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Avène vs MAC

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

Avène and MAC are established beauty brands offering distinct approaches to daily maintenance. The French brand, founded in 1990 and owned by Fondation Pierre Fabre, is loved for its gentle moisturizers, protective sunscreens, targeted serums, and soothing cleansers formulated with glycerin, suiting oily acne-prone skin and combination skin best. Conversely, the Canadian brand, founded in 1984 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994, is beloved for reliable moisturizers and makeup removers crafted from carefully balanced formulas, suiting balanced skin best. While both provide thoughtful options for particular concerns, they differ in their heritage, foundational ingredients, and ideal skin types.

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

pierre-fabre.comavene.co.ukaveneusa.com

MAC is a Canadian skincare brand founded in 1984 and owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994.

elcompanies.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular Avène vs MAC products

People Say

AvèneMAC
  • Excellent makeup base and primer Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “foundation glides on — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Sits beautifully under makeup — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
  • Soothes and calms skin Mostly 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”
    • “Perfect cleanser for sensitive skin. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
  • Lightweight hydration and radiant glow Not notedMostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “lit-from-within look — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Absorbs in a snap — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
  • Softens skin texture and blurs pores Not notedOften Mentioned
    • “Reduces appearance of pores — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”
    • “petal-soft skin — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Gentle and non-stripping cleansing Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Emulsifies beautifully and rinses off without a greasy film. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “Leaves skin feeling soft and supple, never tight. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “Doesn't sting my eyes or blur my vision. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “leaves face clean but not dry — Avène Cleanance”
  • Effective makeup removal Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Removes waterproof mascara completely without needing a separate remover. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
    • “Remove a all of the makeup with ease. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
  • Price point and value 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”
    • “too expensive — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
  • Strong fragrance and scent Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “The fragrance is very present. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
    • “smell is too strong — Avène Cleanance”
    • “scent is overpowering — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Has a scent that might irritate very sensitive noses. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
  • Causes breakouts and acne Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “Woke up with tiny whiteheads all over — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
    • “Caused small bumps/texture — Avène Soothing Radiance Mask”
    • “caused acne — MAC Hyper Real Serumizer”
    • “Breaks me out, I got pimples from this. — MAC Hyper Real Fresh Canvas Cleansing Oil”
  • Not hydrating enough or ineffective Rarely NotedSometimes Noted
    • “no difference — Avène Antirougeurs Fort Relief Concentrate”
    • “Not hydrating enough and my skin feels so dry even right after applying the cream. — Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm”
    • “no difference after month — Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum”
    • “Don't expect miracles — MAC Mineralize Timecheck Lotion”

Questions and answers

Avène or MAC: which is better?

Avène and MAC each suit different needs, with Avène focusing heavily on soothing sensitive skin and calming irritation while MAC excels at lightweight moisturizers and makeup bases. For shoppers prioritizing gentle care, Avène is unlikely to disappoint, though its products on this page sometimes feature strong fragrance.

What is the difference between Avène and MAC?

Avene tends to do better at soothing and calming skin and offers better price point and value, while MAC excels as a makeup base and primer, provides lightweight hydration and a radiant glow, softens skin texture and blurs pores, and offers gentle and non-stripping cleansing.

Avène or MAC: which moisturizer is better?

Avène and MAC both offer quality moisturizers, but Avène stands out for soothing sensitive skin, while MAC excels at providing lightweight hydration and a radiant glow. Lovi gives Avène products like Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm a Superior fit for dry skin, whereas MAC products such as Mineralize Timecheck Lotion achieve a High fit for dry skin.

Which is more affordable, Avène or MAC?

When it comes to price point and value, Avène does better than MAC. Reviewers often mention the high price point of MAC products, while Avène is noted as being more budget-friendly.

Which causes fewer breakouts, Avène or MAC?

According to the review themes on this page, Avène and MAC perform equally when it comes to causing breakouts and acne.

Which brand has more products without fragrance, Avène or MAC?

Avène has more products without fragrance, with 7 out of 15 products on this page listing no fragrance. In comparison, MAC has 0 out of 3 products on this page without fragrance.

When was Avène founded compared to MAC, and who owns each company?

Avène was founded in France in 1990 and is owned by Fondation Pierre Fabre, while MAC was founded in Canada in 1984 and has been owned by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. since 1994.

How does the Lovi fit level for dry skin compare between Avène's and MAC's moisturizers?

For dry skin, Avène offers moisturizers with fit levels ranging from Average to Superior, while MAC moisturizers on this page achieve High and Average fit levels. Lovi gives Avène's Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm a Superior fit for dry skin, whereas MAC's Mineralize Timecheck Lotion reaches a High fit.

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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