Works for
MoisturizingGlycerin, Carthamus tinctorius seed oil + 8 moreWorks
“It provides 48-hour hydration and nourishment, helping to restore and strengthen the skin barrier.”
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, butyrospermum parkii butter.
Can it cause trouble?
Irritancy4 flagged ingredientsLow risk
Comedogenic3 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale3 flagged
User reviews
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Ingredients
Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.
Water~40–60%
Glycerin~3.8–5.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
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 GlycerinCarthamus tinctorius seed oil~3.7–5.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that helps soften the skin and might help calm down inflammation
More about Carthamus tinctorius seed oilCetearyl alcohol~2.2–3.3%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 2/5
A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture
More about Cetearyl alcoholHydrogenated vegetable oil~2.1–3.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 2/5
An oil from a mixture of different vegetables. Helps soften the upper layer of the skin
More about Hydrogenated vegetable oilButyrospermum parkii butter~1.8–2.6%
- Irritation risk
- Low
- Comedogenicity
- 3/5
A great moisturising ingredient that softens the skin and reduces water loss from its upper layer. It also can be helpful in protecting skin from free radicals
More about Butyrospermum parkii butterCaprylic/capric triglyceride~1.5–2.2%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
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 triglycerideGlyceryl stearate~1.2–1.8%
- Irritation risk
- Low
An emollient that softens the skin and forms a protective layer on its surface. Helps water and oil mix together
More about Glyceryl stearateAquaphilus dolomiae extract~0.9–1.35%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Arginine~0.5–1.15%
- Irritation risk
- Low
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 ArginineCetearyl glucoside~0.45–1%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps water and oil in the product mix well together and improves product texture
More about Cetearyl glucosideCitric acid~0.3–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH
More about Citric acidHelianthus annuus seed oil~0.2–0.75%
- Irritation risk
- Low
A great emollient due to its high linoleic acid content. One of the most effective plant oils in helping skin hydration and repairing skin barrier function
More about Helianthus annuus seed oilSodium dextran sulfate~0.1–0.5%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Sodium stearoyl glutamate~0.1–0.45%
- Irritation risk
- Medium
Helps oil and water mix together
More about Sodium stearoyl glutamateTocopherol~0.05–0.25%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Pure form of vitamin E. Can help moisturise and protect the skin from free radicals. Often used to help stabilise other ingredients or the formula itself
More about TocopherolXanthan gum~0.05–0.2%
- Irritation risk
- Low
Used to create a thicker product consistency
More about Xanthan gumIngredient list view
Water, Glycerin, Carthamus tinctorius seed oil, Cetearyl alcohol, Hydrogenated vegetable oil, Butyrospermum parkii butter, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Glyceryl stearate, Aquaphilus dolomiae extract, Arginine, Cetearyl glucoside, Citric acid, Helianthus annuus seed oil, Sodium dextran sulfate, Sodium stearoyl glutamate, Tocopherol, Xanthan gum
Compare prices
Retailers ranked by price — lowest first.
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.
| AvèneXera Calm BalmYOUR PRODUCT | Eau Thermale AveneTolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Balm | SheaMoistureManuka Honey Yogurt Glow Getter Honey Mask | CetaphilIntensive Healing Lotion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match | — | 40% | 36% | 35% |
| Price | $38.00 | $20.46−$17.54 | — | $34.90−$3.10 |
| Shared key ingredients | — | 4 of 6 | 3 of 6 | 5 of 6 |
| Key difference | — | Cera Alba | Salicylic Acid | Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine |
| Irritancy | Low | Low | Low | Low |
| Drying alcohol | — | — | — | — |
| View product | Shop | Shop | Shop |
More alternatives: Beyer & Söhne Bodylotion+ Anti-AgingAugustinus Bader The Ultimate Soothing Cream
Product summary
"Avène - Xera Calm Balm" is a well-rounded moisturizing product. As we expect from a proper moisturizer, the formula includes a combo of effective humectants and emollients. These are the two different types of ingredients that are essential for improving the skin hydration and supporting a healthy skin barrier. Arginine, glycerin and glycine in this product (humectants) attract water molecules to the upper layer of the skin (the water comes from the outside air or from the deeper layers of the skin if the air is dry). Paraffinum liquidum, oenothera biennis oil, arginine, caprylic/capric triglyceride and glyceryl stearate in this product help decrease the water evoporation from the skin, so that it stays hydrated for longer. These ingredients also soften the skin and take away the feeling of tightness and dryness.
This product contains ingredients that could be beneficial, but their concentrations are too low in this formulation: vitamin eIrritation risk
This product does not contain known common irritants and is suitable for sensitive skin. We assess the overall irritancy of this moisturizer to be low. For a detailed overview of all potential irritants: click here
You can see the detailed formula review with the breakdown of all actives in the product and the full ingredient list with estimated concentrations in the tables below.
Price
The product retails from 18.50$ up to 48.00$ in the United States, for 37.99CA$ in Canada, for 39.01A$ in Australia and from 15.19£ up to 18.50£ in the United Kingdom.
For a detailed price comparison: click here.
Sources cited in this review
Every concentration estimate and effectiveness label is anchored to one of these 7 studies and safety reviews.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4Effect of topically applied lipids on surfactant-irritated skinonlinelibrary.wiley.com
- 5
- 6Vitamin E in dermatologyncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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