Glow Simplified
Check your shelf

Eau Thermale Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream

Moisturizer~€23typical, July 2026

Our read, in one look

Glycerin is the reason to consider this moisturizer, with Mineral Oil behind it.

The case for it

  • Glycerin, strong evidence for hydration
  • Mineral Oil, strong evidence for the barrier
  • No fragrance, alcohol, silicones or parabens

Mind this

  • Morning or evening, whichever suits your routine
  • Add it on its own for a week or two, so you know what your skin is answering to
Best for dry, dehydrated, very dry, compromised barrier skinFind it on amazon.com →
Maya's read

Eau Thermale Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream is a moisturizer built around Glycerin, Mineral Oil and Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride. It leans strongest on hydration, barrier repair. Best suited to dry, dehydrated and very dry skin. Nothing in it we'd flag for most people.

Reviewed by Maya FaourLast reviewed August 2026Why no score? We tested. →

Skip it if you already own something similar: it's a solid, honest basic rather than a must-have upgrade.

What it delivers

Hydration10
Barrier repair9
Brightening / tone0
Oil-control & blemishes2
Anti-aging1

How it feels A rich, cushiony cream that sinks in slowly. Comforting on dry skin, possibly too much for oily skin in summer. (estimated from the formula)

What's in it that matters

The molecule doing the workGlycerinHumectant · strong evidence

Classic humectant with strong evidence for improving skin hydration and supporting barrier when combined with emollients.

  • Mineral OilOcclusivestrong evidence

    Highly purified mineral oil that forms an occlusive layer to reduce water loss and soften very dry skin.

  • Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideEmollientstrong evidence

    Light emollient ester that improves slip and reduces transepidermal water loss; may be problematic for some fungal-acne-prone users.

How to use it

Morning and/or night, after your thinner water-based steps and before heavier creams.

Where it acts

The same cross-section as our 500 dalton page, with this formula's actives on the layer each one works on. Depth is the anatomy's, never an ingredient's.

3 of this product's actives have a layer we can defend.

Against the average moisturizer

HydrationBarrier repairBrighteningOil-controlAnti-aging
This productMedian moisturizer (13 in catalogue)

It scores lower than the median moisturizer on anti-aging, oil control and brightening.

On hydration and barrier repair it is level with the median, so that is not what sets it apart.

A median, not an average: one unusual formula should not move the middle. The numbers are the same 0 to 10 reads the comparison pages use.

The full ingredients list, decoded

Every ingredient on the label, in the order it appears (highest amount first). We link the 7 our library knows, name what each one does, and flag anything that can irritate or clog. The rest we leave plain, nothing is hidden.

All 19 ingredients, decoded
  1. Avene Thermal Spring Water (Avene Aqua)Solvent (base)
  2. Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideEmollient
  3. Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum)Emollient
  4. GlycerinHumectant
  5. Hydrogenated Vegetable OilPlant oil / butter (emollient)
  6. Zinc OxideMineral (opacifier)
  7. Propylene GlycolHumectant
    mild irritant
  8. Polyglyceryl-2 SesquiisostearateEmulsifier
  9. PEG-22/Dodecyl Glycol CopolymerEmulsifier
  10. Aluminum Stearate
  11. Aquaphilus Dolomiae Ferment FiltrateSolvent (base)
  12. ArginineHumectant
  13. Beeswax (Cera Alba)Plant oil / butter (emollient)
  14. Copper SulfateMineral
  15. Magnesium StearateMineral
  16. Magnesium SulfateMineral
  17. Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina)Occlusive (wax)
  18. TromethaminePh adjuster
  19. Zinc SulfateMineral
Copy the raw INCI list

Avene Thermal Spring Water (Avene Aqua), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum), Glycerin, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Zinc Oxide, Propylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-2 Sesquiisostearate, PEG-22/Dodecyl Glycol Copolymer, Aluminum Stearate, Aquaphilus Dolomiae Ferment Filtrate, Arginine, Beeswax (Cera Alba), Copper Sulfate, Magnesium Stearate, Magnesium Sulfate, Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina), Tromethamine, Zinc Sulfate

Read enough? Find it on amazon.com →

We don't make or sell skincare of our own. So there's nothing here we're trying to push, just an honest read of whether this formula suits your skin.

Compare it with…

VSCeraVeSA Lotion for Rough & Bumpy SkinShares Mineral OilVSNIVEACremeShares Mineral OilVSBiodermaAtoderm Intensive BaumeShares Mineral Oil
All 12 comparisons

Decode your product

Photograph the front and the ingredients list on the back. We check every product against the same knowledge base by hand, so this takes days, not seconds.

The photos

Common questions

Is Eau Thermale Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream good for dry skin?

By our read of the formula, it suits dry, dehydrated, very dry skin. Eau Thermale Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream is a moisturizer built around Glycerin, Mineral Oil and Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride. It leans strongest on hydration, barrier repair. Best suited to dry, dehydrated and very dry skin. Nothing in it we'd flag for most people.

How do you use Eau Thermale Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream?

Morning and/or night, after your thinner water-based steps and before heavier creams.

What are the key ingredients in Eau Thermale Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream?

The actives that do the work are Glycerin, Mineral Oil, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride. The rest of the list is texture, preservatives and emulsifiers that hold the formula together.

Does Eau Thermale Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream contain fragrance?

No. By our reading of the ingredient list it is fragrance-free, which is a plus for sensitive or reactive skin.

Related products

Eau Thermale Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream