A-derma Epitheliale A.H Ultra Versus Avène Hydrance Rich Hydrating Cream

See how these products line up with your preferences

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of A-derma Epitheliale A.H Ultra versus Avène Hydrance Rich Hydrating Cream .

Published on February 21, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe general moisturizers. They have a total of 13 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for dry skin and brightening skin

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, parabens or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain silicones

We independently verify ingredients, and our claims are backed by peer-reviewed research. Spot a product that need an update? Let us know.

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A-derma Epitheliale A.H Ultra

Avène Hydrance Rich Hydrating Cream

General Moisturizer French Brand France

General Moisturizer

All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.

General Moisturizer

All-purpose moisturizers hydrate the top layer of skin cells.

Price

Shop

Buy Epitheliale A.H Ultra

Starts at $39.99

Shop

Buy Hydrance Rich Hydrating Cream

Starts at $35.00

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant ingredients.

A-derma Epitheliale A.H Ultra 25 ingredients

Avène Hydrance Rich Hydrating Cream 23 ingredients

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

alcohol-free

silicon-free

fragrance-free

sulfate-free

paraben-free

oil-free

fungal-acne safe

reef-safe

eu-allergen-free

vegan

cruelty-free

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

A-derma Epitheliale A.H Ultra 25 ingredients

Avène Hydrance Rich Hydrating Cream 23 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin E

Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (2)

Brightening (2)

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin (3)

Acne Trigger

Eczema (2)

Benefits

Hydrating (2)

Brightening

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin (3)

Acne Trigger

Rosacea

Eczema (2)

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Ingredients Compared

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

A-derma Epitheliale A.H Ultra 25 ingredients

Avène Hydrance Rich Hydrating Cream 23 ingredients

Water • Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Glycerin • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter • Dimethicone • Cetearyl Alcohol • Glyceryl Palmitate/Stearate • Stearic Acid • Sodium Hyaluronate • Avena Sativa Leaf/Stem Extract • Alanyl Glutamine • Uncaria Tomentosa Extract • Batyl Alcohol • Benzoic Acid • Caprylyl Glycol • Cetearyl Glucoside • Dimethiconol • Polyacrylate-13 • Polyisobutene • Polysorbate 20 • Propylene Glycol • Sodium Hydroxide • Sorbitan Isostearate • Tocopheryl Acetate • Xanthan Gum

Paraffinum Liquidum • Glycerin • Isohexadecane • Dimethicone • Cetearyl Alcohol • Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil • Isocetyl Stearoyl Stearate • Peg-100 Stearate • 1,2-Hexanediol • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter • Cetearyl Glucoside • Benzoic Acid • Beta-Sitosterol • BHA • Disodium EDTA • Parfum • Polyacrylate-13 • Polyisobutene • Polysorbate 20 • Sodium Hydroxide • Sorbitan Isostearate • Water • Xanthan Gum

Ingredients Side-by-side

Ingredients that are highlighted in purple are present in both products.

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Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Water

What it does: Skin Conditioning, Solvent

Community Rating: Loved

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. Talk about multi-purpose! If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

A-derma Epitheliale A.H Ultra contains this as ingredient number 1.

Avène Hydrance Rich Hydrating Cream contains this as ingredient number 22.

Glycerin

What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting, Solvent

Community Rating: Loved

Glycerin is already naturally found in your skin. It helps moisturize and protect your skin.

A study from 2016 found glycerin to be more effective as a humectant than AHAs and hyaluronic acid.

As a humectant, it helps the skin stay hydrated by pulling moisture to your skin. The low molecular weight of glycerin allows it to pull moisture into the deeper layers of your skin.

Hydrated skin improves your skin barrier; Your skin barrier helps protect against irritants and bacteria.

Glycerin has also been found to have antimicrobial and antiviral properties. Due to these properties, glycerin is often used in wound and burn treatments.

In cosmetics, glycerin is usually derived from plants such as soybean or palm. However, it can also be sourced from animals, such as tallow or animal fat.

This ingredient is organic, colorless, odorless, and non-toxic.

Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.

Learn more about Glycerin

A-derma Epitheliale A.H Ultra contains this as ingredient number 3.

Avène Hydrance Rich Hydrating Cream contains this as ingredient number 2.

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

What it does: Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Very Disliked

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter is a plant lipid from the fruit of the Shea Tree. It is an effective skin hydrator and emollient.

Emollients help soothe and soften your skin. It does this by creating a protective film on your skin. This barrier helps trap moisture and keeps your skin hydrated. Emollients may be effective at treating dry or itchy skin.

Shea butter is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants help fight free-radicals, or molecules that may harm the body. It is also full of fatty acids including stearic acid and linoleic acid. These acids help replenish the skin and keep skin moisturized.

While Shea Butter has an SPF rating of about 3-4, it is not a sunscreen replacement.

Shea butter may not be fungal acne safe. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.

Learn more about Butyrospermum Parkii Butter

A-derma Epitheliale A.H Ultra contains this as ingredient number 4.

Avène Hydrance Rich Hydrating Cream contains this as ingredient number 10.

Dimethicone

What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

Community Rating: Very Disliked

Dimethicone is a silicone used for making products smooth and silky. It also has the added benefit of sealing in hydration. The amount of dimethicone found in beauty products is considered safe and non-comedogenic, meaning it won't clog pores.

Dimethicone has been found increase absorption in skin, boosting the benefits of other ingredients. While there is concern for the safety of dimethicone, the levels used in skincare are safe for use.

A-derma Epitheliale A.H Ultra contains this as ingredient number 5.

Avène Hydrance Rich Hydrating Cream contains this as ingredient number 4.

Cetearyl Alcohol

What it does: Emollient, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising

Community Rating: Very Disliked

Cetearyl alcohol is a mixture of two fatty alcohols: cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol. It is mainly used as an emulsifier. Emulsifiers help prevent the separation of oils and products. Due to its composition, it can also be used to thicken a product or help create foam.

Cetearyl alcohol is an emollient. Emollients help soothe and hydrate the skin by trapping moisture.

Studies show Cetearyl alcohol is non-toxic and non-irritating. The FDA allows products labeled "alcohol-free" to have fatty alcohols.

This ingredient is usually derived from plant oils such as palm, vegetable, or coconut oils. There is debate on whether this ingredient will cause acne.

Due to the fatty acid base, this ingredient may not be Malassezia folliculitis safe.

Learn more about Cetearyl Alcohol

A-derma Epitheliale A.H Ultra contains this as ingredient number 6.

Avène Hydrance Rich Hydrating Cream contains this as ingredient number 5.

Benzoic Acid

What it does: Masking, Preservative

Community Rating: Disliked

Benzoic Acid is used to preserve and adjust the pH of products.

The antimicrobial property of Benzoic Acid helps elongate a product's shelf life. Its main role is to reduce fungi growth and is not found to be effective at fighting bacteria. Therefore Benzoic Acid is always added along with other preservatives.

In its pure form, Benzoic Acid looks like a white crystalline solid. It has slight solubility in water.

The name of Benzoic Acid comes from gum benzoin, which used to be the sole source of deriving this ingredient. Benzoic Acid is the most simple aromatic carboxylic acid.

Benzoic Acid is naturally occuring in strawberries, mustard, cinnamon, and cloves. It has a slight scent but is not considered to be a fragrance.

Learn more about Benzoic Acid

A-derma Epitheliale A.H Ultra contains this as ingredient number 14.

Avène Hydrance Rich Hydrating Cream contains this as ingredient number 12.

Cetearyl Glucoside

What it does: Emulsifying

Community Rating: Disliked

Cetearyl Glucoside is a surfactant and emulsifier. It can be produced from synthetic of natural sources of cetearyl alcohol and glucose.

Emulsifiers help prevent ingredients from separating, such as oils and waters. It can also be used to enhance the texture of products.

As a surfactant, Cetearyl Glucoside helps during the cleansing process. By gathering all the dirt and oils, it allows these molecules to be washed away easily.

Learn more about Cetearyl Glucoside

A-derma Epitheliale A.H Ultra contains this as ingredient number 16.

Avène Hydrance Rich Hydrating Cream contains this as ingredient number 11.

Polyacrylate-13

What it does:

Polyacrylate-13 is a type of acrylate polymer. Acrylate polymers are commonly used as adhesives in cosmetics.

Polyacrylate-13 creates a film to protect the skin. It is also used to thicken and stabilize a product. It works by making water a gel-like consistency. This gel consistency helps suspend particles.

Polyacrylate-13 is a copolymer of acrylic acid, acrylamide, sodium acrylate, sodium acryloyldimethyltaurate monomers

Learn more about Polyacrylate-13

A-derma Epitheliale A.H Ultra contains this as ingredient number 18.

Avène Hydrance Rich Hydrating Cream contains this as ingredient number 17.

Polyisobutene

What it does:

Community Rating: Very Disliked

Polyisobutene is a synthetic polymer made from isobutene.

It is a film-forming agent and helps bind ingredients together.

Polyisobutene is not absorbed by the skin.

Learn more about Polyisobutene

A-derma Epitheliale A.H Ultra contains this as ingredient number 19.

Avène Hydrance Rich Hydrating Cream contains this as ingredient number 18.

Polysorbate 20

What it does: Emulsifying

Community Rating: Very Disliked

Polysorbate 20 is made by combining ethoxylation of sorbitan, ethylene oxide, and lauric acid. It is a mild cleansing agent, surfactant, and emulsifier.

As a surfactant, it helps collect dirt and oils for washing. Emulsifiers prevent oils and water from separating.

Polysorbate 20 also adds scent to a product. Since it is made using sorbitol, it has a sweet scent. Sorbitol can also be found in fruits such as apples and peaches.

The lauric acid used to create Polysorbate 20 is often derived from coconuts.

Polysorbate 20 may not be fungal acne safe.

Learn more about Polysorbate 20

A-derma Epitheliale A.H Ultra contains this as ingredient number 20.

Avène Hydrance Rich Hydrating Cream contains this as ingredient number 19.

Sodium Hydroxide

What it does: Buffering

Community Rating: Mixed

Sodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.

In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.

Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.

"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.

Learn more about Sodium Hydroxide

A-derma Epitheliale A.H Ultra contains this as ingredient number 22.

Avène Hydrance Rich Hydrating Cream contains this as ingredient number 20.

Sorbitan Isostearate

What it does: Emulsifying

Community Rating: Very Disliked

Sorbitan Isostearate is an emulsifer and cleaning agent. It is created from isostearic acid and sorbitol.

As an emulsifier, Sorbitan Isostearate prevents oils and water from separating.

Due to its isostearic acid base, it may not be safe for Malassezia or fungal acne.

Learn more about Sorbitan Isostearate

A-derma Epitheliale A.H Ultra contains this as ingredient number 23.

Avène Hydrance Rich Hydrating Cream contains this as ingredient number 21.

Xanthan Gum

What it does: Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Disliked

Xanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.

On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.

Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.

Learn more about Xanthan Gum

A-derma Epitheliale A.H Ultra contains this as ingredient number 25.

Avène Hydrance Rich Hydrating Cream contains this as ingredient number 23.

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