Avène Cold Cream for acne-prone skin
Paraffinum Liquidum Mineral Oil
Avene Thermal Spring Water Avene Aqua Avene Aqua
Beeswax Cera Alba Cera
Glyceryl Stearate
Cetyl Alcohol
Average
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it 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
- Offers moderate moisturizing for your combination skin due to mineral oil and beeswax, which hydrate and enhance barrier resilience, but lacks targeted ingredients for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- While generally safe and free of harsh ingredients for combination skin, the formula does not provide sufficient oil control for the oily areas of your face.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your moisturizer twice a day in your AM and PM routines. Apply it daily to help keep breakouts under control.
- Apply after your cleanser and toner, and make sure to use your SPF right after in the morning.
- Gently spread a small amount of moisturizer over your face using soft motions. Let it absorb into the skin for a minute before getting dressed or applying makeup.
- Apply on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture. This keeps your combination skin balanced without feeling heavy.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use. Stop using if you feel any irritation.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsBased on limited data, users find this cream to be a winter essential, deeply nourishing and protecting very dry, sensitive skin. It is highly effective for restoring the moisture barrier and soothing irritation, though some users report a heavy or greasy texture that they prefer for nighttime use.
Highlights
Intense winter protection Mostly Mentioned
- “Saves my skin in winter”
- “creates a protective mask”
- “essential for skiing”
- “blocks the sharp wind”
Deeply moisturizing Often Mentioned
- “Restores moisture barrier”
- “healed my dry patches”
- “skin feels supple again”
- “no more flaking”
Greasy finish Often Mentioned
- “Leaves a greasy film”
- “too shiny for day use”
- “feels heavy on face”
- “pillow gets oily”
Rich and economical Sometimes Noted
- “A little goes a long way”
- “tube lasts for months”
- “very rich texture”
- “thick and creamy”
Soothing for sensitivity Sometimes Noted
- “Relieved itching immediately”
- “calms my redness”
- “perfect for sensitive skin”
- “doesn't sting”
Old-fashioned scent Sometimes Noted
- “Smells like grandma”
- “strong herbal scent”
- “perfumey smell”
- “wish it was unscented”
Potential breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Caused closed comedones”
- “clogged my pores”
- “too rich for my T-zone”
- “gave me spots”
Price vs. size Rarely Noted
- “Tiny tube for the money”
- “expensive for the amount”
- “wish it came in a bigger tub”
Sources: lovi.care, lovelyskin.com, influenster.com, makeup.uk, boots.com, sweetcare.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Avène Cold Cream work for acne-prone skin?
Avène Cold Cream works as an average fit for acne-prone skin because it offers moderate moisturizing through mineral oil and beeswax, but it lacks targeted ingredients for breakouts and does not control oil well. A moisturizer for this skin needs ingredients that help with acne and blemishes while providing balanced hydration without irritation.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Mineral oil and beeswax make this cream a moderate fit for acne-prone skin by hydrating the skin and strengthening its barrier. However, this skin needs moisturizers with ingredients that target breakouts and control oil.
What does Mineral Oil do for acne-prone skin?
Mineral oil helps keep skin soft by holding in moisture, but for acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs non-clogging ingredients that won't trap oils and trigger breakouts.
What does Avene Thermal Spring Water do for acne-prone skin?
Avene Thermal Spring Water helps calm red, irritated skin and soothe flare-ups thanks to its natural anti-inflammatory properties. It is gentle enough to use daily as a refreshing mist, though acne-prone skin also needs targeted ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to clear breakouts.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2011
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This cream goes toward the end of your morning and evening routines as your moisturizer, after your cleanser and toners or treatments. It provides moderate hydration for your skin, but acne-prone skin also needs targeted blemish-fighting ingredients and oil control.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this moisturizer with retinol by applying it after your retinol treatment to help calm dryness and keep your skin soft. This type of product works well for acne-prone skin when it also includes ingredients that control oil and target breakouts.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizer daily in your morning and evening routines. Regular application helps keep your skin soft and comfortable, though acne-prone skin needs products with oil control and targeted blemish-fighting ingredients.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause harsh irritation, but it may cause breakouts for acne-prone skin because it lacks oil control and targeted blemish ingredients. To truly help this skin type, a product needs lightweight hydration and ingredients that clear pores and balance oil.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can safely use this cream around the eyes and on your body because its gentle formula has an excellent safety profile without harsh ingredients. It helps keep thin or dry areas soft and smooth, though acne-prone skin needs a product with targeted blemish control and oil management.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Scientific Reports, 2021
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum). Cetyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
A lubricant mixture of 20 wt% beeswax, 40 wt% olive oil, and 40 wt% mineral oil reduced the instantaneous and 4-hour coefficient of friction by 87% and 59%, respectively, compared to unlubricated skin in seven participants.
Scientific Reports, 2021Repeated application of concentrated water-in-oil emulsions over four weeks caused no skin irritation, positively affected skin properties, and delivered almost 50% of the applied fluorescein sodium, with isopropyl myristate showing superior penetration performance compared to liquid paraffin in healthy volunteers.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2019Balneotherapy 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, 2025Topical 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, 2004A 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, 2022MUD1 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, 2018A soap-free cleansing lotion containing cetyl alcohol and sodium cocoyl apple amino acids reduced skin surface impurities and improved skin hydration, barrier function, and skin tone in 27 healthy adult subjects over 30 days.
Cureus, 2025
Why other moisturizers fit acne-prone skin better
Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A facial serum containing snail secretion filtrate, Calendula officinalis, and Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract significantly reduced inflammatory acne lesions compared to placebo in 66 participants with mild-to-moderate maskne over 12 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Ingredients
Paraffinum Liquidum Mineral Oil, Avene Thermal Spring Water Avene Aqua Avene Aqua, Beeswax Cera Alba Cera, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Bht, C20-40 Pareth-10, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetyl Phosphate, Parfum, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Isostearate, Triethanolamine, Water
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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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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