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CeraVe vs Avène

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

CeraVe and Avène are two skincare brands known for their gentle and protective formulas. The American brand CeraVe, founded in 2005, offers thoughtful moisturizers, cleansers, serums, and sunscreens formulated with hyaluronic acid and glycerin, suiting dry and acne-prone skin best. Meanwhile, the French brand Avène, founded in 1990, features soothing cleansers, moisturizers, protective sunscreens, and targeted serums formulated with glycerin, suiting oily acne-prone and combination skin best. They differ primarily in their exact product ranges, specific standout solutions, and whether they pair glycerin with hyaluronic acid.

CeraVe is an American skincare brand founded in 2005 and owned by L'Oréal since 2017.

en.wikipedia.orghappi.comloreal-finance.comcerave.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 CeraVe and Avène products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular CeraVe vs Avène products

People Say

CeraVeAvène
  • Fragrance-Free and Gentle Formulas Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “no burning sensation — CeraVe Resurfacing Retinol Serum”
    • “No scent, no irritation — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “leaves face clean but not dry — Avène Cleanance”
    • “Perfect cleanser for sensitive skin. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
  • Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Absorbs into skin without residue — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Sinks right into your skin — CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “difference in my skin's texture is noticeable — CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser”
    • “Thick but absorbs well eventually — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
  • Hydration and Moisture Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Saved my dry winter skin — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “woke up with plump skin — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “cured my dry patches — CeraVe Eye Repair Cream”
    • “Restores moisture barrier — Avène Cold Cream”
  • Redness and Sensitivity Soothing Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Calmed my angry red skin overnight — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
    • “Nothing has ever worked to soothe or heal my skin like these before. — Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm”
    • “Calms angry, red skin — Avène Soothing Radiance Mask”
    • “no stinging or redness — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
  • Acne Control and Clearing Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “dialed back oiliness — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
    • “Never breaks me out — CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “helped to stop my breakout in its tracks — CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser”
    • “Keeps me matte for hours — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
  • Value and Price Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “reasonably priced — CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser”
    • “Huge tub lasts forever — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “Great everyday moisturizer — CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion”
    • “Bottle lasts for months — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
  • Texture and Residue Complications Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “feels like washing with conditioner — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “too sticky — CeraVe Healing Ointment”
    • “hard to spread — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”
    • “leaves a white layer — Avène Hydrance+”
  • Breakouts and Purging Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Gave me cystic acne — CeraVe Moisturising Cream”
    • “gave me closed comedones — CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser”
    • “Woke up with tiny whiteheads all over — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
    • “Caused small bumps/texture — Avène Soothing Radiance Mask”
  • Packaging and Sizing Issues Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “Tube cracked on the side — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
    • “Cap leaks in bag — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
    • “Good product bad packaging. — Avène RetrinAL EYES”
    • “no safety seal included — CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream”

CeraVe vs Avène routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 99% fit

CeraVe vs Avène routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

CeraVe vs Avène routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

CeraVe or Avène: which is better?

CeraVe and Avène both reach a High routine fit across all main skin types, but CeraVe rates higher for dry sensitive skin and performs better for texture, hydration, acne control, and value according to reviewers.

What is the difference between CeraVe and Avène?

CeraVe offers products on this page that are entirely fragrance-free and excel in texture, hydration, and acne control, whereas Avène includes some formulas with fragrance while doing better at soothing redness and sensitivity. For overall routine fit, CeraVe has a High fit for dry sensitive skin while Avène has an Average fit.

CeraVe or Avène for dry skin?

Both CeraVe and Avène offer a High routine fit for dry skin. CeraVe features a fragrance-free lineup with key ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid to help restore skin moisture, while Avène uses thermal spring water to soothe dry sensitive skin.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

CeraVe or Avène: which cleanser is better?

CeraVe offers better cleansers on this page, as they generally provide effective options for acne and oil while remaining gentle and non-stripping. Avène also provides gentle deep-clean cleansers on this page, though some of its products contain fragrance.

Which is more affordable, CeraVe or Avène?

CeraVe is more affordable than Avène.

Which brand has more fragrance-free products, CeraVe or Avène?

CeraVe has more fragrance-free products, as every product on the products on this page lists no fragrance, whereas Avène includes fragrance in seven of its fifteen products.

Which brand is better for soothing redness and sensitivity, CeraVe or Avène?

Avene is better for soothing redness and sensitivity. Lovi gives Avène a High fit level for redness through its Antirougeurs Fort Relief Concentrate.

CeraVe or Avène for oily skin?

Both CeraVe and Avène offer a High routine fit for oily skin. CeraVe includes products with a Superior fit like Foaming Facial Cleanser, while Avène features options such as Cleanance sunscreen with a Superior fit.

CeraVe or Avène: which moisturizer is better?

CeraVe offers better moisturizers because the products on this page are fragrance-free and provide superior hydration and texture. Reviewers note that CeraVe delivers lightweight, non-greasy moisturizers with superior healing, while Avène moisturizers sometimes feature strong fragrances.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

CeraVe or Avène for sensitive skin?

Both CeraVe and Avène offer a High routine fit for sensitive skin. CeraVe relies on fragrance-free formulas containing ceramides and niacinamide, while Avène is frequently noted for soothing irritation with its thermal spring water.

Antioxidants, 2021

CeraVe or Avène: which sunscreen is better?

Both brands offer sunscreen options on this page, but CeraVe features several products with a Superior fit level for dry and mature skin. Avène also provides sunscreens like Cleanance, which has a High fit for oily acne-prone and combination skin.

CeraVe or Avène for acne-prone skin?

Both brands offer a High routine fit for acne-prone skin, but CeraVe does better for acne control and clearing the products on this page. CeraVe offers several products with a Superior fit level for acne-prone skin, such as the Foaming Facial Cleanser and Blemish Control Cleanser, and every product on this page lists no fragrance.

CeraVe or Avène for mature skin?

Both CeraVe and Avène offer a High Lovi routine fit for mature skin. CeraVe features fragrance-free formulas with key ingredients like ceramides and retinol that help improve skin texture and hydration.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

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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