Avène Milk Cleanser for skin with dark spots
Avene Thermal Spring Water Avene Aqua
Glycerin
Dicaprylyl Carbonate
Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate
Glycine Soja Oil Soybean Oil
Average
- AverageNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for skin with dark spots; other cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dark spots: hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. 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 normal skin as glycerin provides humectant action, though it lacks sufficient occlusive ingredients like hydrogenated oil for optimal barrier support.
- The cleansing action is effective due to dicaprylyl carbonate and glycerin, which remove impurities while moisturizing, but it does not address your main goal of pigmentation.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your normal skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- You can use this cleanser AM and PM every single day. Start slowly 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply this cleanser as the first step in your morning routine or the second step in your evening routine. Follow it with toner and moisturizer.
- Massage a small amount of cleanser gently onto your face using circular motions. Rinse well with lukewarm water and pat dry.
- For the best results, apply your cleanser directly to wet skin to help wash away dirt. Make sure your face is clean before you begin.
- Avoid getting the cleanser in your eyes. Always do a quick patch test before using the product for the very first time.
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 skin with dark spots?
Avène Milk Cleanser works adequately for skin with dark spots by removing impurities while moisturizing, but it does not address pigmentation. A cleanser of this type needs soothing and hydrating ingredients that support skin brightening while keeping the skin soft and calm.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for skin with dark spots?
This cleanser is an average fit for skin with dark spots because it washes and moisturizes well with glycerin and dicaprylyl carbonate, but it does not address pigmentation. A cleanser for this skin needs soothing and hydrating ingredients that also help fade dark spots.
What does Avene Thermal Spring Water do for skin with dark spots?
Avene Thermal Spring Water is unlikely to directly reduce dark spots, as it is primarily used to calm irritation and soothe sensitive skin. Products intended for this skin type typically need brightening ingredients like vitamin C or gentle exfoliants to help fade dark spots and make skin tone more even.
What does Glycerin do for skin with dark spots?
Glycerin helps keep dry skin hydrated and supports a healthy skin barrier, which makes skin feel soft and smooth. While it does not directly fade dark spots on its own, it is often added to spot-fading products to keep the skin comfortable while other ingredients work.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Acta Dermato-venereologica, 2017
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This cleanser fits into your morning routine before a hydrating toner, moisturizer, and SPF, and into your evening routine after makeup removal and before a cleansing toner, treatment, and moisturizer. Because this product does not address pigmentation, skin with dark spots needs a dedicated brightening treatment or serum containing active ingredients to help fade dark spots.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine before applying retinol, as it gently removes impurities while keeping your skin calm and comfortable. Using a gentle cleanser like this helps prep your skin safely without adding extra irritation when you use stronger treatments.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. It cleans gently without causing irritation, though skin with dark spots needs brightening ingredients and targeted treatments to address pigmentation.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
This cleanser is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on skin with dark spots because it has an excellent safety profile and contains no harsh or prohibited ingredients that trigger irritation. However, since it does not target dark spots, this skin needs products with brightening ingredients.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can use this cleanser on your body and around your eyes, as the thin skin there tolerates its very safe formula well. It is unlikely to cause irritation, though cleansers of this type need brightening ingredients like vitamin C or niacinamide to help fade dark spots.
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 skin with dark spots better
Transgenic cucumber expressing poly-γ-glutamic acid synthesis genes increased water content by 6-14%, reduced water loss by 11-12%, decreased facial wrinkles and roughness by 19.58% and 24.97%, decreased skin melanin by 5.27%, and improved facial elasticity in human skin and zebrafish compared to controls.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024
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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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
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Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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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
How does it fit your skin?
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