🇫🇷France

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 reliable daily essentials like moisturizers, cleansers, and sunscreens. The American brand features hyaluronic acid and dimethicone alongside glycerin, suiting dry and mature skin best, while the French brand relies on glycerin to suit oily, acne-prone, and combination skin. While both share a focus on hydration, they differ in their origin, key formulations, and ideal skin types.

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

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Neutrogena vs Avène routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Neutrogena vs Avène routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Neutrogena or Avène: which is better?

Neutrogena is better for deep hydration, lightweight texture, and fast absorption, while Avène offers better price value and less skin irritation. Both brands provide equal fit levels across most skin types on the products on this page.

What is the difference between Neutrogena and Avène?

Neutrogena is U.S.-based and offers the products on this page with greater benefits for deep hydration and fast absorption, while Avène is French and is better for price and quantity value. Both brands achieve equal routine fit levels across most skin types, though Avène reaches a Superior fit for oily acne-prone skin.

Neutrogena or Avène for dry skin?

Both Neutrogena and Avène reach a High routine fit level for dry skin on this page. Reviewers report that the products on this page for Neutrogena are deeply hydrating, while Avène is noted for soothing irritation.

Neutrogena or Avène: which cleanser is better?

Neutrogena is better for cleansers on this page, offering more options with a High or Superior fit across various skin types. Reviewers mention that Avène cleansers provide a gentle deep clean, while Neutrogena cleansers offer a wider variety of options tailored to specific needs.

Which is more affordable, Neutrogena or Avène?

Avène is better for price and quantity value than Neutrogena.

Between Neutrogena and Avène, which brand offers better options for mature skin?

Neutrogena and Avène both provide a High routine fit level for mature skin. Neutrogena features anti-aging moisturizers that help improve texture and target signs of aging with ingredients like retinol, while Avène offers options that help soothe irritation and support skin recovery.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Archives of Dermatology, 2007

How do the fragrance-free product percentages compare between Neutrogena and Avène?

Neutrogena has a significantly higher percentage of fragrance-free products on this page compared to Avène, with thirty-five of thirty-nine Neutrogena products listing no fragrance while only seven of fifteen Avène products do.

Which brand performs better for oily acne-prone skin according to the routine fit levels?

Avène performs better for oily acne-prone skin on this page, achieving a Superior routine fit compared to Neutrogena, which reaches a High fit level for this skin type.

Neutrogena or Avène for oily skin?

Both Neutrogena and Avène provide a High routine fit for oily skin on the products on this page.

Neutrogena or Avène: which moisturizer is better?

Neutrogena is better for deep hydration and faster absorption in moisturizers, as reviewers frequently highlight its deeply hydrating and fast-absorbing formulas. Avène's moisturizers are more often noted for soothing irritation and offering better price and quantity value.

Neutrogena or Avène for sensitive skin?

Both Neutrogena and Avène provide a High routine fit for sensitive skin among the products on this page. Reviewers note that both brands perform equally well for being acne-safe and gentle on sensitive skin.

Neutrogena or Avène: which sunscreen is better?

Neutrogena is the better choice for sunscreens on this page, offering superior options for combination, sensitive, and oily skin types.

Neutrogena or Avène for acne-prone skin?

Both Neutrogena and Avène fit acne-prone skin at a High level on this page. Reviewers report that both brands offer acne-safe and gentle options.

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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