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Product Comparison

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Avène DermAbsolu Comforting Night Balm versus Avène DermAbsolu Recontouring Serum .

Last updated on July 20, 2023. Published on July 23, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 20 ingredients in common

Cool Features

They both contain Vitamin E

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, dry skin, brightening skin and dark spots

Free From

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

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances, oils and silicones

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

Night Moisturizer French Brand France
Serum French Brand France

Night Moisturizer

Night Moisturizers are marketed to hydrate the skin overnight.

Serum

Serums are highly concentrated with ingredients to provide skin with benefits. They should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing.

Price

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and view relevant 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

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin E

Benefits

Hydrating (4)
Anti-Aging
Dark Spots
Brightening (3)

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin (3)
Acne Trigger
Rosacea
Eczema (3)

Notable Ingredients

AHA
Vitamin E
Ceramides

Benefits

Hydrating (5)
Redness Reducing
Reduces Irritation
Skin Texture
Reduces Large Pores
Anti-Aging (4)
Dark Spots (2)
Scar Healing (2)
Brightening (4)

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin (3)
Irritating (2)
Rosacea (2)
Eczema (4)
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Ingredients Compared

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

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.

1
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

Avène DermAbsolu Comforting Night Balm contains this as ingredient number 3.

Avène DermAbsolu Recontouring Serum contains this as ingredient number 2.

2
What it does: Humectant, Moisturising
Community Rating: Liked

Methyl Gluceth-20 is a humectant. Humectants help draw moisture from the air to your skin.

It is created by combining polyethylene glycol with glucose.

Avène DermAbsolu Comforting Night Balm contains this as ingredient number 5.

Avène DermAbsolu Recontouring Serum contains this as ingredient number 3.

3
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.

Avène DermAbsolu Comforting Night Balm contains this as ingredient number 6.

Avène DermAbsolu Recontouring Serum contains this as ingredient number 5.

4
What it does: Emollient, Emulsifying
Community Rating: Disliked

Glyceryl Stearate is a mix of glycerin and stearic acid.

Glyceryl Stearate is used to stabilize the mixing of water and oil ingredients. By preventing these ingredients from separating, it can help elongate shelf life. It can also help thicken the product's texture.

As an emollient, it helps soften skin and supports barrier-replenishing ingredients.

In cosmetics, Glyceryl Stearate is often made from vegetable oils or synthetically produced. The human body also creates Glyceryl Stearate naturally.

Learn more about Glyceryl Stearate

Avène DermAbsolu Comforting Night Balm contains this as ingredient number 10.

Avène DermAbsolu Recontouring Serum contains this as ingredient number 16.

5
What it does: Emollient, Emulsifying, Skin Conditioning

Glyceryl Linoleate isn't fungal acne safe.

Avène DermAbsolu Comforting Night Balm contains this as ingredient number 12.

Avène DermAbsolu Recontouring Serum contains this as ingredient number 7.

6
What it does: Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Emollient, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Loved

Bakuchiol is a plant-derived antioxidant (it's vegan!). It is often called the replacement for retinol although it is not part of the same family.

It has similar effects as retinol: skin smoothing, reducing discoloration, and preventing wrinkles. It does not cause as much irritation as traditional retinoids.

Bakuchiol works by breaking down free radicals and stimulating collagen production in skin.

Combining bakuchiol with retinol will not have adverse side effects. Studies show using them will just boost the benefits. Bakuchiol is also found to help stabilize retinol.

While bakuchiol does not make the skin more sun sensitive, we recommend wearing SPF on a daily basis.

Read more about traditional retinol

Learn more about Bakuchiol

Avène DermAbsolu Comforting Night Balm contains this as ingredient number 15.

Avène DermAbsolu Recontouring Serum contains this as ingredient number 6.

7
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Mixed

This ingredient is the fixed oil extracted from seeds of the desert shrub Jojoba. It is more commonly known as jojoba oil. The seed oil is liquid wax ester from the plant. It is non-comedogenic.

Jojoba oil does not contain fragrance and has many fatty-acids, making it a great soothing ingredient. Jojoba contains Vitamin E, a great moisturizing ingredient. Vitamin E is also an antioxidant. Antioxidants help protect your skin against free-radical damage. This may help in anti-aging.

Jojoba seed oil is a humectant, meaning it helps draw moisture from the air. This helps keep your skin hydrated.

While jojoba has antibacterial properties, it is only able to kill some bacteria. It has also been shown to help in wound healing. Indigenous cultures have used jojoba as a moisturizer and to help treat burns.

It is found to be similar to natural human skin sebum, so it has a great effect on dry skin. Jojoba oil may even help with regulating sebum production.

Although jojoba oil is non-comedogenic, we recommend speaking with a professional about using this ingredient if you have any concerns.

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

Jojoba is native to the southwestern US.

Learn more about Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil

Avène DermAbsolu Comforting Night Balm contains this as ingredient number 16.

Avène DermAbsolu Recontouring Serum contains this as ingredient number 8.

8
What it does: Emollient, Humectant, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Caprylyl Glycol is a humectant and emollient, meaning it attracts and preserves moisture.

It is a common ingredient in many products, especially those designed to hydrate skin. The primary benefits are retaining moisture, skin softening, and promoting a healthy skin barrier.

Though Caprylyl Glycol is an alcohol derived from fatty acids, it is not the kind that can dry out skin.

This ingredient is also used as a preservative to extend the life of products. It has slight antimicrobial properties.

Learn more about Caprylyl Glycol

Avène DermAbsolu Comforting Night Balm contains this as ingredient number 18.

Avène DermAbsolu Recontouring Serum contains this as ingredient number 10.

9
What it does: Masking, Perfuming
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Parfum is a catch-all term for an ingredient or more that is used to give aroma to products. Parfum, or fragrance, can be a blend of hundreds of chemicals or plant oils. This means every product with "fragrance" or "Parfum" in the ingredients list is a different mixture.

In the US, the alternative name for parfum is 'fragrance'. The term 'fragrance' is not regulated in many countries. In many cases, it is up to the brand to define this term.

For instance, many brands choose to label themselves as "fragrance-free" because they are not using synthetic fragrances. However, their products may still contain ingredients such as essential oils that are considered a fragrance. One example is Calendula flower extract. Essential oil ingredients still impart a scent or 'fragrance'.

Depending on the blend, it can cause allergies and sensitivities on the skin. Some ingredients that are known EU allergens include linalool and citronellol.

Products use parfum often to give products a scent or cover up smells of different ingredients.

The bottom line is: not all fragrances/parfum/ingredients are created equally. If you are worried about fragrances, we recommend taking a closer look at an ingredient. And of course, we always recommend speaking with a professional.

Learn more about Parfum

Avène DermAbsolu Comforting Night Balm contains this as ingredient number 22.

Avène DermAbsolu Recontouring Serum contains this as ingredient number 12.

10
What it does: Emollient

Glyceryl Linolenate isn't fungal acne safe.

Avène DermAbsolu Comforting Night Balm contains this as ingredient number 23.

Avène DermAbsolu Recontouring Serum contains this as ingredient number 13.

11
What it does: Emollient, Emulsifying, Perfuming
Community Rating: Disliked

Glyceryl Oleate is a fragrance and isn't fungal acne safe.

Avène DermAbsolu Comforting Night Balm contains this as ingredient number 24.

Avène DermAbsolu Recontouring Serum contains this as ingredient number 14.

12
What it does: Emollient

We don't have a description for Glyceryl Palmitate.

Avène DermAbsolu Comforting Night Balm contains this as ingredient number 25.

Avène DermAbsolu Recontouring Serum contains this as ingredient number 15.

13
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Glycine Soja Oil comes from the soybean. Glycine Soja is native to eastern Asia.

Soybean oil is an emollient. It is rich in antioxidants and fatty acids including palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids.

As an emollient, the fatty acids in soybean oil helps keep your skin soft and hydrated. It does so by creating a film on top that traps moisture in.

Soybean oil is also rich in vitamin E, a potent antioxidant. Vitamin E is also anti-inflammatory and provides a soothing effect.

Studies show soy may help fade hyperpigmentation from UVB. It does so by disrupting the melanin process from UVB induced skin inflammation.

This ingredient may not be malassezia folliculitis, or fungal-acne, safe.

Soybeans are rich in proteins and are part of the legume family. Foods made with soybeans include tofu, soymilk, edamame, miso, and soy sauce.

Learn more about Glycine Soja Oil

Avène DermAbsolu Comforting Night Balm contains this as ingredient number 26.

Avène DermAbsolu Recontouring Serum contains this as ingredient number 17.

14
What it does: Emollient, Masking, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Disliked

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil is the oil derived from the seeds of a Sunflower. Sunflower seed oil is non-fragrant. It is an emollient, meaning it helps to soften the skin.

Sunflower seed oil contains many fatty acids. The fatty acids found in sunflower seeds include (from highest amount to least): linoleic acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, arachidic acid, oleic acid, and linolenic acid.

These fatty acids help the skin create ceramides. Ceramides play a role in repairing the skin barrier.

Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil helps moisturize the skin. This in turn helps the skin look more rejuvenated and smoother.

Sunflowers are rich in vitamin E.

Historians believe Indigenous cultures of North America domesticated sunflowers before corn. Thus they relied on sunflower oil for a variety of uses. One such use is moisturizing skin and hair.

Sunflower seed oil may not be fungal acne safe. We recommend speaking with a professional if you have any concerns.

Learn more about Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil

Avène DermAbsolu Comforting Night Balm contains this as ingredient number 27.

Avène DermAbsolu Recontouring Serum contains this as ingredient number 18.

15
What it does: Humectant

We don't have a description for Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate.

Avène DermAbsolu Comforting Night Balm contains this as ingredient number 28.

Avène DermAbsolu Recontouring Serum contains this as ingredient number 20.

16
What it does: Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
Community Rating: Very Disliked

Propylene Glycol is an odorless, colorless liquid. As a humectant, it helps skin retain moisture. It also aids in delivering active ingredients.

Another role of this ingredient is preventing a product from melting or freezing. Propylene glycol also adds antimicrobrial properties to a product, elongating product lifespan.

This ingredient is considered an organic alcohol and commonly added into both cosmetics and foods.

Those with sensitive skin or conditions may deliver a rash when using this ingredient.

Learn more about Propylene Glycol

Avène DermAbsolu Comforting Night Balm contains this as ingredient number 29.

Avène DermAbsolu Recontouring Serum contains this as ingredient number 26.

17
What it does: Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning
Community Rating: Liked

Tocopherol (also known as Vitamin E) is a common antioxidant used to help protect the skin from free-radicals and strengthen the skin barrier. It's also fat soluble - this means our skin is great at absorbing it.

Vitamin E also helps keep your natural skin lipids healthy. Your lipid skin barrier naturally consists of lipids, ceramides, and fatty acids. Vitamin E offers extra protection for your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping your skin healthy and nourished.

Another benefit is a bit of UV protection. Vitamin E helps reduce the damage caused by UVB rays. (It should not replace your sunscreen). Combining it with Vitamin C can decrease sunburned cells and hyperpigmentation after UV exposure.

You might have noticed Vitamin E + C often paired together. This is because it is great at stabilizing Vitamin C. Using the two together helps increase the effectiveness of both ingredients.

There are often claims that Vitamin E can reduce/prevent scarring, but these claims haven't been confirmed by scientific research.

Learn more about Tocopherol

Avène DermAbsolu Comforting Night Balm contains this as ingredient number 31.

Avène DermAbsolu Recontouring Serum contains this as ingredient number 31.

18
What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning

We don't have a description for Tocopheryl Glucoside.

Avène DermAbsolu Comforting Night Balm contains this as ingredient number 32.

Avène DermAbsolu Recontouring Serum contains this as ingredient number 32.

19
What it does: Skin Conditioning

Vanilla Tahitensis Fruit Extract comes from the vanilla plant now cultivated in the South Pacific.

This ingredient is known to sensitize and irritate skin.

If you are looking for a non-irritating vanilla, check out Vanilla Planifolia

Learn more about Vanilla Tahitensis Fruit Extract

Avène DermAbsolu Comforting Night Balm contains this as ingredient number 33.

Avène DermAbsolu Recontouring Serum contains this as ingredient number 34.

20
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

Avène DermAbsolu Comforting Night Balm contains this as ingredient number 34.

Avène DermAbsolu Recontouring Serum contains this as ingredient number 35.

Here's what our community thinks of the ingredients in these two products.

18% are loved or liked
9% have mixed ratings
56% are disliked or very disliked
18% have no rating yet
26% are loved or liked
9% have mixed ratings
43% are disliked or very disliked
23% have no rating yet

Usage

Here's some more info on how this product is used by our community.

When to use

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Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Avène DermAbsolu Comforting Night Balm 34 ingredients

3.0 /5
from 1 rating
Drying (1) Light (1) Light Scent (1)
EveliV's avatar

EveliV

1 month ago · Sensitive Skin
Review

It's alright and gentle on the skin. For a balm, I was expecting a more thick consistency, but the formula is very light and spreads thin.
I do...

It's alright and gentle on the skin. For a balm, I was expecting a more thick consistency, but the formula is very light and spreads thin.
I do wake up with a bit of a dry skin in some areas, with this product.
Overall, I don't find it to be amazing and there are better products for sensitive skin for the same price point. It has a slight pleasant fragrance, but that could be what dries the skin out.

Avène DermAbsolu Recontouring Serum 35 ingredients

DermAbsolu Recontouring Serum hasn't been rated yet.
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