Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm for sensitive skin
Avène Thermal Spring Water
Glycerin
Caprylic Capric Triglyceride
Squalane
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter
High
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for sensitive skin; a few moisturizers fit it even better.
- Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2022
- Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2022
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Highly suitable for your normal skin, this balm effectively addresses your redness and irritation with Aquaphilus Dolomiae Extract Filtrate and Arginine to soothe and repair your skin barrier. Squalane and glycerin further support your skin's hydration and barrier function.
- The formula offers excellent moisturizing benefits for your skin, with shea butter and squalane providing deep hydration and enhancing barrier resilience.
- This product is safe for your sensitive skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients and includes soothing components like Avene Thermal Spring Water.
How to apply
- Use this soothing AM and PM routine every day to keep your normal skin calm. Always remember to apply SPF in the morning after your moisturizer.
- Apply your moisturizer after your toner in the morning, and after your serum in the evening. This step locks in hydration and protects your skin.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer evenly across your face. Avoid rubbing to keep your sensitive skin happy and calm.
- You can apply this gentle formula on dry or slightly damp skin for the best comfort. It works wonderfully on clean skin to soothe redness and irritation.
- Do a patch test before your very first use to check your skin's reaction. Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes .
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 4.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this product is highly effective at calming and hydrating hypersensitive, reactive, and allergy-prone skin, with users frequently reporting relief from redness, tightness, and irritation. It is also often praised for its ability to restore the skin barrier and for being fragrance-free and gentle. A moderate number of users note that it absorbs quickly without greasiness, while some find the price to be high. A low number of reviews mention breakouts or insufficient hydration.
Highlights
Soothes irritated skin Mostly Mentioned
- “Nothing has ever worked to soothe or heal my skin like these before.”
- “My skin immediately feels soothed and settled.”
- “This balm is very soothing to irritated red skin.”
Fragrance-free and gentle Often Mentioned
- “Love that there is no scent at all!”
- “I have no irritation from this product.”
- “Fragrance-free and contains minimal, gentle ingredients.”
- “No burning, itching, or tight feeling!”
Restores skin barrier Often Mentioned
- “This repairs my skin barrier without fail.”
- “The only moisturiser that my skin tolerates when my skin barrier is compromised or absolutely destroyed.”
- “Great for post peel or winter time also.”
- “It makes a good barrier for the skin and protects the skin.”
Absorbs quickly Sometimes Noted
- “Absorbs into skin without residue.”
- “Provides a non-greasy texture that absorbs well into skin.”
- “Lightweight yet nourishing texture that absorbs well.”
- “Hydrates with a mess free application bonus.”
High price Sometimes Noted
- “Its a bit pricey but so worth it!!”
- “But it's soooo expensive for an ounce of product.”
- “It's a bit pricey for the amount of product.”
- “This Tolerance Skin Recovery Cream is pricey, but it's a life saver.”
Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
- “When I first tried it, I woke up to two pimples on my 58-year-old dry skin.”
- “After using it twice... the next day i had 5 new BIG pimples, small bumps around my jaw.”
- “Leaves bumps and redness.”
- “It stings my face upon application... and leaves bumps and redness.”
Not hydrating enough Rarely Noted
- “Not hydrating enough and my skin feels so dry even right after applying the cream.”
- “This lotion dried out my skin.”
- “I think the consistency is not very rich... not enough to hydrate dry skin in my opinion.”
- “It will not fix the fundamental problems that dry skin has.”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, target.com, aveneusa.com, dermstore.com, boots.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm a great fit for sensitive skin?
This balm is a great fit because it uses Aquaphilus Dolomiae Extract Filtrate, arginine, and Avene Thermal Spring Water to calm redness and soothe irritation, while glycerin, squalane, and shea butter deeply hydrate and repair your skin barrier. It is very safe for your skin since it has no harsh ingredients and is well-tolerated.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2022Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2022
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for sensitive skin?
This cream is a great fit for sensitive skin because it contains Aquaphilus Dolomiae Extract Filtrate and arginine to soothe redness and repair your skin barrier, along with glycerin, squalane, and shea butter to provide deep hydration and comfort. Avene Thermal Spring Water further calms irritation, making the formula very safe and gentle for easily upset skin.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2022Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2022
What does Avène Thermal Spring Water do for sensitive skin?
Avène Thermal Spring Water helps calm sensitive skin by significantly reducing redness, stinging, and burning sensations. It provides a soothing effect and improves overall skin comfort, making it very well tolerated by easily irritated skin.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2007
What does Glycerin do for sensitive skin?
Glycerin helps keep sensitive skin soft and deeply hydrated while supporting the skin barrier. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may protect against dryness and roughness.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1999
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This cream goes at the end of your evening routine as your moisturizer, and you can also use it in your morning routine if your skin needs extra comfort. Using a moisturizer helps keep your skin hydrated and supports its barrier function.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2022
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this balm with retinol by applying it after your retinol treatment to help calm redness and soothe irritation. Using a barrier-enhancing moisturizer alongside retinoids is safe and helps your skin adjust by keeping it hydrated and protected.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this cream daily as part of your morning and evening routine to help keep your skin calm and moisturized. Daily application supports skin hydration and helps protect sensitive skin against irritation.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This balm is unlikely to cause breakouts on sensitive skin, as reviewers rarely report this issue and the formula is designed to be gentle without harsh ingredients. Ingredients like squalane and glycerin help keep skin smooth and hydrated while supporting your skin barrier.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this balm around the eyes and on the body because its gentle, soothing formula is well-tolerated by delicate and sensitive skin. It helps calm irritation and provides deep hydration across thinner or drier areas without harsh ingredients.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2022Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2022
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Two dermocosmetic formulations containing Aquaphilus dolomiae extract-G3 reduced skin sensitivity and physical-functional signs by 40-50% over 84 days in healthy subjects with sensitive facial skin.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2022Cream and balm formulations containing Aquaphilus dolomiae extract-G3 (ADE-G3) increased skin hydration, protected against dehydration and pollution stresses, and improved skin barrier integrity in sensitized reconstructed human epidermis and dry human skin compared to untreated controls.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2022Balneotherapy with thermal water altered specific skin microbiota at genus and species levels in healthy female volunteers compared to tap water, which produced no significant microbiome changes.
Life, 2023Malaysian thermal spring water as an adjunct to standard acne therapy improved skin hydration, reduced dryness and stinging, enhanced overall tolerability, and improved the acne disability index in patients with mild to moderate acne.
The Medical Journal of Malaysia, 2024A 2% Sphingomonas xenophaga ferment extract cream applied twice daily for 4 weeks significantly decreased facial vascular disorder scores compared to vehicle in 86 Caucasian female subjects, alongside dose-dependent inhibition of pre-kallikrein activity in vitro.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Topical application of an emollient emulsion containing 15.0% caprylic/capric triglyceride doubled the amount of urocanic acid isomers and increased skin hydration with reduced transepidermal water loss in healthy subjects, though it did not prevent ultraviolet-induced urocanic acid isomerization.
Life, 2023Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025
Ingredients
Avene Thermal Spring Water Avene Aqua Avene Aqua, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Squalane, Beeswax Cera Alba Cera, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetyl Esters, Aquaphilus Dolomiae Extract Filtrate, Arginine, Citric Acid, Tromethamine, Water, Xanthan Gum
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score 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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.