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Avène vs Dr. Barbara Sturm

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes · How the Fit score works

Avène and Dr. Barbara Sturm are established skincare brands that offer distinct approaches to complexion care, with the French company founded in 1990 and the German house established in 2014. The former is known for gentle moisturizers, protective sunscreens, targeted serums, and soothing cleansers formulated with glycerin, which suits oily acne-prone skin and combination skin best. Conversely, the latter is celebrated for gentle moisturizers, clarifying exfoliants, and nourishing serums built on scientifically advanced formulas that suit sensitive, dry, and balanced skin best. Ultimately, they differ in their foundational ingredients and specific target skin types while both providing dedicated solutions for concerns like acne, dark spots, and aging.

Avène is a French skincare brand founded in 1990 and owned by Fondation Pierre Fabre.

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Dr. Barbara Sturm is a German skincare brand founded in 2014 and owned by Puig since 2024.

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This page compares some of the most popular Avène and Dr. Barbara Sturm products; for every product of both brands, with a fit score for your own skin, use the Lovi app.

Popular Avène vs Dr. Barbara Sturm products

People Say

AvèneDr. Barbara Sturm
  • Texture and Absorption Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “sinks in immediately — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
    • “sinks in quickly — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
    • “lasts almost 5 months — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
    • “Thick but absorbs well eventually — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
  • Soothing and Calming Mostly MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “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”
    • “doesn't irritate my sensitive skin — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
    • “reduced redness — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Skin Barrier and Texture Repair Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin texture is immediately more even — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
    • “lines less visible — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
    • “Healed my over-exfoliated skin in days — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
  • Hydration and Moisture Often MentionedMostly Mentioned
    • “skin drank it up — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
    • “skin feels softer — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
    • “Saves my skin in winter — Avène Cold Cream”
  • Radiance and Glow Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “skin looks brighter — Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum”
    • “healthy glow — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
    • “immediate radiance boost — Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum”
  • Cleansing and Oil Control Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Keeps me matte for hours — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
    • “keeps skin matte — Avène Cleanance”
    • “deep yet gentle cleanse — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
    • “great for combination skin — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
  • High Price Point Sometimes 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”
    • “way too expensive — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Packaging and Product Issues Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “bring it back — Avène Antirougeurs Fort Relief Concentrate”
    • “Tube squirted water everywhere — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
    • “tacky finish — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
    • “pills under makeup — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Low Efficacy or Minimal Results Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “it didn't do anything for my dark circles — Avène RetrinAL EYES”
    • “no difference after month — Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum”
    • “did nothing — Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum”
  • Skin Irritation and Dryness Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Left my face tight — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
    • “dried out my skin — Avène Cleanance”
    • “face feels a bit tight — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”
    • “quite red after — Dr. Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser”

Questions and answers

Avène or Dr. Barbara Sturm: which is better?

Dr. Barbara Sturm is better for texture and absorption, hydration and moisture, and radiance and glow. Avène has a more favorable price point than Dr. Barbara Sturm, but the products on this page may experience lower efficacy or minimal results.

What is the difference between Avène and Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Avène and Dr. Barbara Sturm differ mainly in their formulation focus and pricing, with Dr. Barbara Sturm scoring higher for texture, absorption, hydration, and skin barrier repair on the products on this page. Reviewers note that Avène is more affordable, whereas Dr. Barbara Sturm tends to have a higher price point while offering fragrance-free options across its line.

Avène or Dr. Barbara Sturm: which moisturizer is better?

For moisturizers, Dr. Barbara Sturm achieves a High Lovi fit for oily skin with its Hyaluronic Serum, while Avène offers multiple options like Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm that reaches a Superior Lovi fit for dry skin. Sodium hyaluronate helps improve skin hydration and signs of aging.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

Which is more affordable, Avène or Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Avène is more affordable, as Dr. Barbara Sturm is noted for a high price point that places Avène as the lower-priced option among the products on this page.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Avène or Dr. Barbara Sturm?

When it comes to breakout control, the products on this page for both Avène and Dr. Barbara Sturm are considered equal. Avène fits best on oily acne-prone skin and combination skin, and offers options like Cleanance Cleansing Gel which has a High fit level for acne-prone skin.

Which brand has been established longer, Avène or Dr. Barbara Sturm?

Avène has been established longer, having been founded in France in 1990 compared to Dr. Barbara Sturm, which was founded in Germany in 2014.

Do all Dr. Barbara Sturm products list no fragrance in their ingredients, unlike Avène?

Yes, every Dr. Barbara Sturm product on this page lists no fragrance in its ingredients, whereas 8 of the 15 Avène products on this page list fragrance.

Which brand performs better in texture and absorption according to review themes?

Dr. Barbara Sturm performs better in texture and absorption according to the review themes on this page.

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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