What Avène does

Avène (Eau Thermale Avène / Laboratoires Dermatologiques Avène) is a dermo-cosmetic skincare brand operated by Pierre Fabre Dermo-Cosmetique, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pierre Fabre SA, a privately-held French pharmaceutical and dermo-cosmetic group. Avène's product portfolio is organized into clinically-segmented sub-brands addressing sensitive, atopic, acne-prone, anti-aging, sun-protection, and oncology-supportive skin care needs (e.g., Cicalfate+, XeraCalm A.D, Cleanance, Comedomed, DermAbsolu, Hydrance, Tolérance, Couvrance, Ultra Solaire, Hyaluron Activ Procedure). Its core technological base rests on Avène Thermal Spring Water and the Aquaphilus dolomiae micro-organism found exclusively in that spring, which is the source of three proprietary postbiotic active ingredients—I-modulia® (anti-itch), [C+-Restore]™ (epidermal repair), and D-Sensinose™ (hypersensitivity regulation)—developed after more than 12 years of microbiology research by Pierre Fabre Research Centers. The proprietary Cosmétique Stérile manufacturing process, an exclusive hermetic closure system enabling preservative-free formulations, serves hypersensitive and intolerant skin segments.

Avène operates a B2C go-to-market primarily through pharmacy and parapharmacy distribution channels across approximately 120 countries (the parent group's footprint spans 70% international revenue share), supplemented by direct-to-consumer e-commerce via eau-thermale-avene.fr and physical retail points of sale. Pricing is set by distributors and varies by point of sale, with no loyalty program offered. The brand is supported by a substantial clinical research apparatus—72 dedicated experts conducting 750–1,050 studies annually with 8,000 volunteers per year, and 300–1,000 volunteers per product launch—and is now pioneering AI-enhanced clinical methodology through a partnership with BotDesign. Approximately 90% of products are manufactured in France.

Avène's customer base is broad and consumer-fragmented, including general sensitive-skin consumers, patients with atopic dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, acne, infants, and oncology patients during and post-treatment. Pierre Fabre Group, the parent, reported €3.1 billion in revenue in FY2024 and employs 10,200 people globally, with a unique ownership structure—86% held by the Fondation Pierre Fabre (a humanitarian foundation of public utility) and the remainder held by employees—which supports long-term reinvestment rather than short-term exit pressure.

Name

Avène

Legal name

Pierre Fabre Dermo-Cosmetique

Website

https://eau-thermale-avene.fr

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Avène is a dermo-cosmetic skincare brand owned by Pierre Fabre Group, selling clinically-validated thermal-spring-water-based products for sensitive, atopic, acne-prone, oncology-supportive, and anti-aging skin through pharmacy, parapharmacy, and e-commerce channels across approximately 120 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dermo-cosmetic skincare

NAICS

Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561), Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (456120)

SIC

Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844), Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics (2840)

akta.pro primary industry

Dermocosmetics & Medical-Grade Skincare (CRABAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Treatment Skincare (Serums, Actives, Acne & Anti-aging) (CRABAAAB), Professional Skincare & Facial Treatments (CRABALAF), Dermatology & Aesthetics Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAK)

Keywords

• Dermo-cosmetic skincare
• Sensitive skin care
• Thermal spring water
• Postbiotic skincare
• Dermatological skincare

Headquarters

HQ city

Boulogne-billancourt

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Dermo-cosmetic product sales: Sale of skincare products for face and body through pharmacy, parapharmacy, and direct-to-consumer channels. Products include cleansers, moisturizers, serums, sunscreen, and specialized treatments for sensitive, acne-prone, atopic, and damaged skin. Revenue generated from consumer product sales with prices set by distributors and varying by point of sale.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Eau Thermale Avène manufactures and sells dermo-cosmetic skincare products for face and body, formulated with Avène Thermal Spring Water and proprietary postbiotic actives (I-modulia®, [C+-Restore]™, D-Sensinose™) derived from the Aquaphilus dolomiae micro-organism. The portfolio covers cleansers, moisturizers, serums, sunscreens, sterile cosmetics for hypersensitive skin, and therapeutic care for atopic, acne-prone, irritated, and oncology-affected skin, sold through pharmacies, parapharmacies, the brand's own e-commerce site, and physical points of sale.

Product overview

Eau Thermale Avène is a dermo-cosmetic skincare brand owned by Pierre Fabre Dermo-Cosmetique, offering a comprehensive portfolio of dermatological face and body care products. The product portfolio is organized into distinct sub-brands addressing specific skin concerns: Hyaluron Activ Procedure for anti-aging (with retinal-based lifting cream), Comedomed and Cleanance for acne and imperfection care, Cicalfate+ for repair and protection using postbiotic [C+-Restore] technology, Xeracalm A.D for atopic dry skin using I-modulia postbiotic active, DermAbsolu for resculpting anti-aging, Hydrance for hydration, Tolérance for ultra-sensitive skin using sterile cosmetics technology, Couvrance for dermo-cosmetic makeup, and a complete sun protection line (Ultra Solaire). All products are formulated with Avène Thermal Spring Water, which has over 25 years of clinical research validating its soothing properties, and leverage proprietary postbiotic actives derived from the unique Aquaphilus dolomiae microorganism found exclusively in the Avène thermal spring.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cleanance: Skincare range for oily and acne-prone skin
• Cicalfate
• XeraCalm
• DermAbsolu
• Hydrance
• Couvrance
• Hyaluron Activ B3
• Hyaluron Activ Procedure
• Ultra Serum
• Tolerance
• Cold Cream
• Body
• Men
• Essentiel
• Eau Thermale
• Cleanance Comedomed
• Vitamin Activ Cg

Products and services

• Eau Thermale d'Avène (Thermal Spring Water Spray) Pure thermal spring water spray sold as a standalone skincare product, used by consumers with sensitive or irritated skin as a soothing, anti-irritant care step; serves as the foundation ingredient across the Avène portfolio.
• XeraCalm A.D range Lipid-replenishing emollient care range for dry and atopic-prone skin, including lipid-replenishing creams, balms, shower oils, and nutrition lotions for infants, children, and adults; features the proprietary postbiotic active I-modulia® for itch relief and barrier restoration with a 6-month anti-relapse effect.
• Cicalfate+ range Repair and protection dermo-cosmetic range for sensitive, irritated, and damaged skin, including repairing protective creams and a spray asséchant réparateur for skin areas prone to maceration; features the postbiotic active [C+-Restore]™ which claims to repair irritated skin in 48 hours, including a specific format for oncology patients.
• Tolérance range (Sterile Cosmetics) Ultra-sensitive skin range using Cosmétique Stérile (Sterile Cosmetics) formulations that eliminate the need for preservatives, featuring the D-Sensinose™ postbiotic active that regulates cutaneous hypersensitivity and is claimed to calm skin in 30 seconds and restore the protective barrier in 48 hours; designed for hypersensitive and intolerant skin.
• Cleanance range Oily and acne-prone skin care range including cleansers, mattifying emulsions, and anti-imperfection treatments for adolescents and adults; developed to address excess sebum, blemishes, and post-acne marks.
• Comedomed / Comedomed+ range Acne and imperfection care line including Comedomed serum and peeling treatments plus the newer Comedomed+ Soin Intensif Anti-Imperfections and Comedomed Sérum Intensif, designed to correct imperfections and reduce persistent marks in oily, acne-prone skin.
• DermAbsolu range Anti-aging dermo-cosmetic range featuring resculpting day and night creams that redensify, nourish, and redraw facial contours for consumers seeking mature-skin care.
• Hyaluron Activ Procedure Premium anti-aging dermo-cosmetic innovation line featuring a lifting cream with 0.1% retinal, co-developed with aesthetic dermatologists, positioned for consumers seeking a procedure-like at-home anti-aging routine.
• Hydrance range Hydration line for sensitive skin, providing moisturizing care to address dry and dehydrated skin, including BB cream and SPF formats.
• Couvrance range Dermo-cosmetic makeup line for sensitive skin, providing corrective, unifying, and sublimating coverage for the complexion, including complexion correctors and complexion-perfecting products.
• Ultra Solaire range Premium sun protection line including SPF50+ serums and sprays for face and body, designed to minimize marine ecosystem impact.
• Spray asséchant réparateur Cicalfate+ Postbiotic repairing spray that dries, repairs, and sanitizes irritated skin areas prone to maceration, featuring [C+-Restore]™ technology; specifically formulated for oncology patients during or post anti-cancer treatment and for general irritated skin use.

Quantifiable outcome

• Cicalfate+ Spray repairs irritated skin in 48 hours with immediate soothing from first application
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BotDesigncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2026Partnership with HealthTech Toulouse company BotDesign for AI-enhanced clinical studies. Jointly conducting pioneering clinical trial for Avène Cleanance Comedomed+ using artificial intelligence to generate synthetic patient data and virtually increase study populations. Methodology presented at International Congress of Dermatology Rome 2025.
• European Skin Cancer FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-year partnership for skin cancer awareness, education, and prevention in children. Avène contributes scientific expertise, operational support, and financial resources.
• Pur ProjetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with association dedicated to restoring marine environments. Active coral reef reconstruction project in Indonesia involving local communities.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Galderma: Dermatology-focused pharmaceutical company (Nestlé Skin Health / EQT-owned historically, now public) offering prescription and dermo-cosmetic products (Cetaphil, Differin, Epiduo) — comparable on dermatology focus and physician-channel credibility, though operating at a broader pharma scale than Avène.

Direct peers

• A-Derma: Sister brand within Pierre Fabre Dermo-Cosmetique, pharmacy-distributed dermo-cosmetic line for fragile and atopic-prone skin built around Rhealba® oat plantlet active — directly comparable on pharmacy channel, Pierre Fabre infrastructure, and atopic-prone-skin positioning.
• CeraVe: L'Oréal-owned dermo-cosmetic brand that has scaled rapidly through pharmacy and mass channels with ceramides-based formulations endorsed by dermatologists — a directly comparable dermo-cosmetic competitor that has gained significant share in sensitive and eczema-prone categories overlapping Avène's core.
• La Roche-Posay: L'Oréal-owned dermo-cosmetic leader distributed through pharmacy channels worldwide, targeting sensitive, atopic, and acne-prone skin with thermal spring water (La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water) and dermatologist-backed claims — the most direct head-to-head competitor to Avène in positioning, channel, and clinical-evidence model.
• Eucerin: Beiersdorf-owned dermo-cosmetic brand distributed through pharmacy channels, with clinical ranges for atopic skin (Eucerin AtopiControl), acne, and sensitive skin — comparable on channel, medical-grade positioning, and clinical-trial evidence approach.
• Ducray: Sister brand within Pierre Fabre Dermo-Cosmetique, distributed through pharmacy channels with dermatological ranges for hair loss (Anaphase+) and skin conditions — a directly comparable Pierre Fabre portfolio brand sharing R&D, manufacturing, and channel infrastructure with Avène.
• Bioderma: NAOS-owned French dermo-cosmetic brand sold through pharmacy channels, with signature sensitive-skin ranges (Sensibio, Atoderm) using proprietary biological approaches — directly comparable on French pharmacy-channel GTM and sensitive/eczema-prone-skin positioning.
• SkinCeuticals: L'Oréal-owned clinical skincare brand positioned around dermatologist dispensing, advanced actives (retinal, vitamin C, antioxidants), and post-procedure care — directly comparable on premium dermo-cosmetic positioning, anti-aging active technology, and clinical-evidence-driven marketing.
• Vichy: L'Oréal-owned French dermo-cosmetic brand sold through pharmacy channels with Vichy Mineralizing Water and ranges for sensitive, anti-aging, and acne-prone skin — directly comparable to Avène on channel, French heritage, thermal-water heritage, and sensitive-skin positioning.

Emerging players

• SVR: Independent French dermo-cosmetic laboratory sold through pharmacy channels with high-concentration actives (Topialyse, Sebiaclear, Densitium) — comparable on French pharmacy-channel positioning and active-ingredient-led formulation strategy, though smaller scale than Avène.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@EauThermaleAvene
• Facebookfacebook.com/EauThermaleAveneFrance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/laboratoires-dermatologiques-avene
• Instagraminstagram.com/avene

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Avène