Avène vs Aveeno: Soothing Eczema and Atopic Dermatitis As a skincare editor with eczema-prone skin, I’m always searching for products that can both hydrate and calm flare-ups. Two lotions I […]
Avène vs Aveeno: Soothing Eczema and Atopic Dermatitis
As a skincare editor with eczema-prone skin, I’m always searching for products that can both hydrate and calm flare-ups. Two lotions I recommend are Avène XeraCalm A.D. Lipid-Replenishing Cream and Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion. While both can treat eczema, they have some key differences.
Ingredients
The Avène cream contains thermal spring water to soothe inflammation and rebalance the skin’s microbiome. It also has nourishing ceramides to repair the moisture barrier. Aveeno relies on colloidal oatmeal, which calms irritation, plus ceramides.
Effectiveness on Eczema
In my experience, both provide hydration while calming and protecting sensitive skin. However, the Avène springs water gives it a slight advantage for immediately reducing eczema inflammation and redness. The rich texture is also excellent for severely dry, cracked skin.
Texture and Feel
Avène has a richer, more emollient formula that provides a protective barrier. Aveeno absorbs faster with a lighter lotion texture. Avène excels for overnight relief while Aveeno works well during the day, under makeup or sunscreen.
Skin Calming Ability
Both products improve dryness and visibly minimize irritation thanks to soothing botanical extracts. However, eczema-prone skin may benefit more from Avène’s mineral-rich spring water and lipid replenishers that restore the skin’s natural defense barriers.
Avène’s ultra-nourishing texture makes it ideal for overnight eczema relief but potentially too greasy for daytime use. Aveeno absorbs well but may not provide enough occlusion for severely flaky skin. Aveeno is also more affordable.
Suitable Skin Types
Avène excels at treating the dryness, cracking and inflammation of atopic dermatitis. Aveeno’s gentle formula works for mild to moderate eczema as well as general sensitive, easily irritated skin.
Price
Avène costs $30-50 USD for a tube or tub while Aveeno runs just $5-12 USD per bottle. So Aveeno is the more budget-friendly option. But for serious eczema relief, Avène provides specialized formulations.
The Bottom Line
Those with mild eczema may find Aveeno’s oat-based formulas sufficiently soothing and hydrating. But for moderate to severe cases, I typically recommend Avène for its sprang water and barrier-restoring actives. Still, it’s worth trying both to see which provides the most relief if you're battling eczema flare-ups. Just be sure to moisturize diligently!