Dr. Barbara Sturm The Cleanser Versus Avène Cleansing Foam

See how these products line up with your preferences

Here's our complete breakdown comparing the ingredients, attributes, and more of Dr. Barbara Sturm The Cleanser versus Avène Cleansing Foam .

Last updated on November 16, 2023. Published on December 27, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both fungal acne (malassezia) safe and reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 4 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for anti aging, brightening skin, reducing pores, scar healing and better texture

Free From

They both do not contain any oils, parabens, silicones or sulfates

What's Inside

They both contain fragrances

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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Dr. Barbara Sturm The Cleanser

Avène Cleansing Foam

Face Cleanser German Brand Germany

Face Cleanser French Brand France

Face Cleanser

Face cleansers are used to remove makeup, dead skin cells, pollutants, oil, dirt, and/or clean out pores on the skin. Face cleansers may specialize in having one function (exa. just removing makeup) or may have multiple functions (exa. Removing makeup and cleaning pores).

Face Cleanser

Price

Buy The Cleanser

Buy Cleansing Foam

Ingredient Info

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

Dr. Barbara Sturm The Cleanser 19 ingredients

Avène Cleansing Foam 11 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

ph level

At a glance

Click on any of the items below to learn more

Dr. Barbara Sturm The Cleanser 19 ingredients

Avène Cleansing Foam 11 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

BHA

Vitamin E

Benefits

Hydrating (3)

Good For Oily Skin

Redness Reducing

Reduces Irritation (2)

Skin Texture

Reduces Large Pores

Anti-Aging

Scar Healing (2)

Acne Fighting

Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying (2)

May Worsen Oily Skin

Irritating (3)

Rosacea (3)

Eczema (3)

Notable Ingredients

AHA (2)

Benefits

Skin Texture (2)

Reduces Large Pores (2)

Anti-Aging

Dark Spots

Scar Healing (2)

Brightening (2)

Concerns

Drying

Acne Trigger

Irritating (2)

Rosacea (4)

Eczema (3)

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Ingredients Compared

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

Dr. Barbara Sturm The Cleanser 19 ingredients

Avène Cleansing Foam 11 ingredients

Water • Sodium Cocoamphoacetate • Lauryl Glucoside • Glycerin • Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice • Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate • Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate • Panthenol • Urea • Lactobacillus/Portulaca Oleracea Ferment Extract • Citric Acid • Benzyl Alcohol • Phenoxyethanol • Potassium Sorbate • Salicylic Acid • Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate • Tocopherol • Pantolactone • Sodium Benzoate

Water • Sodium Cocoamphoacetate • Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate • Sodium Chloride • Citric Acid • Disodium EDTA • Parfum • Glutamic Acid • Lactic Acid • Propylene Glycol • Sodium Benzoate

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

Dr. Barbara Sturm The Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 1.

Avène Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 1.

Sodium Cocoamphoacetate

What it does: Cleansing, Foaming

Community Rating: Very Disliked

We don't have a description for Sodium Cocoamphoacetate.

Dr. Barbara Sturm The Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 2.

Avène Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 2.

Citric Acid

What it does: Buffering, Masking

Community Rating: Disliked

Citric Acid is an AHA derived from citrus fruits (think oranges, lemons, and limes!).

If you spot Citric Acid near the end of an ingredient list, it's likely there as a pH adjuster rather than an active ingredient.

As an AHA, Citric Acid removes the top layer of skin cells from the newer layer of skin underneath. This helps skin to remove dark spots and look more even.

Read more about some other popular AHA's here:

Learn more about Citric Acid

Dr. Barbara Sturm The Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 11.

Avène Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 5.

Sodium Benzoate

What it does: Masking, Preservative

Community Rating: Disliked

Sodium Benzoate is a preservative. It's used in both cosmetic and food products to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. It is typically produced synthetically.

Both the US FDA and EU Health Committee have approved the use of sodium benzoate. In the US, levels of 0.1% (of the total product) are allowed.

Sodium benzoate works as a preservative by inhibiting the growth of bacteria inside of cells. It prevents the cell from fermenting a type of sugar using an enzyme called phosphofructokinase.

Sodium Benzoate is the salt of benzoic acid. Foods containing sodium benzoate include soda, salad dressings, condiments, fruit juices, wines, and snack foods.

Studies for using ascorbic acid and sodium benzoate in cosmetics are lacking, especially in skincare routines with multiple steps.

We always recommend speaking with a professional, such as a dermatologist, if you have any concerns.

Learn more about Sodium Benzoate

Dr. Barbara Sturm The Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 19.

Avène Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 11.

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