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Neutrogena vs Avène

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

Neutrogena and Avène are well-regarded skincare brands that offer a variety of gentle cleansers, protective sunscreens, and nourishing moisturizers. The American brand is thoughtfully loved for formulations featuring glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and dimethicone, which suit sensitive skin and acne-prone skin best. Meanwhile, the French brand relies on science-backed formulations including hydrating glycerin to ensure a calm complexion for oily acne-prone skin and acne-prone skin. While both companies prioritize delicate cutaneous barriers, they differ in their foundational ingredients and regional heritage.

Neutrogena is an American skincare brand founded in 1930 and owned by Kimberly-Clark Corporation since 2026.

investor.kimberly-clark.comen.wikipedia.orginvestors.kenvue.com

Avène is a French skincare brand founded in 1990 and owned by Fondation Pierre Fabre.

pierre-fabre.comavene.co.ukaveneusa.com

This page compares some of the most popular Neutrogena and Avène products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Neutrogena vs Avène products

People Say

NeutrogenaAvène
  • Acne-safe and gentle on sensitive skin Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “leaves skin soft and balanced — Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser”
    • “love that it has no scent — Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser”
    • “leaves face clean but not dry — Avène Cleanance”
    • “Perfect cleanser for sensitive skin. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
  • Deep hydration and moisture Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Skin looked plumper and radiant — Neutrogena HYDRO BOOST WATER CREAM”
    • “It also hydrates my skin. This cream has been so easy to add to my routine. — Neutrogena Retinol Regenerating Cream”
    • “Quenches dry skin instantly — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Hydrogel Mask”
    • “Restores moisture barrier — Avène Cold Cream”
  • Lightweight and non-greasy texture Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Absorbs instantly without sticky residue — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel”
    • “absorbs instantly — Neutrogena COLLAGEN BANK Moisturizer”
    • “Absorbs into skin without residue. — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
    • “absorbs very quickly — Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum”
  • Improves texture and anti-aging Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Skin is looking smoother — Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream”
    • “Deep lines have softened — Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream”
    • “I've noticed a definite improvement in the fine lines around my eyes — Avène RetrinAL EYES”
    • “skin feels smoother — Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum”
  • Fast absorption Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Absorbs quickly — Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream”
    • “Absorbs really well into my skin without leaving a greasy residue behind. — Neutrogena Retinol Regenerating Cream”
    • “Applies easily and quickly absorbs. — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Serum”
    • “Absorbs into skin without residue. — Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm”
  • Makeup compatibility and base Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “Foundation glides right over it — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel”
    • “Concealer doesn't cake or get stuck in crevices — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Eye Gel-Cream”
    • “Works well under makeup — Neutrogena HYDRO BOOST WATER CREAM”
    • “Remove a all of the makeup with ease. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
  • Strong fragrance and scent issues Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Smell is too overpowering and lingering — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel”
    • “Scent is so off-putting — Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Regenerating Cream”
    • “The fragrance is very present. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
    • “smell is too strong — Avène Cleanance”
  • Price and quantity value Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “Its a bit pricey but so worth it!! — Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm”
    • “a bit pricey — Avène Cleanance”
    • “small tube — Avène Antirougeurs Fort Relief Concentrate”
    • “Jar is too small for the price — Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel”
  • Skin irritation and reactions Sometimes NotedRarely Noted
    • “burned my skin — Avène Cleanance”
    • “caused burning sensation — Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum”
    • “caused rash — Avène Antirougeurs Fort Relief Concentrate”
    • “Made my face very red — Neutrogena HYDRO BOOST WATER CREAM”

Neutrogena vs Avène routines for dry skin

Buy Avène routine · $207.69 · 76% fitBuy Neutrogena routine · $121.45 · 75% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Neutrogena vs Avène routines for oily skin

Buy Avène routine · $377.02 · 85% fitBuy Neutrogena routine · $263.48 · 74% fitSee multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Neutrogena vs Avène routines for combination skin

Buy Avène routine · $358.50 · 88% fitBuy Neutrogena routine · $243.38 · 77% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Questions and answers

Neutrogena or Avène: which is better?

Neutrogena and Avène both provide a high routine fit for most skin types, but Neutrogena stands out for deeper hydration, faster absorption, and lightweight textures across the products on this page.

What is the difference between Neutrogena and Avène?

Neutrogena has an Average fit for oily skin and a High fit for oily acne-prone skin, whereas Avène has a High fit for oily skin and a Superior fit for oily acne-prone skin. Neutrogena offers better deep hydration and faster absorption across the products on this page, while Avène is less prone to pricing concerns.

Neutrogena or Avène for dry skin?

Both Neutrogena and Avène reach a High routine fit level for dry skin. The products on this page for Neutrogena feature hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, while Avène relies on thermal water.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Neutrogena or Avène: which cleanser is better?

Neutrogena offers a wider variety of cleansers on the products on this page, achieving a High fit level for most skin types, while Avène is well-suited for oily acne-prone skin with products like Cleanance Cleansing Gel.

Which is more affordable, Neutrogena or Avène?

Avène does better on price and quantity value compared to Neutrogena according to the reviewer feedback on this page.

Between Neutrogena and Avène, which brand offers better options for oily acne-prone skin routines?

Avène offers better options for oily acne-prone skin routines, achieving a Superior fit level compared to Neutrogena's High fit level.

How do the fragrance options and ratios compare between Neutrogena and Avène product lines?

Neutrogena offers far more fragrance-free choices than Avène on the products on this page, with thirty-five out of thirty-nine products listing no fragrance compared to only seven of fifteen for Avène. This means Neutrogena's line is much less likely to expose users to added scents.

Which brand has more products listed on the page containing key anti-aging ingredients like Retinol and Vitamin C?

Neutrogena has more products on this page containing key anti-aging ingredients like retinol and vitamin C. Retinol helps stimulate collagen accumulation in naturally aged skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

Neutrogena or Avène for oily skin?

Avene is a better fit for oily skin, offering a Superior routine level compared to Neutrogena's Average level. Avene's line features dedicated options like Cleanance sunscreen that help control oil while remaining gentle on the skin.

Neutrogena or Avène: which moisturizer is better?

Neutrogena has a High routine fit for dry skin with deeply hydrating options, while Avène also has a High routine fit for dry skin alongside its Superior fit for oily acne-prone skin. Both brands offer moisturizers that help soothe irritation and provide moisture, though Neutrogena is noted more often for deep hydration.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Neutrogena or Avène for sensitive skin?

Both Neutrogena and Avène achieve a High routine fit for sensitive skin on this page. Reviewers note that both brands offer gentle options that soothe irritation.

Neutrogena or Avène: which sunscreen is better?

Neutrogena offers a wider variety of sunscreens on this page with High to Superior fit levels for most skin types, while Avène has fewer options. The products on this page from both brands include targeted sun protection, but Neutrogena helps deliver more lightweight choices according to reviewers.

Neutrogena or Avène for acne-prone skin?

Both Neutrogena and Avène offer a High routine fit for acne-prone skin, so either brand helps depending on your product preference. Neutrogena features a broader selection of oil-free and salicylic acid options on this page, while Avène provides gentle, soothing care.

Research behind their key ingredients

Behind this comparison

Lovi compares products by their fit scores, calculated 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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

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