Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm Versus Avène Cicalfate+ Hydrating Skin Recovery Emulsion

See how these products line up with your preferences

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm versus Avène Cicalfate+ Hydrating Skin Recovery Emulsion .

Published on February 14, 2023

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe . They have a total of 8 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, fragrances, oils, parabens or 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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Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm

Avène Cicalfate+ Hydrating Skin Recovery Emulsion

General Moisturizer French Brand France

Facial Treatment French Brand France

General Moisturizer

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

Facial Treatment

Facial treatments are specially designed to treat a skin concern. Acne treatments and anti-aging products are common examples of facial treatments.

Price

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Buy Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm

Starts at $28.78

Shop

Buy Cicalfate+ Hydrating Skin Recovery Emulsion

Starts at $34.00

Ingredient Info

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

Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm 14 ingredients

Avène Cicalfate+ Hydrating Skin Recovery Emulsion 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

Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm 14 ingredients

Avène Cicalfate+ Hydrating Skin Recovery Emulsion 23 ingredients

Benefits

Hydrating (3)

Brightening

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin (3)

Acne Trigger

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin E

Niacinamide

Hyaluronic Acid

Benefits

Hydrating (3)

Good For Oily Skin

Redness Reducing

Reduces Large Pores

Dark Spots

Acne Fighting

Brightening (3)

Concerns

May Worsen Oily Skin (2)

Acne Trigger

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Ingredients Compared

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

Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm 14 ingredients

Avène Cicalfate+ Hydrating Skin Recovery Emulsion 23 ingredients

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride • Glycerin • Cetearyl Alcohol • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter • Squalane • Beeswax • Cetearyl Glucoside • Cetyl Esters • Aquaphilus Dolomiae Extract Filtrate • Arginine • Citric Acid • Tromethamine • Water • Xanthan Gum

Water • Caprylic Acid • Glycerin • Pentaerythrityl Tetracaprylate/Tetracaprate • Triethylhexanoin • Squalane • Cetearyl Alcohol • Behenyl Alcohol • Niacinamide • C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate • C20-22 Alcohols • Butyrospermum Parkii Butter • Aquaphilus Dolomiae Ferment Filtrate • Arginine • Caprylyl Glycol • Cetearyl Glucoside • Copper Sulfate • Sodium Benzoate • Sodium Hyaluronate • Sodium Hydroxide • Tocopheryl Acetate • Xanthan Gum • Zinc Sulfate

Ingredients Side-by-side

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

Learn more about what what Com. / Irr. ratings are

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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.

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

Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm contains this as ingredient number 2.

Avène Cicalfate+ Hydrating Skin Recovery Emulsion contains this as ingredient number 3.

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

Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm contains this as ingredient number 3.

Avène Cicalfate+ Hydrating Skin Recovery Emulsion contains this as ingredient number 7.

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

Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm contains this as ingredient number 4.

Avène Cicalfate+ Hydrating Skin Recovery Emulsion contains this as ingredient number 12.

Squalane

What it does: Emollient, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Loved

Squalane is an emollient that helps the skin hold onto moisture. It's an oily liquid that occurs naturally in certain types of fish and plant oils.

Because squalane boosts hydration in the skin, it also comes with plenty of benefits: it is an antioxidant and can help fight free radicals and skin damage. Squalane is also found to have a detoxifying effect when applied.

Squalane comes from squalene, which occurs naturally within the sebum of our skin. It is one of the oils our skin produces to keep itself hydrated. Squalane is the hydrogenated version of squalene and has a longer shelf life.

Research shows that squalane is non-irritating (even at 100% concentration).

In general, it's a fantastic ingredient. It does a great job at hydrating the skin, and it's suitable for those with sensitive skin.

The source of squalane may impact malassezia / fungal acne. This is because olive oil derived squalane can contain impurities such as fatty acids and plant waxes. Sugarcane derived squalane is recommended for anyone with malassezia concerns.

Is squalane vegan? This depends on the source. Squalane can be derived from both plants and animals. Most squalane used in skincare comes from plants.

Please note: the source of squalane is only known if disclosed by the brand. We recommend reaching out to the brand if you have any questions about their squalane.

Read more about squalene with an "e".

Learn more about Squalane

Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm contains this as ingredient number 5.

Avène Cicalfate+ Hydrating Skin Recovery Emulsion contains this as ingredient number 6.

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

Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm contains this as ingredient number 7.

Avène Cicalfate+ Hydrating Skin Recovery Emulsion contains this as ingredient number 16.

Arginine

What it does: Masking, Skin Conditioning

Community Rating: Mixed

Arginine is an amino acid that is important for human development. Your body uses is it to produce hair keratin and skin collagen.

As a cosmetic ingredient, Arginine has antioxidant properties and can also help repair damaged skin. This ingredient is derived either synthetically or from animals.

Arginine isn't fungal acne safe when used in the presence of other lipids (fats, fatty acids, oils, esters, etc). Oils and fats occur naturally within the skin, so take caution when using Arginine if you're prone to fungal acne.

Learn more about Arginine

Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm contains this as ingredient number 10.

Avène Cicalfate+ Hydrating Skin Recovery Emulsion contains this as ingredient number 14.

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

Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm contains this as ingredient number 13.

Avène Cicalfate+ Hydrating Skin Recovery Emulsion contains this as ingredient number 1.

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

Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm contains this as ingredient number 14.

Avène Cicalfate+ Hydrating Skin Recovery Emulsion contains this as ingredient number 22.

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