🇳🇱Netherlands

Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream for sensitive skin

High

  • HighNormal Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

A great choice for sensitive skin; a few moisturizers fit it even better.

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 product offers excellent moisturizing and barrier repair due to glycerin and zinc oxide, which help maintain skin health and resilience.
  • It provides moderate benefits for your redness and irritation, as zinc oxide and copper sulfate work to soothe and protect the skin.
  • The formulation is safe for your sensitive skin, with no risks of irritation from harsh ingredients.

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

★4.1Overall rating based on 15.7k+ reviews

It is also praised for its versatility in healing various skin concerns and its rich, protective texture. However, a significant number of recent reviews mention issues with the product separating into oil and water, and some users with oily or acne-prone skin report clogged pores.

Highlights

  • Soothes irritation Mostly Mentioned
    • “Calmed my angry red skin overnight”
    • “The only thing that doesn't sting my sensitive face”
    • “Took the heat out of my sunburn.”
  • Repairs skin barrier Often Mentioned
    • “Healed my over-exfoliated skin in days”
    • “Saved my barrier after a bad reaction”
    • “Restored my skin texture completely”
    • “Magic for dry, cracking patches.”
  • Rich texture Often Mentioned
    • “Thick but absorbs well eventually”
    • “Creates a perfect seal for the night”
    • “Love using this for slugging in winter”
    • “Feels like a protective blanket on my face.”
  • Product separation Often Mentioned
    • “Tube squirted water everywhere”
    • “Separates into oil and solid chunks”
    • “Have to shake it violently every time”
    • “A watery mess despite being new.”
  • Versatile healing Sometimes Noted
    • “Used it on my stitches and they healed beautifully”
    • “Great for my baby's diaper rash”
    • “Healed my chemical peel peeling faster”
    • “Put it on a kitchen burn and it didn't blister.”
  • Causes breakouts Sometimes Noted
    • “Woke up with tiny whiteheads all over”
    • “Too heavy, caused deep cystic acne”
    • “Triggered a bad breakout on my chin”
    • “Not safe for fungal acne.”
  • Leaves white cast Sometimes Noted
    • “Leaves a ghost-like cast”
    • “Takes forever to rub in”
    • “Looked pale and chalky after applying”
    • “Can't wear this during the day due to the white cast.”
  • Packaging issues Rarely Noted
    • “Tube cracked on the side”
    • “Impossible to get the last bit out”
    • “Metal tube splits and leaks product”
    • “Cap broke off easily.”

Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, aveneusa.com, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, ulta.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Avène Cicalfate+ Cream a great fit for sensitive skin?

Avène Cicalfate+ Cream is a great fit for sensitive skin because it offers very good moisturizing and barrier repair, and it is safe for your skin with no risks of irritation from harsh ingredients. Glycerin and zinc oxide help maintain skin health and resilience, while zinc oxide and copper sulfate work to soothe and protect the skin.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for sensitive skin?

Glycerin and zinc oxide make this cream a great fit for sensitive skin by offering excellent moisturizing and barrier repair to keep skin healthy. Zinc oxide and copper sulfate also help soothe and protect the skin against redness and irritation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

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 Zinc Oxide do for sensitive skin?

Zinc oxide helps calm red, irritated skin and protects against irritation while being gentle enough for daily use. It is unlikely to cause trouble for delicate areas, making it a safe choice for soothing sensitive skin.

Journal of Controlled Release, 2025Biomedicines, 2025

Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?

This cream goes in the evening routine after your toner and before your moisturizer. It is a great fit for sensitive skin because it helps keep the skin calm and supports the skin barrier with no risks of irritation from harsh ingredients.

Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?

Yes, you can use this cream with retinol by applying the treatment after your retinol to help soothe dry skin and protect your barrier. This product is a great fit for sensitive skin and is unlikely to cause irritation.

Cutis, 2006Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

How often should I use this cream?

This cream is a great fit for your sensitive skin and can be used daily as part of your evening routine. Regular application helps keep your skin calm and hydrated while supporting skin barrier health.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021

Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?

This cream is unlikely to irritate sensitive skin, but it may cause breakouts for some people since reviewers moderately complain about this issue. The rich formula uses ingredients like beeswax and mineral oil which can feel heavy on certain skin types.

Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?

You can safely use this moisturizing treatment around the eyes and on the body because its formulation is gentle and well tolerated by sensitive skin. Glycerin and zinc oxide help keep skin hydrated and calm in delicate or dry areas.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • A 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, 2017
  • A single application of a topical formulation containing copper sulfate pentahydrate and Hypericum perforatum effectively managed HSV-1 and HSV-2 lesions with lower odds of burning, stinging, acute pain, erythema, and vesiculation compared to topical 5% Acyclovir cream in adult patients.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012
  • Malaysian 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, 2024
  • Balneotherapy 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, 2023
  • A 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, 2025
  • A formulation containing vitamin C, biopeptides, hyaluronic acid, and mineralizing water accelerated cell turnover to 17.1 days versus 19.2 days for untreated skin, and reduced crow's-feet, forehead, and nasolabial folds by 9%, 11%, and 5% respectively after 28 days in female subjects.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2021
  • Topical 0.5% hyaluronic-ZnO nanogel applied twice daily reduced inflammatory-lesion counts by 58% at week four in human subjects compared to baseline without causing erythema.

    Biomedicines, 2025
  • Nels cream achieved a similar reduction in inflammatory and noninflammatory lesion counts compared to 5% benzoyl peroxide in acne vulgaris patients, but caused significantly fewer side-effects such as peeling and dryness.

    Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2000
  • Topically applied coated and uncoated zinc oxide nanoparticles under flexing and massage are retained in the stratum corneum with no significant penetration into the viable epidermis and no cellular toxicity in human skin.

    Nanomedicine, 2016
  • The 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, 2020
  • Ten 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, 2001
  • Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012
  • Topical 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, 2023
  • Topical application of a honey, olive oil, and beeswax mixture three times daily for up to 4 weeks resulted in clinical responses in 86% of patients with pityriasis versicolor, 78% with tinea cruris, and 75% with tinea corporis.

    Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2004
  • A prototype body cream containing bee venom, propolis, honey, beeswax, and royal jelly demonstrated stability for 90 days, high antioxidant capacity of 85.45%, lack of cytotoxicity with over 70% cell viability, and no irritation or allergic reaction in dermatological analysis, while improving skin parameters in a panel test.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
  • MUD1 protected human dermal fibroblasts against AAPH-induced oxidative stress by increasing cell viability, reducing oxidative damage, improving mitochondrial functionality, and enhancing wound healing capacities.

    International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2018

Ingredients

Avene Thermal Spring Water Avene Aqua Avene Aqua, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Paraffinum Liquidum Mineral Oil, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Oil, Zinc Oxide, Propylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-2 Sesquiisostearate, Peg-22 Dodecyl Glycol Copolymer, Aluminum Stearate, Aquaphilus Dolomiae Ferment Filtrate, Arginine, Beeswax Cera Alba Cera, Copper Sulfate, Magnesium Stearate, Magnesium Sulfate, Microcrystalline Wax Cera Microcristallina Wax Cera, Tromethamine, Zinc Sulfate

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.

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Prices checked 17 Oct – 6 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for the Netherlands.

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