Avène vs Elemis
Avène and Elemis are two established European skincare lines that offer distinct approaches to daily ritual and specialized care. The French brand centers on versatile moisturizers, reliable sunscreens, targeted serums, and gentle cleansers infused with glycerin, suiting acne-prone and oily acne-prone skin best through options like the Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm, Cleanance, and Hyaluron Activ B3 Concentrated Plumping Serum. Conversely, the British brand is celebrated for nourishing serums, rich moisturizers, gentle cleansers, and refining toners that weave together glycerin and shea, suiting dry and mature skin best through standout solutions such as the Pro-Collagen Advanced Eye Treatment, Pro-Collagen Tri-Acid Peel, and Pro-Collagen Marine Cream. While both brands harness glycerin to improve hydration and restore barrier function, Elemis additionally relies on shea butter to reduce inflammation and relieve skin pruritus, whereas Avène focuses on profound relief without heaviness.
Avène is a French skincare brand founded in 1990 and owned by Fondation Pierre Fabre.
pierre-fabre.comavene.co.ukaveneusa.com
Elemis is a British skincare brand founded in 1989 and owned by L'Occitane Group since 2019.
elemis.comau.elemis.comen.wikipedia.org
This page compares some of the most popular Avène and Elemis products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.
Popular Avène vs Elemis products
People Say
Texture and Absorption Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “Absorbs almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
- “whipped silk feel — Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial”
- “cloud-light gel formula — Elemis Pro-Collagen Eye Revive Mask”
- “Thick but absorbs well eventually — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
- “The cream really hydrates and my face looks amazing. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Night Cream”
- “Quenches thirsty skin... immediate improvement. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
- “skin feels baby soft — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
- “Restores moisture barrier — Avène Cold Cream”
Gentle Formulation Mostly MentionedOften Mentioned
- “leaves face clean but not dry — Avène Cleanance”
- “Perfect cleanser for sensitive skin. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
- “no irritation at all — Avène Hydrance+”
- “no stinging or redness — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
Anti-Aging and Skin Smoothing Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
- “baby soft — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
- “skin feels baby soft — Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel”
- “non-irritating — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
- “skin instantly felt firmer — Avène Hyaluron Activ B3 Concentrated Plumping Serum”
Cleansing and Makeup Removal Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
- “Keeps me matte for hours — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
- “keeps skin matte — Avène Cleanance”
- “melts waterproof mascara — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
- “face feels super clean — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash”
Skin Soothing and Redness Reduction Often MentionedNot noted
- “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”
Price and Value Rarely NotedMostly Mentioned
- “Its a bit pricey but so worth it!! — Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm”
- “a bit pricey — Avène Cleanance”
- “Tiny tube for the money — Avène Cold Cream”
- “Complete waste of money for me. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
Fragrance and Scent Complaints Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
- “The fragrance is very present. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
- “smell is too strong — Avène Cleanance”
- “The smell is very strong... could not handle for long. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
- “smell is too strong — Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm”
Dryness and Irritation Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
- “Left my face tight — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
- “dried out my skin — Avène Cleanance”
- “Developed milia and closed comedones. — Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream”
- “dryness — Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads”
Avène vs Elemis routines for dry skin
-
Cleanser
Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€37.90
-
Hydrating Toner
Pyunkang Yul Calming Deep Moisture Toner
Morning
€15.16
-
Moisturizer
Pro-Collagen Night Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€82.90
-
SPF
Pro-Collagen Marine Cream
Morning
€71.60
-
Pre-Cleanser
Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
Evening · Once a week
€41.90
-
Serum or Treatment
Pro-Collagen Glow Boost Exfoliator
Evening · Once a week
€55.99
-
Nourishing Mask
MEDIHEAL Vita Essential Mask
Once a week
€31.93
-
Cleanser
Cleanance Cleansing Gel
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€15.59
-
Hydrating Toner
Pyunkang Yul Calming Deep Moisture Toner
Morning
€15.16
-
Moisturizer
Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€23.40
-
SPF
Ultra Fluid
Morning
€15.59
-
Pre-Cleanser
MISSHA Ultra Hyalon Cleansing Cream
Evening · Once a week
€15.90
-
Serum or Treatment
Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum
Evening · Once a week
€27.51
-
Nourishing Mask
MEDIHEAL Vita Essential Mask
Once a week
€31.93
Avène vs Elemis routines for oily skin
-
Cleanser
Cleanance Cleansing Gel
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€15.59
-
Hydrating Toner
La Mer The Tonic
Morning · Once a week
€103.91
-
Moisturizer
Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€18.85
-
SPF
Cleanance
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€15.59
-
Pre-Cleanser
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
€40.00
-
Cleansing Toner
Pixi Glow Tonic
Evening
€19.50
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
€49.00
-
Cleansing Mask
VT Cosmetics Cica Purifying Mask
Once a week
€19.79
-
Cleanser
Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€37.90
-
Hydrating Toner
La Mer The Tonic
Morning · Once a week
€103.91
-
Moisturizer
Pro-Collagen Night Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€82.90
-
SPF
Pro-Collagen Marine Cream
Morning
€71.60
-
Pre-Cleanser
Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
Evening · Once a week
€41.90
-
Cleansing Toner
Balancing Lavender Toner
Evening
€27.90
-
Serum or Treatment
Papaya Enzyme Peel
Evening · Once a week
€34.90
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
€49.00
-
Cleansing Mask
VT Cosmetics Cica Purifying Mask
Once a week
€19.79
Avène vs Elemis routines for combination skin
-
Cleanser
Cleanance Cleansing Gel
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€15.59
-
Hydrating Toner
La Mer The Tonic
Morning · Once a week
€103.91
-
Moisturizer
Hyaluron Activ B3 Concentrated Plumping Serum
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€37.00
-
SPF
Cleanance
Morning
€15.59
-
Pre-Cleanser
Shu Uemura Ultime8 Sublime Beauty Cleansing Oil
Evening · Once a week
€40.00
-
Cleansing Toner
Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0
Evening
€17.15
-
Serum or Treatment
Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum
Evening · Once a week
€27.51
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
€49.00
-
Cleansing Mask
VT Cosmetics Cica Purifying Mask
Once a week
€19.79
-
Cleanser
Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€37.90
-
Hydrating Toner
La Mer The Tonic
Morning · Once a week
€103.91
-
Moisturizer
Pro-Collagen Night Cream
Morning · Evening · Once a week
€82.90
-
SPF
Pro-Collagen Marine Cream
Morning
€71.60
-
Pre-Cleanser
Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm
Evening · Once a week
€41.90
-
Cleansing Toner
Balancing Lavender Toner
Evening
€27.90
-
Serum or Treatment
Papaya Enzyme Peel
Evening · Once a week
€34.90
-
Enzyme Powder
Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Once a week
€49.00
-
Cleansing Mask
VT Cosmetics Cica Purifying Mask
Once a week
€19.79
Questions and answers
Avène or Elemis: which is better?
Avène and Elemis both perform well, but Avène is better for gentle, soothing care while Elemis excels in hydration, anti-aging, and texture. On Lovi, Avène has a High routine fit for oily skin, whereas Elemis has an Average fit.
What is the difference between Avène and Elemis?
Avene and Elemis differ mainly in their formulation focus, with Avène excelling in gentle, soothing care for sensitive skin and Elemis standing out for luxurious textures, anti-aging benefits, and intense hydration. On this page, Avène fits oily skin better with an Average level compared to Elemis, while Elemis provides a High fit for dry sensitive skin where Avène reaches only Average.
Avène or Elemis for dry skin?
Both Avène and Elemis achieve a High routine fit for dry skin on the products on this page. Elemis features hydrating moisturizers and smoother skin texture, whereas Avène is noted for gentle formulation and soothing irritation.
Avène or Elemis: which cleanser is better?
Both Avène and Elemis offer effective cleansers, with Avène standing out for gentle formulations and Elemis performing well in cleansing and makeup removal. Lovi rates Avène cleansers like the Cleanance Cleansing Gel as having a High fit for oily acne-prone skin, while Elemis cleansers such as the Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Wash also show a High fit for acne-prone skin.
Which is more affordable, Avène or Elemis?
Avène is generally more affordable than Elemis, as high price points are noted as a negative review theme for Elemis while Avène is recognized as better for price and value.
Which brand has more fragrance-free products, Avène or Elemis?
Avène has more fragrance-free products, with 7 out of 15 products on this page listing no fragrance compared to 4 out of 22 for Elemis.
Avène or Elemis for anti-aging and skin smoothing?
Elemis is better for anti-aging and skin smoothing. Lovi rates Elemis high for mature skin, and reviewers frequently note smoother skin texture from its products.
Avène or Elemis for oily skin?
Avène is better suited for oily skin, as Lovi rates its routine fit as High compared to an Average fit for Elemis. Reviewers frequently note that Avène provides effective oil control and gentle, non-stripping sunscreens.
Avène or Elemis: which moisturizer is better?
When comparing moisturizers, both Avène and Elemis offer top-performing options depending on your specific skin needs. Avène moisturizers like the Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm are a High fit for sensitive skin and help soothe irritation, while Elemis products like the Pro-Collagen Marine Cream are a High fit for dry skin and provide deep hydration.
Avène or Elemis for sensitive skin?
For sensitive skin, both Avène and Elemis have a High routine fit on this page, but Avène does better on gentle formulation and soothing redness. Avène features fragrance-free options across half of the products on this page and key ingredients like thermal water and glycerin, which helps soothe irritation.
Avène or Elemis for acne-prone skin?
Both Avène and Elemis achieve a High routine fit level for acne-prone skin on the products on this page. Reviewers note that Avène provides gentle formulations and effective oil control, while Elemis offers smoothing and hydrating properties.
Avène or Elemis for dry sensitive skin?
For dry sensitive skin, Elemis is a better fit with a High routine fit level compared to Avène which has an Average fit level. Elemis helps provide hydration and moisture for dry skin types.
Research behind their key ingredients
Bacterial cellulose membranes as drug delivery systems: an in vivo skin compatibility study
Molecular basis of retinol anti-ageing properties in naturally aged human skin in vivo
Microneedling by dermapen and glycolic acid peel for the treatment of acne scars: Comparative study
Topical beta-carotene protects against infra-red-light-induced free radicals
An oil-soluble extract of Rubus idaeus cells enhances hydration and water homeostasis in skin cells
A Rose Extract Protects the Skin against Stress Mediators: A Potential Role of Olfactory Receptors
Comparative benefit of two thermal spring waters after photodynamic therapy procedure
Comparison of methods for assessing photoprotection against ultraviolet A in vivo
Comparative measurement of hydration effects of herbal moisturizers
Topical Almond Oil for Prevention of Pressure Injuries: A Single-Blinded Comparison Study
Skin recovery by Lavandula angustifolia leaf callus extract: Redox control of Nrf2 signaling
Formulation and evaluation of exotic fat based cosmeceuticals for skin repair
Nanocomplex of quaternized cyclodextrin grafted chitosan and hyaluronic acid for a skin delivery
Treatment with Ascorbyl Glucoside-Arginine Complex Ameliorates Solar Lentigos
Effects of fermented tea seed oil on the skin lipid barrier and microbiome of sensitive skin
Retrospective Review of Dermal Safety Studies of Organic Sunscreens
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.
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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
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