🇫🇷France

Avène vs NIVEA

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

Avène and NIVEA are established European skincare brands celebrated for delivering reliable daily hydration and protection. The French line relies on glycerin-infused moisturizers, cleansers, sunscreens, and serums that thoughtfully suit oily, acne-prone, and combination skin, featuring standout items like the Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm, Cleanance, and Hyaluron Activ B3 Concentrated Plumping Serum. Meanwhile, the German brand utilizes skin-smoothing glycerin across its nourishing moisturizers, targeted serums, and protective sunscreens, offering lightweight textures that favor oily and acne-prone skin through favorites such as the Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion SPF50+, UV Deep Protect & Care Gel, and LUMINOUS630 ANTI-DARK SPOT SERUM. While both companies use glycerin to successfully improve hydration and barrier function, they diverge in their foundational heritage, specific formulations, and exact skin-type focus.

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

pierre-fabre.comavene.co.ukaveneusa.com

NIVEA is a German skincare brand founded in 1911 and owned by maxingvest GmbH & Co. KGaA since 2004.

beiersdorf.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular Avène vs NIVEA products

People Say

AvèneNIVEA
  • Anti-aging and skin smoothing Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Makes my face feel smooth and soft. — NIVEA Soft”
    • “skin feels squeaky clean and soft — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
    • “skin feels smooth — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
    • “skin instantly felt firmer — Avène Hyaluron Activ B3 Concentrated Plumping Serum”
  • Texture and consistency Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Thick but absorbs well eventually — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
    • “absorbs very quickly — Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum”
    • “lathers really well — Avène Cleanance”
    • “It's lightweight on the skin and leaves a bit of subtle sheen. — NIVEA Soft”
  • Deep hydration and moisturization Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Smoothed out dry flaky scales on my cheeks overnight — NIVEA Creme”
    • “skin feels moisturized — NIVEA Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion SPF50+”
    • “Restores moisture barrier — Avène Cold Cream”
  • Soothes and calms irritation Mostly MentionedNot noted
    • “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”
    • “Perfect cleanser for sensitive skin. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
  • Effective oil control and acne clearing Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “cleared my complexion in 7 days — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
    • “reduces blackheads — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
    • “Keeps me matte for hours — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
  • Price and value Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Works better than expensive luxury creams — NIVEA Creme”
    • “Best affordable vegan moisturizer. — NIVEA Soft”
    • “absolute steal for the price — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
    • “Bottle lasts for months — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
  • Thick texture and greasy finish Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Leaves a greasy film — Avène Cold Cream”
    • “too thick — Avène Hydrance+”
    • “sticky kinda feeling — Avène Hyaluron Activ B3 Concentrated Plumping Serum”
    • “Leaves a shiny grease layer that doesn't go away — NIVEA Creme”
  • Strong fragrance and scent issues Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “The fragrance is very present. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
    • “smell is too strong — Avène Cleanance”
    • “Scent is too overpowering for sensitive noses — NIVEA Creme”
    • “Has a heavy, baby powder smell. — NIVEA Soft”
  • Causes breakouts and acne Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Woke up with tiny whiteheads all over — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
    • “Caused small bumps/texture — Avène Soothing Radiance Mask”
    • “Broke me out initially — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
    • “Clogged my pores and caused bad acne — NIVEA Creme”

Avène vs NIVEA routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Avène vs NIVEA routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Avène vs NIVEA routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Avène or NIVEA: which is better?

Both Avène and NIVEA are good options, as they offer equal routine fit levels across all major skin types. However, Avène tends to do better for soothing and calming irritation and texture, while NIVEA often excels at deep hydration, anti-aging, and oil control.

What is the difference between Avène and NIVEA?

Avène and NIVEA offer different strengths, with Avène featuring thermal spring water and soothing irritated skin, while NIVEA provides versatile moisturizers and effective oil control. For routine fit, Avène achieves an Average level for dry sensitive skin and a Superior level for oily acne-prone skin, whereas NIVEA achieves a High level for both.

Avène or NIVEA for dry skin?

Both Avène and NIVEA achieve a High routine fit for dry skin. Avène features products like Cold Cream with a High fit for dry sensitive skin, while NIVEA offers options such as Creme with a High fit for dry skin.

Avène or NIVEA: which moisturizer is better?

Both Avène and NIVEA offer moisturizers with strong benefits, with Avène featuring a High fit for dry skin and NIVEA providing intense deep hydration. Reviewers note that Avène excels in texture and consistency, while NIVEA is favored for deep hydration and moisturization.

Which is more affordable, Avène or NIVEA?

NIVEA is more affordable, as the products on this page often win out for price and value.

Which brand is better for soothing and calming irritation, Avène or NIVEA?

Avène is better for soothing and calming irritation, as review themes show it does better for soothing and calming irritation.

Avène or NIVEA for oily skin?

For oily skin, both Avène and NIVEA have a High routine fit on the products on this page. Reviewers note that Avène provides effective oil control, while NIVEA offers blemish-clearing serums.

Avène or NIVEA: which sunscreen is better?

For sunscreens, Avène is Lovi rated Superior for oily skin with its Cleanance sunscreen, while NIVEA has options like Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion SPF50+ that Lovi rates High for combination, sensitive, and oily skin types.

Avène or NIVEA for sensitive skin?

Both Avène and NIVEA offer a High Lovi fit for sensitive skin routines. Reviewers note that Avène helps soothe irritation, while NIVEA provides versatile multi-use moisturizers.

Avène or NIVEA for acne-prone skin?

Both Avène and NIVEA achieve a High routine fit level for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Reviewers note that NIVEA offers effective blemish-clearing serums, while Avène provides gentle deep-clean cleansers.

Avène or NIVEA for dry sensitive skin?

For dry sensitive skin, NIVEA has a High routine fit while Avène has an Average fit.

Avène or NIVEA for oily acne-prone skin?

For oily acne-prone skin, Avène has a Superior Lovi fit level, while NIVEA has a High fit level.

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

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