Avène

Avène Cicalfate Restorative Skin Cream

Name: Avène - Cicalfate Restorative Skin Cream
Brand: Avène

Efficacy100/100IrritancyLow

See all ingredients In 2 routines

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Works for

1 of 1 advertised claim delivered

Moisturizing

7 ingredients credited for this claim

Strong support

What the product description says

“Cicalfate Restorative Skin Cream”

From product name

This product can help improve hydration of the skin with the two types of ingredients.

The first type is called “humectants”:
these ingredients help attract water. When humectants are on the surface of the skin, they “pull in” the moisture from the outside environment, or from within deeper layers of the skin. The following ingredients in this product do the job: arginine, glycerin.

This product also contains ingredients called “occlusives”. They help reduce the speed with which our skin loses moisture to the outside environment. These ingredients also help soften the upper layer of the skin, so it feels less tight and nicer to the touch. The following ingredients in this product do the job: arginine, beeswax.

The following ingredients in this product are especially good for supporting the skin barrier and helping with the hydration level: paraffinum liquidum

GlycerinKey active· HumectantEffect: HighOne of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant~2.8–4.2%

BeeswaxKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighForms a protective barrier that holds water and keeps dry skin hydrated. Keeps an emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid components, and increases the thickness of a product. Can be an allergen~0.45–1.1%

Caprylic/capric triglycerideKey active· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighA good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin~6.6–10%

ArginineKey active· Humectant, OcclusiveEffect: HighAn amino acid that is naturally present in skin and helps keep it hydrated. When used together with AHAs, it can reduce their irritating effect on the skin~0.45–1.05%

Paraffinum liquidumHero· Emollient, OcclusiveEffect: HighMineral oil. One of the most effective and well studied occlusive and emollient moisturizing ingredients. Helps reduce moisture loss in skin and repair skin barrier function~4.1–6.1%

Hydrogenated vegetable oilKey active· EmollientEffect: MediumAn oil from a mixture of different vegetables. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin~2.1–3.2%

Propylene glycol· HumectantEffect: LowHelps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating~1.4–2.1%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy

4 flagged ingredients

Low risk

We flag 4 ingredients with irritancy potential; the product's overall irritancy is low. The table lists each ingredient's own rating.

IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount

Propylene glycolHelps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritatingHigh~1.4–2.1%est.

Zinc sulfateA preservative. It can be irritatingHigh~0.1–0.4%est.

Caprylic/capric triglycerideA good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerinMedium~6.6–10%est.

Aluminum stearateUsed to help evenly disperse other ingredients (for example, pigment) in a formulationMedium~0.95–1.45%est.

Comedogenic

1 ingredient rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale

1 flagged

These ingredients have a comedogenic rating of 2 or more on a 0–5 scale; the table shows each one's rating. In leave-on products they can clog pores in acne-prone skin.

IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount

Hydrogenated vegetable oilAn oil from a mixture of different vegetables. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin2/5~2.1–3.2%est.

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Water~40–60%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Plain old water

More about Water

Caprylic/capric triglyceride~6.6–10%

Key activeIrritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Works for

Moisturizing

A good mix of fatty acids that forms a protective layer on the skin. Improves the shelf life of products. Derived from coconut and glycerin

More about Caprylic/capric triglyceride

Paraffinum liquidum~4.1–6.1%

Hero · Moisturizing

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Moisturizing

Mineral oil. One of the most effective and well studied occlusive and emollient moisturizing ingredients. Helps reduce moisture loss in skin and repair skin barrier function

More about Paraffinum liquidum

Glycerin~2.8–4.2%

Key active

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Moisturizing

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant

More about Glycerin

Hydrogenated vegetable oil~2.1–3.2%

Key activeComedogenic 2/5

Irritation risk: Low
Comedogenicity: 2/5

Works for

Moisturizing

An oil from a mixture of different vegetables. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin

More about Hydrogenated vegetable oil

Zinc oxide~2.5–3.7%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Sun protection

A broad spectrum sunblock (protects from both UVA and UVB rays). Is suitable for most sensitive skins. In small concentrations, can be used as a colorant

More about Zinc oxide

Propylene glycol~1.4–2.1%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

Works for

Moisturizing

Helps oil and water mix together and can enhance the penetration of other ingredients into the skin. It can be irritating

More about Propylene glycol

Peg-22/dodecyl glycol copolymer~1.2–1.8%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Cleansing

More about Peg-22/dodecyl glycol copolymer

Aluminum stearate~0.95–1.45%

Irritant · medium

Irritation risk: Medium

Used to help evenly disperse other ingredients (for example, pigment) in a formulation

More about Aluminum stearate

Aquaphilus dolomiae ferment filtrate~0.55–1.35%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

More about Aquaphilus dolomiae ferment filtrate

Arginine~0.45–1.05%

Key active

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Moisturizing

An amino acid that is naturally present in skin and helps keep it hydrated. When used together with AHAs, it can reduce their irritating effect on the skin

More about Arginine

Beeswax~0.45–1.1%

Key active

Irritation risk: Low

Works for

Moisturizing

Forms a protective barrier that holds water and keeps dry skin hydrated. Keeps an emulsion from separating into its oil and liquid components, and increases the thickness of a product. Can be an allergen

More about Beeswax

Copper sulfate~0.2–0.8%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

More about Copper sulfate

Magnesium stearate~0.2–0.7%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Used to create a nice product texture

More about Magnesium stearate

Microcrystalline wax~0.15–0.5%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Used to create a thicker product consistency

More about Microcrystalline wax

Tromethamine~0.05–0.25%

Formula

Irritation risk: Low

Helps adjust pH in products

More about Tromethamine

Zinc sulfate~0.1–0.4%

Irritant · high

Irritation risk: High

A preservative. It can be irritating

More about Zinc sulfate

Ingredient list view

Water, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Paraffinum liquidum, Glycerin, Hydrogenated vegetable oil, Zinc oxide, Propylene glycol, Peg-22/dodecyl glycol copolymer, Aluminum stearate, Aquaphilus dolomiae ferment filtrate, Arginine, Beeswax, Copper sulfate, Magnesium stearate, Microcrystalline wax, Tromethamine, Zinc sulfate

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Worth comparing, line by line.

Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
	AvèneCicalfate Restorative Skin CreamYOUR PRODUCT	Eau Thermale AveneFace Cicalfate+ Repairing Protective Cream	DucrayDexyane Insulating Barrier Cream	EucerinSkin Calming Daily Itch Soothing Cream
Match	—	72%	62%	58%
Price	$26.00	$17.45−$8.55	$10.19−$15.81	$31.73+$5.73
Shared key ingredients	—	6 of 6	4 of 6	3 of 6
Key difference	—	Cera Alba	Butyrospermum Parkii Butter	Colloidal Oatmeal
Irritancy	Low	Low	Low	Low
Drying alcohol	—	—	—	—
	View product	Shop	Shop	Shop

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Product summary

Based on the ingredients included, "Avène - Cicalfate Restorative Skin Cream" works well for moisturizing the skin. To work well, any moisturizer needs to include a combination of water-binding and emollient ingredients. Avène - Cicalfate Restorative Skin Cream ticks this box. Humectants in this product (arginine, glycerin and propylene glycol) help to increase the water content in the upper layer of the skin. (These ingredients do so by "capturing" water molecules from the outside air or from within the deeper layers of the skin). Paraffinum liquidum, arginine, beeswax, caprylic/capric triglyceride and hydrogenated vegetable oil in this product help decrease the water evoporation from the skin, so that it stays hydrated for longer. These ingredients also soften the skin and take away the feeling of tightness and dryness.

Irritation risk

There are some common irritants in this product, including ingredients that do not have benefits for the skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this moisturizer to be low. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here

You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.