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Avène Cleanance for acne-prone skin

Avène Cleanance

High

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

A great choice for acne-prone skin; a few sunscreens fit it even better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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

  • This product offers excellent UV protection for your combination skin, with butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane and bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine shielding against sun damage. Zinc gluconate and tocopheryl glucoside further support your combination skin by regulating sebum and providing antioxidant benefits, respectively, which are beneficial for managing acne and breakouts.
  • The formulation is designed to be safe for your skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
  • Its safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your combination skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.

How to apply

  • Apply this sunscreen every morning as the final step of your skincare routine. Reapply every two hours if you are outdoors for best protection against breakouts.
  • Apply the sunscreen after your moisturizer and before applying any makeup. Let it absorb completely ⏱ before going outside.
  • Take a nickel-sized amount and gently pat it evenly across your face and neck. Avoid rubbing aggressively to keep your combination skin calm.
  • Apply the sunscreen on clean, dry skin to ensure an even protective layer. This helps manage excess shine without clogging your pores.
  • Avoid the immediate eye area and do a quick patch test before first use. Stop using it if you notice any irritation and consult a specialist.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 1000+ reviews

Users with oily, acne-prone, and sensitive skin highly recommend this cleanser for its deep yet gentle cleansing action, effectively managing excess oil and preventing breakouts without stripping moisture. While most users appreciate the fresh, matte, and soothed complexion it provides, a moderate number of reviews mention a strong fragrance, and a few users with drier or very sensitive skin experienced some dryness or irritation.

Highlights

  • Gentle and non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
    • “leaves face clean but not dry”
    • “doesn't strip moisture”
    • “gentle on sensitive skin”
    • “no tight feeling”
  • Effective oil control Often Mentioned
    • “keeps skin matte”
    • “reduces excess sebum”
    • “controls oil well”
    • “less greasy throughout the day”
  • Helps clear acne Sometimes Noted
    • “keeps breakouts at bay”
    • “cleared up my acne”
    • “reduces blackheads”
    • “prevents new spots”
  • Pleasant texture and lather Sometimes Noted
    • “lathers really well”
    • “light blue gel feels nice”
    • “little goes a long way”
    • “foams up easily”
  • Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
    • “smell is too strong”
    • “heavily fragranced”
    • “artificial scent”
    • “wish it was unscented”
  • Can be drying Rarely Noted
    • “dried out my skin”
    • “left face feeling tight”
    • “caused peeling”
    • “too harsh for dry areas”
  • Caused irritation Rarely Noted
    • “burned my skin”
    • “caused redness”
    • “broke me out”
    • “irritated my eyes”
  • Price point Rarely Noted
    • “a bit pricey”
    • “expensive for a face wash”
    • “pricier than standard cleansers”
    • “cost is high”

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

Questions and answers

What makes Avène Cleanance SPF a great fit for acne-prone skin?

Avène Cleanance SPF is a great fit because it shields your skin from the sun while using zinc gluconate to help regulate oil and manage breakouts. It is very safe for your skin and is unlikely to cause irritation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026

Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for acne-prone skin?

Zinc gluconate and tocopheryl glucoside make this cream a good fit for acne-prone skin by helping regulate oil and providing antioxidant benefits. This formulation is very safe for your skin and is unlikely to cause irritation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026

What does Avobenzone do for acne-prone skin?

Avobenzone helps protect acne-prone skin from harmful ultraviolet rays that can worsen dark spots left by breakouts. However, sunscreens with this ingredient may feel heavy on oily skin, so acne-prone skin needs lightweight, oil-free formulas that block UV rays without clogging pores.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2009

What does Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine do for acne-prone skin?

Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine is a reliable UV filter that protects acne-prone skin from sun damage without clogging pores or feeling heavy. It helps shield the skin while remaining gentle, making it a safe choice for daily use when you want to prevent dark spots from old blemishes without causing new breakouts.

Where does it go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?

Apply this sunscreen in the morning as the final step of your skincare routine, right after your moisturizer. It is well-suited for acne-prone skin because it shields against sun damage without causing irritation or breakouts.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

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

You can use this sunscreen in the morning as the final step before sun exposure, after applying your retinol routine the night before. This product is very safe for acne-prone skin and is unlikely to cause irritation.

How often should I use it?

Use this sunscreen every morning as the final step in your daytime routine to shield your skin from sun damage. It is gentle enough for daily application and helps keep breakouts under control without causing irritation.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?

This cream is a great fit for acne-prone skin because it includes zinc gluconate to help regulate oil and protect against sun damage without causing irritation. Its safe formulation is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your skin.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026

Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).

What the research says

  • Daily use of a deep cleansing gel containing salicylic acid 2%, zinc gluconate 0.2% and lipohydroxy acid 0.05% significantly reduced total lesion count by 56.3% after 84 days in 35 subjects with mild to moderate truncal acne.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023
  • A dermocosmetic cream containing Punica granatum Pericarp extract, Salicylic acid, Niacinamide, Zinc gluconate, and Aqua Posae Filiformis significantly decreased inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesion counts in subjects with mild to moderate acne compared to untreated hemi-faces after 15 days.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
  • Parsol 1789 and Eusolex 8020 provided slightly better photoprotection than oxybenzone in both normal and sensitized human skin when assessed using pigmentation end points, whereas all three sunscreens performed similarly against UVA-induced erythema.

    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1987
  • Encapsulation of ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane in lipid microparticles significantly reduced their in vivo human skin penetration compared to nonencapsulated filters.

    Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2011
  • Microencapsulation of the BMDBM/HP-beta-CD complex in lipid microparticles significantly decreased the percutaneous penetration of the UV filter into the stratum corneum of human volunteers compared to the non-encapsulated sunscreen agent.

    Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 2011
  • Following human skin application of an O/W emulsion containing 2% BMDBM loaded in lipospheres, 15% of the sunscreen accumulated in the uppermost layers of the stratum corneum without remarkably modifying skin permeation compared to unencapsulated sunscreen.

    Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2008
  • Maximal topical applications of 6% bemotrizinol in a model sunscreen formulation did not result in meaningful systemic exposure in humans.

    Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 2023
  • Different strains of Propionibacterium acnes modulate cutaneous innate immunity with varying pro-inflammatory potentials, with P. acnes type III showing the highest and P. avidum the weakest, and zinc gluconate down-regulates the expression of most induced immune markers.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2013
  • Zinc gluconate induced alpha2, alpha3, alphaV, and alpha6 integrins, copper gluconate induced alpha2, alpha6, and beta1, and manganese gluconate induced most studied integrins in cultured keratinocytes.

    The British Journal of Dermatology, 1999
  • Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
  • Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.

    Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021
  • Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

Ingredients

Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Diethylhexyl Butamido Triazone, Silica, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Benzoic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium Edta, Parfum, Glyceryl Laurate, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Glucoside, Xanthan Gum, Zinc Gluconate

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 5 Nov 2026

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