🇫🇷France

The Ordinary vs Avène

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

The Ordinary and Avène are distinct skincare lines created to address diverse dermal needs through targeted formulations. The Canadian brand centers its serums, moisturizers, cleansers, and toners on hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane, suiting dry and dry sensitive skin best, while the French brand is loved for its gentle moisturizers, protective sunscreens, targeted serums, and soothing cleansers formulated with glycerin, suiting oily acne-prone and combination skin best. Both utilize glycerin to enhance hydration and barrier function, yet they differ in their foundational origins, specific ingredient combinations, and ideal skin types.

The Ordinary is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 2016 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 2021.

glossy.coen.wikipedia.org

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 The Ordinary and Avène products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular The Ordinary vs Avène products

People Say

The OrdinaryAvène
  • Gentle and non-irritating Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “leaves face clean but not dry — Avène Cleanance”
    • “Perfect cleanser for sensitive skin. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
    • “no irritation at all — Avène Hydrance+”
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft and not tight at all. — The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser”
  • Texture smoothing Mostly MentionedSometimes Noted
    • “glass skin effect — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “pores look significantly smaller — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “skin feels baby butt smooth — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”
    • “I've noticed a definite improvement in the fine lines around my eyes — Avène RetrinAL EYES”
  • Great value and price Mostly MentionedRarely Noted
    • “lasts forever — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “can't beat the price — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “extremely affordable — The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%”
    • “Bottle lasts for months — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
  • Acne clearing Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “pimples disappear within a day — The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% Solution”
    • “scars and hormonal acne faded — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “faded dark spots — The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution”
    • “Cleared my cystic acne — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
  • Hydration and plumping Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Restores moisture barrier — Avène Cold Cream”
    • “Leaves my skin feeling soft and hydrated. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
    • “intensely hydrated — Avène Hyaluron Activ B3 Concentrated Plumping Serum”
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Lightweight absorption Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “absorbs very quickly — Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum”
    • “Absorbs into skin without residue. — Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm”
    • “It absorbs quickly and leaves the delicate eye area feeling hydrated — Avène RetrinAL EYES”
    • “Sinks in immediately — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
  • Sticky finish Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “sticky kinda feeling — Avène Hyaluron Activ B3 Concentrated Plumping Serum”
    • “Left unpleasant greasy film — Avène Soothing Radiance Mask”
    • “feels very sticky — The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5”
  • Unpleasant scent Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Smells like vinegar — The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum”
    • “smell is unbearable — The Ordinary Azelaic Acid Suspension 10%”
    • “has a slight chemical smell — The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA”
    • “The fragrance is very present. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
  • Stinging and irritation Often MentionedRarely Noted
    • “burned my skin — Avène Cleanance”
    • “caused burning sensation — Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum”
    • “caused rash — Avène Antirougeurs Fort Relief Concentrate”
    • “stings a little but worth it — The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution”

The Ordinary vs Avène routines for dry skin

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

The Ordinary vs Avène routines for oily skin

See multi-brand routine · 97% fit

The Ordinary vs Avène routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

The Ordinary or Avène: which is better?

The Ordinary provides better overall value and acne-clearing benefits across the products on this page, whereas Avène stands out for soothing sensitive skin. Hyaluronic acid helps improve hydration and skin quality.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

What is the difference between The Ordinary and Avène?

The Ordinary provides great value and texture smoothing through fragrance-free products on this page, while Avène offers gentle hydration with thermal water. For dry sensitive skin, Lovi rates The Ordinary as Superior and Avène as Average.

The Ordinary or Avène for dry skin?

The Ordinary is a Superior fit for dry skin, whereas Avène is a High fit. The Ordinary features fragrance-free products on this page and provides strong hydration and plumping benefits.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Avène: which cleanser is better?

The Ordinary is a better choice for cleansers because the products on this page offer great value and gentle cleansing without fragrance. Avène cleansers may help provide gentle deep cleaning, though some formulas contain added fragrance.

Which is more affordable, The Ordinary or Avène?

The Ordinary offers more affordable options and great value serums among the products on this page. Avène is sometimes noted for its higher price point.

Which brand has better options for acne clearing, The Ordinary or Avène?

The Ordinary has better options for acne clearing, as the products on this page offer acne-clearing serums and excel in acne care. Avène is another option, though reviewers sometimes note stinging and irritation with its products.

Do The Ordinary products contain fragrance, and how does that compare to Avène?

The products on this page from The Ordinary list no fragrance in their ingredients, whereas 7 of the 15 Avène products on this page contain fragrance.

Which brand is better suited for dry sensitive skin based on the routine fit?

The Ordinary has a Superior routine fit for dry sensitive skin, while Avène has an Average fit. The Ordinary products on this page list no fragrance, which helps reduce the risk of irritation for sensitive types.

The Ordinary or Avène for oily skin?

For oily skin, The Ordinary has a Superior routine fit while Avène has a High fit level. The Ordinary offers fragrance-free options and is often mentioned for effective acne clearing.

The Ordinary or Avène: which moisturizer is better?

The Ordinary provides a superior fit for dry skin moisturizers on this page compared to Avène, which has a high fit. The Ordinary products on this page list no fragrance, whereas some Avène moisturizers contain fragrance. Hyaluronic acid helps improve skin hydration and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

The Ordinary or Avène for sensitive skin?

The Ordinary is a superior fit for sensitive skin, whereas Avène has a high fit for sensitive skin. The Ordinary offers fragrance-free products on this page, and the brand's routine fit for sensitive skin is rated Superior.

The Ordinary or Avène for acne-prone skin?

The Ordinary is a better fit for acne-prone skin, offering Superior routine fit compared to Avène's High fit. The products on this page help clear blemishes with active ingredients like niacinamide and salicylic acid.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

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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