Side-by-side comparison

Avène Tolerance Extreme Emulsion vs Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream

Both are moisturisers. They share a 77% active-ingredient overlap, so the real decision is about price, texture and the supporting ingredients. Here's the side-by-side.

77%Active overlap
Avène
Tolerance Extreme Emulsion
MoisturiserMid-rangeMorning or evening
sensitiveRednessDamaged Barrier

A minimalist 8-ingredient emulsion designed for hyper-reactive and post-procedural skin. Steriled glass packaging, preservative-free, fragrance-free. When your routine has caused a flare and nothing else will sit comfortably on your face — this is usually the product that does.

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Kiehl's
Ultra Facial Cream
MoisturiserPremiumMorning or evening
DrynessDehydrationSensitivity

A long-running everyday moisturiser with squalane and glacial glycoprotein for 24-hour hydration. A reliable, lightly rich daily cream for normal-to-dry skin; not a treatment, just dependable hydration.

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The verdict

Which should you choose?

On price, the Avène Tolerance Extreme Emulsion sits in the Mid-range tier versus Premium for the Kiehl's — so it's the more budget-led pick if the overlap is what you're after. The Avène leans toward Damaged Barrier, Redness, sensitive. The Kiehl's leans toward Dehydration, Dryness, Sensitivity.

The overlap

What they share

At 77% active overlap, these are the ingredients doing comparable work in both formulas:

Squalane
The formulation

Ingredient stacks, side by side

Avène — top of the list

  • Avène Thermal …~50–80%
  • Mineral Oil~5–25%
  • Squalane~3–10%
  • Glycerin~2–6%
  • Glyceryl Stear…~1.5–4%
  • Carbomer~1–2%

Kiehl's — top of the list

  • Aqua~50–80%
  • Glycerin~5–25%
  • Cyclohexasiloxa…~3–10%
  • Squalane~2–6%
  • Bis-PEG-18 Meth…~1.5–4%

● marks ingredients that appear near the top of both lists. Percentages are positional estimates from INCI order, not disclosed doses.

At a glance

The specs

AvèneKiehl's
CategoryMoisturiserMoisturiser
Price tierMid-rangePremium
Best forsensitive, Redness, Damaged BarrierDryness, Dehydration, Sensitivity
Usage notesMorning or eveningMorning or evening
Active overlap77% — Squalane
Questions

Common questions

Is the Avène Tolerance Extreme Emulsion or the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream better?
Neither is universally better — they share 77% active-ingredient overlap, so for the actives that drive results they're close. The Avène Tolerance Extreme Emulsion is the more budget-friendly option, while the other may differ on texture, finish and supporting ingredients. Pick based on your skin's priorities rather than a single 'winner'.
What's the difference between the Avène Tolerance Extreme Emulsion and the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream?
Both are moisturisers that share Squalane. Where they differ: they sit in different price tiers (Mid-range vs Premium); the Avène targets Damaged Barrier, Redness; the Kiehl's targets Dehydration, Dryness.
Are the Avène Tolerance Extreme Emulsion and Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream dupes for each other?
They share 77% active-ingredient overlap based on published INCI lists, so one can stand in for the other on the actives that matter — chiefly Squalane. A dupe matches the hero actives, not the full sensory experience, so expect differences in texture, fragrance and exact concentrations.
Can I use the Avène Tolerance Extreme Emulsion and Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream together?
They both fill the moisturiser slot in a routine, so you'd normally pick one rather than layer both. If you want to use both, treat one as your daytime option and the other for evening, and patch-test when introducing anything new.
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70% overlap

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