Avene vs CeraVe (The Definitive Guide)

We're positive you've seen Avene and CeraVe on the shelves at your local beauty store before. But which is best? And which brand should you choose?

Come with us as we compare their best-sellers side-by-side to help you decide which is best for you and your skincare routine.

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Avene vs CeraVe

Whether you’re dealing with dry skin due to arid climes, an unforgiving sunburn, or maybe that’s just how your skin is, we understand your pain. The tightness, the cracking, the discomfort—it’s awful. Thus, it’s crucial to find something you can rely on for relief (and repair).

While there are countless moisturizers with fancy ingredients and luxury price tags for the job, thankfully you can find simple, effective formulas at a fraction of the price. That said, today our sights are set on Avène’s Revitalizing Nourishing Cream RICH and CeraVe’s Moisturizing Cream.

But which one works better overall? Don’t worry—we’ll break it down and give you the deets.

Dry skin is typically also dull and a bit more sensitive. That’s why Avène’s cream is made with hydrating lipids, vitamins, and antioxidants to treat your dermal woes. Red fruit extract, pre-tocopheryl, shea butter, and Avène’s exclusive thermal spring water replenish, protect, and soothes skin’s moisture barrier for a soft, more revitalized look and feel. Still skeptical? Well, after 77 reviews, this cream has maintained a 5-star rating.

Created with hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides front and center, CeraVe’s Moisturizing Cream works to nourish and restore skin’s moisture barrier. It’s designed to slowly release its ceramides over time, ensuring efficient nourishment long after application. Further, this pharmacy favorite is suitable for those with dry and very dry skin—whether it be their face or body. With 14,010 reviews and counting, it currently has a promising 4.7-star rating.

Lastly, Avène’s formula is $38 for a 1.6oz jar, while CeraVe’s cream is only $16.29 for a 12oz (approximately 355ml) jar.

It’s hard to deny how impressive Avène’s rating is, but you ultimately get more bang for your buck and comparable results from CeraVe. Maybe elaborating on each brand’s approach to business ethics will help to clear up any indecisiveness.

Welp, Cruelty-Free Kitty has shared that Avène isn’t cruelty-free, nor are they a vegan company. However, their parent company, Pierre Fabre Dermo-Cosmétique, claims that they don’t test any of their products or ingredients on animals. But, to clarify the first allegation, Cruelty-Free Kitty claims that Avène may test their ingredients on animals through suppliers or a third-party. (To that, we say, use your own discretion.)

Regarding sustainability efforts, 100% of the power consumption from their power plant comes from renewable sources of energy with no direct CO2 emissions. They’ve also partnered with the National Forestry Organisation and the National Center for Forest Property to manage and monitor their relationship with the forests they source from. We couldn’t locate their initiatives around sustainable packaging or philanthropy—if any—but their environmentally-friendly approach(es) is certainly a step in the right direction.

AllPlants.com has reported that CeraVe isn’t cruelty-free, as their products are sold in mainland China, where animal testing is required by law. They’re also not 100% vegan, but the same website reports that CeraVe may offer products in the United Kingdom that don’t contain animal products.

Additionally, TreeHugger.com reveals that CeraVe also isn’t very eco-friendly, and their parent company, L’Oréal, isn’t transparent about their supply chain processes. Evidently, they use a lot of plastic packaging (and it’s unclear if any of it is recyclable) as well as some “environmentally controversial” ingredients.

It appears that both brands could do a better job when it comes to humanitarian work and manufacturing in a way that’s better for the planet. However, Avène is slightly ahead of CeraVe in that aspect and has a better rating, so Avène reigns supreme in this showdown.