Avène Hydrance+ for acne-prone skin
Glycerin
Butyl MethoxydibenzoylmethaneCaution
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A poor match for acne-prone skin; the sunscreens alongside fit it better.
- Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1987
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
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 and UV protection for your combination skin, with glycerin providing hydration and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane offering UV defense, but it lacks specialized ingredients to target acne, blemishes, and breakouts effectively.
- Tocopheryl acetate provides antioxidant benefits, which is suitable for combination skin, but the formula's primary focus is not on addressing your primary concerns.
How to apply
- Apply this moisturizing sunscreen AM every morning as the final step of your daily routine.
- Layer the moisturizing sunscreen after your moisturizer has fully absorbed, right before heading out into the sun .
- Smooth a nickel-sized amount of the moisturizing sunscreen evenly over your face, avoiding harsh rubbing.
- Apply the moisturizing sunscreen onto clean, dry skin to ensure even coverage and protection.
- Perform a patch test before first use and avoid direct contact with the eyes.
People Say
★4.1Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsThis product is praised as a gentle, hydrating mineral sunscreen and moisturizer suitable for dry and sensitive skin. A significant number of users with medium to darker skin tones report a noticeable white cast, and some find the texture too thick or difficult to blend.
Highlights
Leaves white cast Mostly Mentioned
- “leaves a white layer”
- “ghostly look”
- “not for dark skin”
Gentle, non-irritating Often Mentioned
- “no irritation at all”
- “soothes my skin”
Deeply hydrating Sometimes Noted
- “skin feels soft”
- “intense hydration”
- “healed my dry patches”
Dewy finish Sometimes Noted
- “nice dewy finish”
- “good makeup base”
- “leaves a glow”
Mineral formula Sometimes Noted
- “love that it's mineral”
- “no chemical filters”
- “doesn't sting eyes”
Thick texture Sometimes Noted
- “too thick”
- “hard to rub in”
- “feels heavy”
Can be greasy Rarely Noted
- “too shiny”
- “greasy finish”
- “face looks oily”
Pills easily Rarely Noted
- “pills under makeup”
- “balls up”
- “weird graininess”
Sources: lovi.care, aveneusa.com, ulta.com, lovelyskin.com, walgreens.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with Avène Hydrance+ for acne-prone skin?
Lovi advises caution because this sunscreen lacks specialized ingredients to target blemishes and breakouts effectively. A product of this type needs high-quality ingredients that address acne, provide hydration without adding excess oil, support the skin barrier, and contain antioxidants like Vitamin E and niacinamide.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Scientific Reports, 2025
Which ingredients make this cream a poor fit for acne-prone skin?
This cream is a poor match for your acne-prone skin because it lacks specialized ingredients to target breakouts and blemishes effectively. A moisturizing spf for this skin type needs high-quality ingredients like niacinamide and ceramide-3 to hydrate without adding excess oil or causing irritation.
What does Water do for acne-prone skin?
Water-based hydration helps keep acne-prone skin balanced by providing essential moisture without adding excess oil. Proper hydration also helps reduce dryness and flakiness that can sometimes result from harsh acne treatments.
What does Glycerin do for acne-prone skin?
Glycerin helps keep acne-prone skin hydrated and calm without clogging pores or feeling heavy. It supports the skin barrier so it stays soft and smooth while handling everyday treatments.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This cream goes in the morning routine as a moisturizer and spf step, after a cleanser and hydrating toner. Because it is a poor match for acne-prone skin, a product of this type for this skin needs specialized ingredients that target acne, blemishes, and breakouts effectively.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream in the morning before your sunscreen, but you should choose a product with specialized ingredients to target acne, blemishes, and breakouts for your evening routine with retinol.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing spf daily in the morning to keep your skin hydrated and protected from the sun. However, because it is a poor match for acne-prone skin, it needs specialized ingredients that target breakouts and blemishes.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
You should use caution with this moisturizing spf on acne-prone skin because it may feel greasy or thick and lacks specialized ingredients to target breakouts effectively. Acne-prone skin needs lightweight hydration, soothing ingredients like Centella asiatica, and blemish-fighting additions to stay clear and smooth.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).
What the research says
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, 1987A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Co-encapsulation of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl acetate in nanostructured lipid carrier gel formulations significantly enhanced moisture retention up to 68% and improved skin elasticity in human volunteers compared to a solution gel.
Scientific Reports, 2025Vitamin E in O/W and W/O emulsions significantly increased stratum corneum hydration and enhanced water-binding capacity, with an optimum concentration of 5%.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 1998The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Encapsulation 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, 2011Microencapsulation 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, 2011Following 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
Ingredients
Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Methylene Bis-Benzotriazolyl Tetramethylbutylphenol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Benzoic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum
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
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