients for oil control on oily areas and targeted acne treatment. A product of this type needs strong soothing ingredients, gentle cleansers that prevent over-drying, and balanced hydrating agents to properly manage oil and breakouts.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Glycerin and tocopherol help hydrate and calm acne-prone skin, while thermal spring water soothes it safely. A cleanser for this skin needs gentle cleansing agents, soothing extracts, and hydrating ingredients that balance oil and moisture without irritation.
What does Avene Thermal Spring Water do for acne-prone skin?
Avène Thermal Spring Water helps calm acne-prone skin by reducing stinging, pain, and redness. It also helps keep skin hydrated while supporting overall comfort during acne routines.
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 cleanser go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser fits into your morning routine and your evening routine as the first or second cleansing step. It works for this skin, though acne-prone skin needs a cleanser that also provides oil-controlling ingredients for oily areas and stronger blemish-fighting actives.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying it before your retinol step to gently clean your skin without harshness. A cleanser for this skin also needs ingredients for oil control to better manage breakouts.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day in your morning and evening routines. It is generally safe for your skin with soothing thermal spring water, but because it works for your acne-prone skin only to an average degree, this skin type needs stronger targeted ingredients for oil control and blemishes.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is safe and unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your acne-prone skin. It soothes your skin and keeps it calm, but this type of skin needs stronger ingredients for proper oil control and targeted blemish treatment.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body and around the eyes, as its gentle formula is safe and unlikely to cause irritation.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum). Behenyl 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, 2017Balneotherapy 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, 2023Malaysian 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, 2024A 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, 2025The 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, 2012
Why other cleansers fit acne-prone skin better
Topical 5% tea tree oil gel significantly improved total acne lesions and acne severity index compared to placebo in 60 patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris, showing 3.55 times and 5.75 times greater efficacy respectively.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Co-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, 2023
Ingredients
Avene Thermal Spring Water Avene Aqua Avene Aqua, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, C14-22 Alcohols, Behenyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Oil, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Citric Acid, Parfum, Glyceryl Caprylate, Glycine Soja Oil Soybean Oil, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol, 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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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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