All scans / Sunscreens / Avène SPF 50+ Cream
Avène SPF 50+ Cream ingredients: is it worth it?
Solid high-protection sunscreen, but the fragrance makes it a poor choice for reactive skin.
Solid high-protection sunscreen, but the fragrance makes it a poor choice for reactive skin.
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The efficacy score of 3.6/5 reflects a photostable broad-spectrum UV filter high in the formula and a film-forming system that should support durable coverage, but the verified list names only one UV filter, provides no disclosed SPF/UVA-filter percentages, and offers limited formulation evidence for a clinically optimal sunscreen. Tocopheryl glucoside is present too low in the list to materially drive the score, while fragrance adds irritation risk without improving protection. The safety score of 4.1/5 is reduced primarily for declared parfum; the base otherwise contains no denatured alcohol or aggressive surfactants. The brand describes this cream as ultra-broad-spectrum and 100% photostable, while the supplied retailer listing gives an RRP of $35.00 for 30 ml.
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DemythSkin rates Avène SPF 50+ Cream 3.6/5 for efficacy and 4.1/5 for safety.
CONTAINS COMMON SENSITISERS⌄
Fragrance components and essential oils that more often cause reactions in sensitive skin: Fragrance (Parfum). Most people tolerate them; patch test if your skin reacts easily.
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS BY TIER
Gold Standards
High clinical proof | Skin-transformativeReliable
Proven resultsPotent
Developing evidenceOverhyped | Marketing
Hype | Limited dataDocumented Irritants
Evidence-backed flagFORMULATION BASE (7)⌄
FULL INGREDIENT LIST⌄
Water (Aqua), Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Glyceryl Stearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Stearyl Alcohol, Vp/Eicosene Copolymer, Benzoic Acid, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Caprylyl Glycol, Fragrance (Parfum), Glyceryl Behenate, Glyceryl Dibehenate, Ppg-1-Peg-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether, Red 33 (Ci 17200), Tocopheryl Glucoside, Tribehenin, Xanthan Gum
WHAT EACH INGREDIENT DOES (17)⌄
- Water (Aqua)
- Solvent and formula base
- Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine
- Broad-spectrum UV filter
- Glyceryl Stearate
- Emollient and emulsifier
- Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
- Emulsifier and stabilizer
- Stearyl Alcohol
- Fatty alcohol and thickener
- Vp/Eicosene Copolymer
- Film-forming water resistance aid
- Benzoic Acid
- Preservative and pH adjuster
- Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
- Light emollient and skin conditioner
- Caprylyl Glycol
- Humectant and preservative booster
- Fragrance (Parfum)
- Fragrance component
- Glyceryl Behenate
- Emollient and consistency agent
- Glyceryl Dibehenate
- Emollient and texture agent
- Ppg-1-Peg-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether
- Solubilizer and emollient
- Red 33 (Ci 17200)
- Cosmetic colorant
- Tocopheryl Glucoside
- Vitamin E derivative
- Tribehenin
- Emollient and thickener
- Xanthan Gum
- Thickener and stabilizer
EXTERNAL CITATIONS
Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine: Broad-spectrum, photostable organic UV filter used for UVA and UVB protection.
Vp/Eicosene Copolymer: Film-forming polymer that can support water resistance and sunscreen-film durability.
Tocopheryl Glucoside: Vitamin E derivative with antioxidant functionality; positioned too low to justify a major efficacy contribution.
DISCLAIMER: THIS ANALYSIS IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY. NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. AI-GENERATED DATA BASED ON PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INGREDIENT LISTS. VERIFY WITH A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL.
A cheaper sunscreen that scores as high or higher
A different formula for the same concern (sun protection) that scores at least as high on both efficacy and safety.
Avène SPF 50+ Cream: common questions
Is Avène SPF 50+ Cream worth it?
Avène SPF 50+ Cream scores 3.6 out of 5.0 for efficacy (Modest) and 4.1 out of 5.0 for safety (Gentle) on DemythSkin's independent ingredient analysis. Solid high-protection sunscreen, but the fragrance makes it a poor choice for reactive skin.
What are the key active ingredients in Avène SPF 50+ Cream?
Avène SPF 50+ Cream contains these gold-standard actives with strong clinical evidence: Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine.
Does Avène SPF 50+ Cream contain fragrance or known irritants?
DemythSkin flags these ingredients in Avène SPF 50+ Cream as documented irritants: Fragrance (Parfum). This product does contain fragrance.
How is Avène SPF 50+ Cream scored?
DemythSkin grades every product on two independent scores: efficacy (whether the ingredients have clinical evidence of working) and safety (irritation and sensitisation risk). Ingredients are graded S through D against a database of over 3,000 compounds. Brand and price are not part of the score, and no brand pays for one.
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