Kiehl's Ultra Facial 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 Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser versus Avène Cleansing Foam .

Last updated on July 18, 2023. Published on May 16, 2021

Overview

What they are

These products are both reef safe face cleansers. They have a total of 4 ingredients in common

Suited For

They're both likely to be good for brightening skin

Free From

They both do not contain any harsh alcohols, common allergens, 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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Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser

Avène Cleansing Foam

Face Cleanser American Brand United States

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

Shop

Buy Ultra Facial Cleanser

Starts at $15.00

Shop

Buy Cleansing Foam

Starts at $11.00

Ingredient Info

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

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser 27 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

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser 27 ingredients

Avène Cleansing Foam 11 ingredients

Notable Ingredients

Vitamin C

Vitamin E

Benefits

Hydrating (2)

Brightening (3)

Concerns

Drying (3)

Acne Trigger

Rosacea

Eczema

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.

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser 27 ingredients

Avène Cleansing Foam 11 ingredients

Water • Sodium Laureth Sulfate • Decyl Glucoside • Glycerin • Cocamidopropyl Betaine • Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate • Acrylates Copolymer • Lauryl Glucoside • Peg-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate • Triethanolamine • Sodium Chloride • Pentylene Glycol • Phenoxyethanol • Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate • Sodium Hydroxide • Citric Acid • Hexylene Glycol • Behenyl Alcohol • Distearyl Ether • Sodium Benzoate • Laureth-2 • Squalane • Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil • Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil • Tocopherol • Ascorbyl Glucoside • Persea Gratissima Oil

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.

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.

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

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 1.

Avène Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 1.

Sodium Chloride

What it does: Masking

Community Rating: Very Disliked

Chances are, you eat sodium chloride every day. Sodium Chloride is also known as table salt.

This ingredient has many purposes in skincare: thickener, emulsifier, and exfoliator.

You'll most likely find this ingredient in cleansers where it is used to create a gel-like texture. As an emulsifier, it also prevents ingredients from separating.

There is much debate on whether this ingredient is comedogenic. The short answer - comedogenic ratings don't tell the whole story. Learn more about comegodenic ratings here.

The concensus about this ingredient causing acne seems to be divided. Research is needed to understand if this ingredient does cause acne.

Scrubs may use salt as the primary exfoliating ingredient.

Learn more about Sodium Chloride

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 11.

Avène Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 4.

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

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 16.

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

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser contains this as ingredient number 20.

Avène Cleansing Foam contains this as ingredient number 11.

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