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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 respected skincare brands that offer thoughtful moisturizers, sunscreens, and cleansers enriched with ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and dimethicone. The American brand suits sensitive and dry skin best through gentle formulations that respect delicate moisture barriers, while the French brand suits oily, acne-prone, and combination skin best. Ultimately, they differ in their heritage and targeted skin types, as both utilize glycerin to improve hydration and restore barrier function.

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

See multi-brand routine · 98% fit

Neutrogena vs Avène routines for oily skin

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Neutrogena vs Avène routines for combination skin

See multi-brand routine · 95% fit

Questions and answers

Neutrogena or Avène: which is better?

Neutrogena is better for deep hydration and lightweight texture, while Avène is better for price and quantity value. Both brands offer high routine fit levels across most skin types.

What is the difference between Neutrogena and Avène?

Neutrogena is typically better for deep hydration and fast-absorbing, lightweight textures, whereas Avène is often noted for soothing irritation and offering a gentler price point on this page. Both brands achieve high routine fit levels across most skin types, though Neutrogena performs better for dry sensitive skin.

Neutrogena or Avène for dry skin?

Both Neutrogena and Avène provide a High routine fit for dry skin on the products on this page. Neutrogena tends to be favored for deep hydration, while Avène is frequently chosen for its soothing thermal spring water.

Neutrogena or Avène: which cleanser is better?

Neutrogena is better for cleansers on this page because it offers a wider variety with superior or high Lovi fit levels across diverse skin types. Reviewers note that Avène cleansers provide a gentle deep clean, while Neutrogena cleansers help with deep hydration and oil control.

Which is more affordable, Neutrogena or Avène?

Reviewers note price and quantity value more often for Avène, while pricing and value concerns are more commonly raised for the products on this page by Neutrogena.

Between Neutrogena and Avène, which brand has better anti-aging and skin texture benefits?

Neutrogena and Avène perform equally well for anti-aging and skin texture benefits based on the products on this page. Neutrogena features retinol, which helps improve aging skin.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000

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

Neutrogena provides significantly more fragrance-free product options than Avene on the products on this page, with thirty-nine options compared to Avene's seven.

Which brand performs better for dry sensitive skin, Neutrogena or Avène?

Neutrogena is a better fit for dry sensitive skin, as the products on this page achieve a High Lovi fit level for this skin type while Avène only reaches an Average fit level. Hyaluronic acid helps provide deep hydration to support dry skin barrier needs.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Neutrogena or Avène for oily skin?

Neutrogena and Avène both have a High routine fit level for oily skin. Neutrogena offers more products on this page rated as Superior for oily skin, such as Clear Safe Liquid Lotion Sunscreen and Sport Face Sunscreen.

Neutrogena or Avène: which moisturizer is better?

Neutrogena is better for moisturizers because the products on this page offer deep hydration and a lightweight texture that absorbs fast. Topical hyaluronic acid helps improve skin quality and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Neutrogena or Avène for sensitive skin?

Neutrogena and Avène both achieve a High routine fit for sensitive skin on this page. Reviewers note that both brands offer products that are gentle on sensitive skin, while Neutrogena tends to provide deeper hydration.

Neutrogena or Avène: which sunscreen is better?

Neutrogena has superior sunscreens on this page, offering High or Superior Lovi fit levels for oily, sensitive, and combination skin types. Avène also provides reliable options like Cleanance, though its lineup includes lower fit levels for dry and sensitive skin.

Neutrogena or Avène for acne-prone skin?

Both Neutrogena and Avène offer products on this page that have a High Lovi fit for acne-prone skin. Neutrogena provides several cleansers and treatments featuring ingredients like salicylic acid and retinol that help manage breakouts.

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

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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