🇬🇧United Kingdom

Avène vs NIVEA

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

Avène and NIVEA are distinguished European skincare brands that offer reliable sunscreens, targeted serums, and versatile or nourishing moisturizers formulated with glycerin. The French brand suits acne-prone and oily acne-prone skin best, while the German brand suits sensitive skin and skin with dark spots best. Both brands improve skin hydration and restore barrier function through their key ingredients. They differ in their founding origins, parent companies, and specific formulations designed for mature skin or dark spots.

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

pierre-fabre.comavene.co.ukaveneusa.com

NIVEA is a German skincare brand founded in 1911 and owned by maxingvest GmbH & Co. KGaA since 2004.

beiersdorf.comen.wikipedia.org

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

Popular Avène vs NIVEA products

People Say

AvèneNIVEA
  • Anti-aging and skin smoothing Sometimes NotedMostly Mentioned
    • “Makes my face feel smooth and soft. — NIVEA Soft”
    • “skin feels squeaky clean and soft — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
    • “skin feels smooth — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
    • “skin instantly felt firmer — Avène Hyaluron Activ B3 Concentrated Plumping Serum”
  • Texture and consistency Often MentionedOften Mentioned
    • “Thick but absorbs well eventually — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
    • “absorbs very quickly — Avène Vitamin Activ Cg Radiance Concentrated Serum”
    • “lathers really well — Avène Cleanance”
    • “It's lightweight on the skin and leaves a bit of subtle sheen. — NIVEA Soft”
  • Deep hydration and moisturization Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Smoothed out dry flaky scales on my cheeks overnight — NIVEA Creme”
    • “skin feels moisturized — NIVEA Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion SPF50+”
    • “Restores moisture barrier — Avène Cold Cream”
  • Soothes and calms irritation 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”
  • Effective oil control and acne clearing Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “cleared my complexion in 7 days — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
    • “reduces blackheads — NIVEA Derma Skin Clear Anti-Blemish Scrub”
    • “Keeps me matte for hours — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
  • Price and value Rarely NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Works better than expensive luxury creams — NIVEA Creme”
    • “Best affordable vegan moisturizer. — NIVEA Soft”
    • “absolute steal for the price — NIVEA DERMA SKIN CLEAR”
    • “Bottle lasts for months — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
  • Thick texture and greasy finish Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Leaves a greasy film — Avène Cold Cream”
    • “too thick — Avène Hydrance+”
    • “sticky kinda feeling — Avène Hyaluron Activ B3 Concentrated Plumping Serum”
    • “Leaves a shiny grease layer that doesn't go away — NIVEA Creme”
  • Strong fragrance and scent issues Sometimes NotedSometimes Noted
    • “The fragrance is very present. — Avène Milk Cleanser”
    • “smell is too strong — Avène Cleanance”
    • “Scent is too overpowering for sensitive noses — NIVEA Creme”
    • “Has a heavy, baby powder smell. — NIVEA Soft”
  • Causes breakouts and acne Sometimes NotedOften Mentioned
    • “Woke up with tiny whiteheads all over — Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream”
    • “Caused small bumps/texture — Avène Soothing Radiance Mask”
    • “Broke me out initially — Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel”
    • “Clogged my pores and caused bad acne — NIVEA Creme”

Avène vs NIVEA routines for dry skin

Buy NIVEA routine · £65.81 · 82% fitBuy Avène routine · £93.03 · 77% fitSee multi-brand routine · 99% fit

Avène vs NIVEA routines for oily skin

Buy NIVEA routine · £161.96 · 87% fitBuy Avène routine · £170.97 · 86% fitSee multi-brand routine · 97% fit

Avène vs NIVEA routines for combination skin

Buy Avène routine · £195.53 · 88% fitBuy NIVEA routine · £150.97 · 87% fitSee multi-brand routine · 96% fit

Questions and answers

Avène or NIVEA: which is better?

Both brands perform well across many skin types on the products on this page, but NIVEA stands out for deep hydration and blemish-clearing serums, while Avène is frequently noted for soothing irritation and offering gentle textures. Reviewers often mention NIVEA for intense deep hydration and Avène for gentle sunscreens and cleansers.

What is the difference between Avène and NIVEA?

Avène and NIVEA both offer solid routines for most skin types, but NIVEA does better with deep hydration, anti-aging, and value, while Avène is preferred for soothing irritation and texture.

Avène or NIVEA for dry skin?

Both Avène and NIVEA offer routines that fit dry skin well. For dry sensitive skin, Lovi rates Avène as Average and NIVEA as High.

Avène or NIVEA: which moisturizer is better?

Both Avène and NIVEA offer great moisturizers, and Lovi shows that both brands have High fit levels for dry skin. Avène is often noted for soothing irritation, while NIVEA provides intense deep hydration.

Which is more affordable, Avène or NIVEA?

NIVEA is more affordable according to the review themes on price and value on this page.

How do the founding years and corporate ownerships of Avène and NIVEA compare?

Avène was founded in France in 1990 and is owned by Fondation Pierre Fabre, whereas NIVEA was founded in Germany in 1911 and has been owned by maxingvest GmbH & Co. KGaA since 2004.

Which brand performs better for anti-aging and skin smoothing according to reviewers?

According to reviewers, NIVEA performs better than Avène for anti-aging and skin smoothing.

How many products from Avène and NIVEA do not list any fragrance on the page?

Avène has 7 products on the page that list no fragrance, while NIVEA has 3 products without fragrance.

Avène or NIVEA for oily skin?

Both Avène and NIVEA are a High fit for oily skin. Reviewers note that Avène helps with gentle cleansers and oil control, while NIVEA helps with blemish-clearing serums and intense hydration.

Avène or NIVEA: which sunscreen is better?

When it comes to sunscreens on this page, Avène is often noted by reviewers for gentle and non-stripping formulas, whereas NIVEA offers options like Protect & Moisture Sun Lotion SPF50+ which has a High fit for both oily and combination skin types. Reviewers generally find Avène sunscreens to be gentle, while NIVEA provides versatile choices suited for different skin concerns.

Avène or NIVEA for sensitive skin?

Avène and NIVEA both achieve a High Lovi fit level for sensitive skin on the products on this page. Reviewers note that Avène helps soothe irritation, while NIVEA provides intense deep hydration.

Avène or NIVEA for acne-prone skin?

Both Avène and NIVEA offer a High routine fit for acne-prone skin, letting you choose based on whether you prefer Avène's soothing thermal water formulas or NIVEA's blemish-clearing serums.

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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