Avene vs Clinique 2023 (The Definitive Guide)

Both Avene and Clinique are well-known and have a cult-like following of loyal supporters. But which should you choose?

Today we will compare two of the brands' most popular facial cleansers and their most popular moisturizers. Fair warning: if you’re looking for cruelty-free and vegan brands, neither of these brands is for you. If that's an instant deal breaker for you, check out our latest articles to see our other popular brand comparisons!

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Avene vs Clinique Cleanser

When it comes to cleansers, Avene and Clinique boast a large array of cleansers to choose from. For the sake of summarization, we're just going to focus on their most popular products here; more specifically, their cleansers targeted towards those with acne, and their cleansers targeted for normal to oily skin.

Avene Cleanance Cleansing Gel vs Clinique Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam

If you suffer from acne-prone skin, it’s crucial to be diligent and balanced with your skincare routine. Many things can cause acne, such as bacteria, hormones, and excess sebum.

A good cleanser with active ingredients to treat the inflammation without stripping the skin is the first step in reducing or eliminating outbreaks.

Both Avène’s Cleanance Cleansing Gel and Clinique’s Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam have active ingredients to reduce excess sebum production and eliminate blemishes. However, there are some key differences to note.

Avène’s Cleanance Cleansing Gel is designed to be gentle on the skin. The gel is composed of milder surfactants such as Lauryl Betaine and Zinc Coceth Sulfate to cleanse the skin effectively and gently. It contains Monolaurin, a patent-pending ingredient that helps regulate the skin’s sebum production.

Clinique’s Acne Solutions Cleansing Foam is the first step of the brand’s comprehensive Acne Solutions Clear Skin System. It’s advertised as a mild cleanser that contains active ingredients that have been proven to assist in the reduction of acne. Salicylic Acid and Acetyl Glycosamine work together to unclog the pores, and Laminaria Sacharina Extract acts as an oil control agent. Other ingredients also help soothe redness and inflammation.

Avene Mattifying Cleansing Foam vs Clinique All About Clean Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser

If your skin tends to be oily or combination-oily but not acne-prone, you’ll need a cleanser that helps to reduce excess sebum without stripping away all the skin’s protective sebum. Both Avène and Clinique have great options for your skin type. Neither cleanser contain an excessive number of oils or butter, but there are some critical differences in the formulas that may sway your decision between the two.

Avène’s Mattifying Cleansing Foam is a fantastic foaming cleanser that will mattify the complexion by absorbing excess sebum. It also can remove lightweight makeup. It’s a soap-free cleanser that is non-stripping and gentle. It also has a blend of glutamic and lactic acids that will gently exfoliate the skin to unclog pores and regulate sebum production.

Clinique’s All About Clean Rinse-Off Foaming Cleanser is also a gentle cleanser with a silky cream-mousse texture that can remove long-wear makeup and sunscreen. It’s also formulated with glycerin and hyaluronic acid to moisturize the skin.

Avene vs Clinique Moisturizer

If you have oily or acne-prone skin, moisturizing may seem counterproductive. After all, won’t more oil cause more breakouts? Well, not necessarily.

Moisturizing is an essential step in your skincare routine regardless of your skin type. When you deprive your skin of the moisture it needs, the skin compensates for this dryness by producing more oil. Consistency will allow the skin to recognize that it is no longer in crisis control, and patience will be vital as the skin begins to rebalance itself.

Avène’s Hydrance Light Hydrating Emulsion is a 24-hour moisturizer that softens the skin and doesn’t leave behind a sticky residue. It contains Cohederm, a patented hydrating complex that creates a micro-reservoir of water on the skin’s surface. The skin can draw from the reservoir to stay hydrated. It also contains glycerin, which is an excellent humectant to draw water into the skin further.

However, it does contain fragrance, or parfum, a common irritant in skincare.

While Clinique’s Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion doesn’t contain fragrances like Avène’s lotion, it also has another ingredient that might make you hesitate before purchasing–mineral oil.

While both brands’ moisturizers have strikes against them, we recommend choosing Avène’s daily moisturizer. The ingredient list is, in general, cleaner than Clinique’s and has more hydrating ingredients.

Avene vs Clinique Conclusion

Avène is a well-known and trusted French skincare brand. While the actual skincare brand wasn’t established until 1990, the brand has a rich history spanning back to the mid-1700s. The heart of the brand’s product lineup prioritizes the use of Avène Thermal Spring Water. This spring water has natural forming microflora that is beneficial to sensitive skin. The water was used throughout history to help patients suffering from dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, and burns.

Clinique was launched in 1968. While it was technically on the market for 22 years more than Avène, it doesn’t have an extensive history like Avène. While Clinique is sold in over 140 countries, it’s a household name in the United States. It’s an American manufacturer and is a subsidiary of Estée Lauder Companies. Many American women view going to the Clinique counter at their local department store almost as a “coming of age” celebration. The white coat that the employees wear mimics that of medical professionals, which inspires feelings of confidence in their clients.

If your skin is uber-sensitive, Avène’s products will be your best bet due to their use of Avène Thermal Spring Water in all their formulas and their philosophy that less is more.

If your skin is not super sensitive and you’re looking for quick results, Clinique’s products will better fit you.

Regardless of which brand you choose to try, it’s crucial to pay attention to how your skin feels or reacts. The rush to see results may cause more harm than good if your skin feels raw or sensitive. If you notice an increase in your skin’s sensitivity, you should consider something gentler with fewer active ingredients.

Best Avene Ranges

For very sensitive skin:
Try the Tolérance Range

For redness or rosacea:
Try the Antirougeurs Range

For acne and oily, blemish-prone skin:
Try the Cleanance Range

Best Clinique Ranges

For the eyes:
Try All About Eyes

For redness:
Try Redness Solutions

For extra moisture:
Try Moisture Surge

This article was originally published on February 14th 2022, but it has been reviewed and updated with the latest available information on January 26th 2024 by Sara Mckay, MA.