🇩🇪Germany

Avène vs Simple

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

Avène and Simple are gentle skincare lines that offer soothing cleansers, protective sunscreens, makeup removers, toners, and moisturizers enriched with glycerin. Both brands suit oily, acne-prone, and combination skin best, while differing slightly in their specialized formulations. Avène centers its targeted serums and balms around glycerin to hydrate and restore barrier function, whereas Simple incorporates niacinamide alongside glycerin to reduce hyperpigmentation, improve aging signs, and maintain hydration. Readers weighing these options will find that the French line focuses on restorative recovery, while the British brand emphasizes refreshing cleansing and toning.

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

pierre-fabre.comavene.co.ukaveneusa.com

Simple is a British skincare brand founded in 1960 and owned by Unilever PLC since 2011.

en.wikipedia.orgsec.govprnewswire.comsimple.co.uk

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

Popular Avène vs Simple products

People Say

AvèneSimple
  • Soothes and calms sensitive skin Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “Does not cause any form of irritation on the skin which I love. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “The only cleanser that doesn't turn my face red. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “no artificial perfume — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “Calmed my angry red skin overnight — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
  • Rich texture and deep hydration Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “banished dryness within days — Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser”
    • “sinks in instantly — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
    • “Instantly boosts skin's hydration... face doesn't feel dry and tight. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Thick but absorbs well eventually — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
  • Improves overall skin texture and radiance Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “sinks in instantly — Simple Water Boost Hydrating Gel Cream”
    • “absorbs very quickly — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “love that it's alcohol-free — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
    • “immediate radiance boost — Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum”
  • Gentle and non-stripping cleansers Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Takes off any makeup residue and makes my face feel refreshed. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
    • “Best morning cleanser — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “Skin feels soft not dry — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “leaves face clean but not dry — Avène Cleanance”
  • Price point and value Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “great value for money — Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner”
    • “super affordable — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
    • “Can't beat the price for the quality. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “Bottle lasts for months — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
  • Repairs and protects skin barrier Often MentionedNot noted
    • “Saves my skin in winter — Avène Cold Cream”
    • “Healed my over-exfoliated skin in days — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
    • “This repairs my skin barrier without fail. — Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm”
  • Formula changes and product issues Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “bring it back — Avène Antirougeurs Fort Relief Concentrate”
    • “They have changed the formula recently, and it... is not as good. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
    • “It absolutely couldn't remove anything on its own. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
    • “Did not remove my mascara very well at all. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”
  • Causes breakouts and skin reactions Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Woke up with tiny whiteheads all over — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
    • “Caused small bumps/texture — Avène Soothing Radiance Mask”
    • “Gave me tiny bumps on my forehead. — Simple Micellar Water”
    • “caused major breakouts — Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser”
  • Thick or greasy residue Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Leaves a greasy film — Avène Cold Cream”
    • “too thick — Avène Hydrance+”
    • “Feels slimy on skin — Simple Refreshing Facial Wash”
    • “Still feeling a little bit of a film on my skin. — Simple Micellar Cleansing Water”

Avène vs Simple routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Avène vs Simple routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Avène vs Simple routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Avène or Simple: which is better?

Both Avène and Simple are equal choices, as the products on this page match equally well across all skin types. Simple may do better for value and soothing sensitive skin, while Avène helps repair the skin barrier.

What is the difference between Avène and Simple?

Simple offers fragrance-free products on this page and does better at soothing sensitive skin and providing better value, while Avène focuses on repairing the skin barrier and features thermal water and glycerin across its range. Both brands provide equal routine fit levels for most skin types.

Avène or Simple for dry skin?

Both Avène and Simple have a High routine fit for dry skin, though Avène offers specialized options like Cold Cream and Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm while Simple provides fragrance-free moisturizers containing glycerin.

Avène or Simple: which cleanser is better?

Simple does better for gentle and non-stripping cleansers among the products on this page. Reviewers report that Simple offers gentle, sensitive-skin-friendly makeup removers, while Avène features gentle deep clean cleansers that may carry a strong fragrance.

Which is more affordable, Avène or Simple?

Simple is more affordable due to its value-friendly price point, which reviewers mostly mention as a key benefit. Avène, on the other hand, is sometimes noted by reviewers for its higher price point.

Avène or Simple: which brand offers better options for dry sensitive skin?

Simple offers better options for dry sensitive skin, with Lovi fit levels reaching High compared to Avène at Average. Every product on the Simple page lists no fragrance, while several Avène products contain added fragrance.

Avène or Simple: which products are free of fragrance?

Simple features fragrance-free products on this page as every item lists no fragrance in its ingredients. Avène includes fragrance in nearly half of its products on this page.

Avène or Simple: which brand is better for repairing and protecting the skin barrier?

Avène is better for repairing and protecting the skin barrier according to the review themes on this page.

Avène or Simple for oily skin?

Both Avène and Simple are a High fit for oily skin. The products on this page for both brands feature lightweight or refreshing formulas that help control oil without stripping the skin.

Avène or Simple: which moisturizer is better?

Simple features value-friendly moisturizers with key ingredients like glycerin and niacinamide, while the products on this page for Avène include options like the Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm that help soothe irritation and provide deep hydration.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Avène or Simple for sensitive skin?

Both Avène and Simple are well-suited for sensitive skin, offering products like the Avène Eau Thermale Thermal Spring Water and the Simple Kind to Skin Soothing Facial Toner that help soothe irritation. Lovi rates the routine fit for sensitive skin as High for both brands.

Avène or Simple for acne-prone skin?

Both Avène and Simple offer products on this page that are a High fit for acne-prone skin. Reviewers note that Avène cleansers are gentle and non-stripping, while Simple features fragrance-free formulas.

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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