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Avène XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cream Versus Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream

General Moisturizer
General Moisturizer
French Brand France
French Brand France

Updated on August 22, 2024

Overview

What they are

These products are both general moisturizers. They have a total of 4 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, parabens or silicones

What's Inside

They both contain oils

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

Ingredient Info

Click any item below to learn more and see relevant ingredients

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Notable Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Notable Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

found in both products
XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cream
Glycerin Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps brighten skin Icon
2 Benefits

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

0 Com. / 0 Irr.
Paraffinum Liquidum Emollient, Skin Protecting, Solvent
0-2 / 0 Oil IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon
OilOil Icon 2 Concerns

Paraffinum Liquidum is also known as liquid paraffin. It is a type of highly refined mineral oil.

0-2 Com. / 0 Irr.
Very Disliked Full details ->
Cetearyl Alcohol Emollient, Emulsifying, Emulsion Stabilising
2 / 1 Fatty Alcohol IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon
Fatty AlcoholFatty Alcohol Icon 3 Concerns

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.

2 Com. / 1 Irr.
Very Disliked Full details ->
Oenothera Biennis Oil Emollient
3 / 2 Oil IconHelps reduce irritation IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon
OilOil Icon Helps reduce irritationHelps reduce irritation Icon Not safe for Fungal AcneNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Oenothera Biennis Oil is the fixed oil derived from the seeds of the Evening Primrose.

3 Com. / 2 Irr.
Caprylic Acid Cleansing, Emulsifying, Masking
1 / 3

Caprylic Acid is a fatty acid commonly found in plant oils, such as palm and coconut oils.

1 Com. / 3 Irr.
Cetearyl Glucoside Emulsifying

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

Disliked Full details ->
Aquaphilus Dolomiae Extract Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

We don't have a description for Aquaphilus Dolomiae Extract.

Unknown Full details ->
Arginine Masking, Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon
Not safe for Fungal AcneNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

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

Carbomer Emulsion Stabilising, Gel Forming
1 / 0

Carbomer is a polymer of acrylic acid. Its main role is to create gel consistency within products.

1 Com. / 0 Irr.
Disliked Full details ->
Glycine Buffering, Skin Conditioning

Glycine is an amino acid that helps build proteins. It is already present in our skin as our bodies produce them naturally.

Sodium Hydroxide Buffering

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.

Tocopherol Antioxidant, Masking, Skin Conditioning
0-3 / 0-3 Vitamin E IconAntioxidant IconHelps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps with Anti-Aging IconGood for Scar Healing IconHelps brighten skin IconMay cause irritation Icon
Vitamin EVitamin E Icon AntioxidantAntioxidant Icon 4 Benefits May cause irritationMay cause irritation Icon

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.

0-3 Com. / 0-3 Irr.
Water Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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.

Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream
Water Skin Conditioning, Solvent

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.

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride Masking, Skin Conditioning

Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride is an emollient, solvent, and texture enhancer. It is considered a skin-softener by helping the skin prevent moisture loss.

Paraffinum Liquidum Emollient, Skin Protecting, Solvent
0-2 / 0 Oil IconMay worsen Oily Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon
OilOil Icon 2 Concerns

Paraffinum Liquidum is also known as liquid paraffin. It is a type of highly refined mineral oil.

0-2 Com. / 0 Irr.
Very Disliked Full details ->
Glycerin Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting
0 / 0 Helps hydrate Dry Skin IconHelps brighten skin Icon
2 Benefits

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

0 Com. / 0 Irr.
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil Emollient, Skin Conditioning
3 / 0 Oil IconBad for Acne Prone Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon
OilOil Icon 2 Concerns

Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil is created by adding hydrogen to vegetable oil in order to give it more stability. This process also raises the melting point of vegetable oil. In cosmetics, it is an emollient.

3 Com. / 0 Irr.
Very Disliked Full details ->
Zinc Oxide Cosmetic Colorant, Skin Protecting, UV Absorber
1 / 0 Mineral UV Filter IconHelps fight Acne IconNon-Reef-Safe Icon
Mineral UV FilterMineral UV Filter Icon Helps fight AcneHelps fight Acne Icon Non-Reef-SafeNon-Reef-Safe Icon

Zinc Oxide is a mineral broad-spectrum UV filter; it is the broadest UVA and UVB reflector approved by the FDA. While it is most commonly man-made for cosmetics, it can naturally occur in zincite, a rare mineral.

1 Com. / 0 Irr.
Propylene Glycol Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Solvent
0 / 0 May worsen Eczema Icon
May worsen EczemaMay worsen Eczema Icon

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

0 Com. / 0 Irr.
Disliked Full details ->
Polyglyceryl-2 Sesquiisostearate Emulsifying
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon
Not safe for Fungal AcneNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Polyglyceryl-2 Sesquiisostearate isn't fungal acne safe.

Unknown Full details ->
Peg-22/Dodecyl Glycol Copolymer Emulsifying, Stabilising

We don't have a description for Peg-22/Dodecyl Glycol Copolymer.

Unknown Full details ->
Aluminum Stearate Cosmetic Colorant, Emulsion Stabilising

We don't have a description for Aluminum Stearate.

Unknown Full details ->
Aquaphilus Dolomiae Ferment Filtrate Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting

We don't have a description for Aquaphilus Dolomiae Ferment Filtrate.

Unknown Full details ->
Arginine Masking, Skin Conditioning
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon
Not safe for Fungal AcneNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

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

Beeswax Emulsion Stabilising, Masking, Skin Conditioning
0-2 / 0 May worsen Oily Skin IconNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon
2 Concerns

Beeswax is natural wax produced by honey bees and can be synthetically created. It consists mainly of fatty acid esters and long-chain alcohols.

0-2 Com. / 0 Irr.
Very Disliked Full details ->
Copper Sulfate Skin Conditioning
Sulfate Icon
SulfateSulfate Icon

Copper Sulfate is a type of sulfate.

Magnesium Stearate Cosmetic Colorant, Moisturising
1 / 0

Magnesium Stearate is a salt that is 2 parts stearic acid and 1 part magnesium.

1 Com. / 0 Irr.
Disliked Full details ->
Microcrystalline Wax Emulsion Stabilising
Not safe for Fungal Acne Icon
Not safe for Fungal AcneNot safe for Fungal Acne Icon

Microcrystalline Wax is created by de-oiling petroleum. It is highly refined and purified before being added to cosmetics.

Very Disliked Full details ->
Tromethamine Buffering, Masking

Tromethamine is an aliphatic compound. An aliphatic compound is an organic compound with open-chained carbon atoms. It is synthetically created. Tromethamine is used to balance pH and improve texture.

Zinc Sulfate Antimicrobial, Astringent
Sulfate Icon
SulfateSulfate Icon

Zinc Sulfate is a type of sulfate.

Disliked Full details ->

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

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

Humectant, Skin Conditioning, Skin Protecting
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
Emollient, Skin Protecting, Solvent
Very Disliked

Paraffinum Liquidum is also known as liquid paraffin. It is a type of highly refined mineral oil.

Like other oils, Paraffinum Liquidum has emollient properties. Emollients help soothe and soften the skin. By creating a barrier to trap moisture within, emollients help keep your skin hydrated.

Paraffinum Liquidum does not irritate the skin and is non-comedogenic. However, this ingredient may not work well for those with oily skin or fungal acne.

If you have concerns about using this ingredient in your routine, we recommend speaking with a professional.

Learn more about Paraffinum Liquidum
Masking, Skin Conditioning
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
Skin Conditioning, Solvent
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. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Stay hydrated!

Learn more about Water

Ingredient Ratings

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

XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cream
4
4
4
1
liked
mixed
disliked
not rated
Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream
4
3
7
4
liked
mixed
disliked
not rated

When to use

45 Routines
40% use in am
64% use in pm
98% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->
206 Routines
31% use in am
69% use in pm
85% use every day
When to use See routines that use it ->

Reviews

Here's what our community thinks

Avène XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Cream 13 ingredients

5.0 /5
from 2 ratings
Aliogrady's avatar

Aliogrady

1 year ago · Sensitive Skin
Review

Extremely sensitive skin
This cream was my life saver! Anyone who is looking for a cream that won’t irritate dry skin this is the one! Any other...

Extremely sensitive skin
This cream was my life saver! Anyone who is looking for a cream that won’t irritate dry skin this is the one! Any other cream I have tried it has caused irritation. This winter my skin barrier was completely broken. This provided instant relief. A great aleternative for people who need a replacement for the discontinued la Roche posay product ‘toleriane ultra creme moisturiser’.

Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream 18 ingredients

4.2 /5
from 5 ratings
Works Well (3) Hydrating (3) No Scent (2)
blima1998's avatar

blima1998

5 months ago · Sensitive Skin
Review

The best product I have used on my face. I have extremely sensitive skin and nothing has worked quite as well as this moisturizer. (I’ve used...

The best product I have used on my face. I have extremely sensitive skin and nothing has worked quite as well as this moisturizer. (I’ve used Vanicream, Joon Sung, Cerave, etc). One use of this cream and all redness was gone, I was left with super soft healthy skin. Even though it’s expensive you can use very little bc it’s so thick, and the tube lasts a very long time! It’s a little hard to apply because it feels like a thick sunscreen but once the product ’melts’ on skin you can spread it more easily. EDIT: After a few weeks of using it I noticed I would break out a little bit, maybe during that time of month when my skin is more oily (?). I stopped using it to sleep and I only use it on morning now and got better results. I have very dry skin so maybe oily skin types might want to use it as a spot treatment / alternate with something lighter

laila.21's avatar

Laila

4 months ago · Combination Skin
Review

OMG! This is my new HG!
At first, i was too scared to use this moisturizer since it has vegetable oil which can be comedic for acne-prone.
BUT i...

OMG! This is my new HG!
At first, i was too scared to use this moisturizer since it has vegetable oil which can be comedic for acne-prone.
BUT i wanted to give it a shot since i liked their cleanser and my skin was already ruined from using too many bad products, so why not try another? lol.
the first impression was the ✨glow✨ and it literally made me feel like I have 'glass skin'!
I started using it every night only and sometimes in the morning if I'm wearing makeup- mind you that i have very easily clog-prone skin that is super sensitive to literally anything. yet using this cream made my skin overall healthy and now I rarely get acne of those little whiteheads that pop out of nowhere.
I recommend this to anyone who has a damaged skin barrier, acne, and even if you suffer from acne scars too! (but this won't get rid of them alone so you have to use another active).
⭐PS: I recommend using a small amount on your fingertips, rub it well until you feel it dissolving before gently massaging it on your dry face (if you used a serum before, let it dry a little or it won't blend easily).
💗💗💗💗💗