🇫🇷France

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 loved for their moisturizers, cleansers, serums, sunscreens, and more. Both brands suit acne-prone skin and combination skin best. The American brand is known for utilizing hyaluronic acid and glycerin, whereas the French brand relies on glycerin. They differ in their founding origins, parent companies, and specific active formulations designed to address various skin concerns.

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 · 98% fit

CeraVe vs Avène routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

CeraVe vs Avène routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

CeraVe or Avène: which is better?

CeraVe has a Superior fit for acne-prone and combination skin, whereas Avène has a Superior fit for oily acne-prone skin on the products on this page. CeraVe formulas help deliver deep hydration with ceramides and hyaluronic acid.

Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015

What is the difference between CeraVe and Avène?

CeraVe has a Superior fit for combination and acne-prone skin, while Avène has a Superior fit for oily acne-prone skin among the products on this page. CeraVe features fragrance-free formulas with key ingredients like ceramides, whereas some Avène products contain fragrance.

CeraVe or Avène for dry skin?

For dry skin, both CeraVe and Avène are good options, as Lovi rates the routine fit for dry skin as High for each brand. The products on this page for both brands help provide deep hydration and moisture using key ingredients like glycerin and thermal water or ceramides.

CeraVe or Avène: which cleanser is better?

CeraVe offers products on this page with better overall fit levels for cleansers, featuring options like the Foaming Facial Cleanser that Lovi rates as Superior for combination and acne-prone skin. Avène also provides gentle deep clean cleansers, but CeraVe rates higher for effectiveness in acne control and clearing.

Which is more affordable, CeraVe or Avène?

CeraVe does better than Avène for value and price on the products on this page.

CeraVe or Avène: which brand has fragrance-free products?

CeraVe has fragrance-free products, as every product on the products on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas Avène includes fragrance in 7 of its 15 products.

CeraVe or Avène for oily skin?

For oily skin, both CeraVe and Avène offer a High routine fit on the products on this page. Reviewers note that CeraVe provides effective cleansers for acne and oil, while Avène offers effective oil control.

CeraVe or Avène: which moisturizer is better?

For moisturizers, CeraVe achieves a Superior Lovi fit level for dry skin, while Avène achieves a High Lovi fit level. Reviewers on the products on this page report that CeraVe offers superior healing and texture in its moisturizers.

CeraVe or Avène for sensitive skin?

For sensitive skin, CeraVe achieves a High Lovi fit while Avène reaches an Average fit. The products on this page for both brands are fragrance-free or offer gentle formulas, and CeraVe relies on ingredients like ceramides which help support the skin barrier.

CeraVe or Avène: which sunscreen is better?

For sunscreens on this page, CeraVe achieves a High fit level for oily acne-prone skin, whereas Avène achieves an average level. CeraVe sunscreen products on this page list no fragrance, while some Avène sunscreens may contain fragrance.

CeraVe or Avène for acne-prone skin?

For acne-prone skin, CeraVe is the better choice because Lovi rates its routine fit as Superior, whereas Avène has a High fit. The products on this page for CeraVe also feature acne-targeted ingredients like salicylic acid and niacinamide.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

CeraVe or Avène for oily acne-prone skin?

For oily acne-prone skin, Avène is the better choice because Lovi rates its routine as Superior, compared to High for CeraVe.

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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