There’s so much to like about this moisturiser. Or to put it another way, there’s very little not to like.
From almost the first application, our skin immediately fell in love with the Aveeno Oat Gel moisturiser and over the course of six weeks, our complexion went from strength to strength.
We have naturally red, irritated skin that gets worse throughout the day. After using the Aveeno moisturiser for just two weeks, we saw a noticeable improvement. Making it ideal for sensitive skin. By the end of our Aveeno Oat Gel review period, our skin was transformed.
Its lightweight consistency makes it ideal for people with oily or combination skin, like us, and it hydrates without overwhelming.
The only downside is the packaging. We’re not huge fans of pot moisturisers because you have to use a skincare spatula to avoid adding bacteria to the formula, which is common if you use your fingers – no matter how clean they are.
If you decide to skip the spatula and take the risk, you may find that you suffer from breakouts that only get worse over time, not better. You can buy reusable cosmetic spatulas on Amazon for around £8 but that is another outlay.
This is a very minor point, and it’s worth the extra effort, but it won’t be for everyone.
| Boots | £11.59 |
| Amazon | £7.82 |
| Lookfantastic | £10.99 |
In our Aveeno Oat Gel Moisturiser review, we see if the Calm and Restore cream is really a saviour for sensitive skin
JUMP TO SECTION
Click the links to jump to the relevant section:
How we tested Aveeno Oat Gel Moisturiser
How to use the Aveeno Oat Gel Moisturiser
Aveeno Oat Gel Moisturiser Performance
Aveeno Oat Gel Moisturiser review video
Aveeno Oat Gel Moisturiser Formula
For more than 70 years, Aveeno has been specialising in skincare for sensitive and delicate skin.
At the heart of the entire range is the use of oats, or particular oatmeal.
Used as far back as ancient times, oats have been shown to nourish and soothe dry skin.
In 1945, in partnership with dermatologists from Mayo Clinic, the Aveeno founders wanted to go back to these roots and developed a skincare range that harnesses the power of this ancient ingredient to help with a range of conditions and concerns.
In the time since, the Aveeno brand has conducted more than 80 clinical, peer-reviewed studies into the function of skin, the efficacy and safety of oatmeal in skincare, and the skin’s microbiome.
It’s become an expert in xerosis (the official term for dry skin) as well as psoriasis and is now a popular name in baby care.
Among its bestselling ranges is its Calm and Restore collection, and within that collection, the Aveeno Oat Gel leads the pack.
In our Aveeno Oat Gel review, we test whether it’s worth this hype and praise. We look at its consistency, its absorbency, and whether it’s as good for our sensitive skin as the brand claims.
mamabella | mamabella There are five products in the Aveeno Calm and Restore range. All of them contain oat, as well as an ingredient known as feverfew
There are five products in the Aveeno Calm and Restore range and not a single one scores lower than 4 out of 5 in customer reviews. All of them contain oat, as well as an ingredient known as feverfew.
Feverfew has historically been used for pain relief, so much so it’s been dubbed “Medieval aspirin,” and within this, it’s been proven to be great for calming the skin and reducing inflammation.
The range is designed so you can use these products alongside your regular skincare, because the formulas are minimal enough not to interfere with other ingredients. Or you can buy the complete five-step skincare routine for under £60.
mamabella | mamabella What is Aveeno Oat Gel Moisturiser? Aveeno’s Oat Gel Moisturiser is a lightweight, hydrating gel-like cream that helps soothe dry and sensitive skin and repair the skin barrier. Its key ingredient is something called colloidal oatmeal which is known for creating a barrier on the skin and locking in moisture.
Aveeno Oat Gel Moisturiser price: £11.59 (50ml)
How to use Aveeno Oat Gel Moisturiser: Massage a grape-sized amount of gel into your face until fully absorbed.
When to use Aveeno Oat Gel Moisturiser: Gentle enough to be used AM and PM.
Who should use Aveeno Oat Gel Moisturiser? Suitable for all skin types but is particularly good for dry, sensitive, and damaged skin.
Where to buy: Boots | Amazon | Lookfantastic
Aveeno Oat Gel Moisturiser alternatives: There aren’t any like-for-like alternatives that contain oatmeal but the Neutrogena HydroBoost Fragrance-Free Gel Creme (£12.99); and COSRX Pure Fit Cica Cream (£24) offer similar nourishment and protection. Even if they’re both more expensive.
WANT TO KNOW MORE? Best BB cream | Best moisturiser | Best tinted moisturiser | Best toner | Best primer | Best cleanser| Best eye cream| Best anti-ageing cream | Best hand cream| Best foot cream | Best face mask | Best face exfoliator | Best face oil| Best serum| Best night cream | Best SPF | Best Vitamin C serum | Men’s skincare routine| Best stretch mark cream| Skincare alternatives UK | How to get free skincare samples
For our Aveeno Oat Gel Moisturiser review, we used it as our only moisturiser for six weeks. Read more about why we test skincare for so long in our How we test skincare to see if it lives up to its claims guide.
Throughout the review period, we cleansed our face, applied our regular serums, and then used a skincare spatula to get a grape-sized amount of the Aveeno gel from the pot. We then rubbed this between our palms and massaged it over our damp face and neck.
You can also use your fingers, however, you run the risk of adding bacteria to the formula which can lead to breakouts and stop the cream working as well. Most pot moisturisers ship with small plastic spatulas and the UK version of the Aveeno Oat Gel moisturiser we bought came with one in the box.
However, you can also reusable cosmetic spatulas separately on Amazon for around £8.
Throughout the testing period, we noted how well the cream reduced redness, and texture; if it helped balance our skin type, and if it caused breakouts or similar.
FURTHER READING: How we test skincare to see if it lives up to its claims
A little goes a lot way with the Aveeno Oat Gel moisturiser so we recommend:
mamabella | mamabella Over the course of our six-week Aveeno Oat Gel moisturiser review, our skin went from being red, irritated, greasy and prone to breakouts to looking calm, clear and balanced
Over the course of our six-week Aveeno Oat Gel moisturiser review, our skin went from being red, irritated, greasy and prone to breakouts to looking calm, clear and balanced.
Almost from the first application, our skin felt more hydrated. Its gel-like consistency meant it felt lightweight and refreshing on the skin – so much so, the cream always felt cool on the skin like it had been in a skincare fridge. This also meant that a small amount went a long way, and it was absorbed easily into the skin, leaving it feeling almost like velvet.
We have combination skin, although it errs more on the oily side. We have a few dry patches on our forehead and the side of our cheeks but the centre of our face is oily and greasy. Over the course of the day, it starts to feel heavy and gets increasingly redder around the edges.
The Aveeno Oat Gel moisturiser solved this. It took a couple of weeks to see a noticeable difference in how balanced our skin was – and it was our Mum who actually pointed out how clear and bright our skin looked – but once we noticed it, we couldn’t get over what a difference this cream made.
Although it doesn’t promise anti-ageing benefits, our skin looked so much more plump and dewy while using the Aveeno Oat Gel and this made look youthful and healthy.
Such is the radiance that this cream brings, we could finally go makeup free without worrying about pigmentation or uneven skin tone. Our redness all but dissipated, even during the Luteal phase of our menstrual cycle which is when our skin nose-dives and it becomes all greasy, red, and itchy. (If that sounds like you and your skin, check out our How your skin and hair changes at every stage of your menstrual cycle – and what to do about it guide.)
Buy now from Charlotte Tibury
In our TikTok video below, we test the hydration levels of the Aveeno Oat Gel moisturiser after five minutes, and see how well the moisturiser maintains hydration after an hour.
@victoria_woolly_web Replying to @melissa NEW ENTRY IN THE TOP 10 BEST MOISTURISERS. Really rate this moisturiser, great for oily skin, great for sensitive skin. Hydrates well and maintains hydration (meaning it could also be one of the best moisturizers for dry skin too!). Plus it’s affordable 🥳 bravo @aveenoukire @Aveeno_US #mamabella #bestmoisturizer #bestmoisturiser #moisturiserforsensitiveskin #moisturiser_for_dryskin #moisturiserforoilyskin #aveenooatisthegoat #aveenooatgelmoisturizer ♬ Miracle – Calvin Harris & Ellie Goulding
mamabella | mamabella The lightweight consistency of the Aveeno Oat Gel makes it ideal for people with oily or combination skin, and it hydrates without overwhelming
A lot is made about the Aveeno Oat Gel formula so let’s take a closer look at the ingredients, and what they do.
The main ingredients are water (as is the case with almost all cosmetic products), followed by glycerin and dimethicone.
Glycerin is found naturally in the skin and is what’s known as a humectant. This means it attracts moisture like a magnet and draws it into the lower layers of the skin. While dimethicone is a silicone that gives the cream a soft, almost velvet feel. It creates a thin protective barrier on the skin and gently fills in fine lines and wrinkles.
To bring extra moisturising and barrier support there are then two “olivate” ingredients combine to create a complex known as Olivem 1000.
This is followed by Aveeno’s flagship ingredient, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Flour, a finely powdered form of Oat Extract that soothes and protects the skin and has antioxidant benefits.
Elsewhere is Centella Asiatica Extract. Also known as Cica, Centella Asiatica has been used for centuries to treat wounds, burns, and scratches because it’s anti-inflammatory. This also makes it great for eczema.
There’s so much to like about this moisturiser. Or to put it another way, there’s very little not to like.
From almost the first application, our skin immediately fell in love with the Aveeno Oat Gel moisturiser and over the course of six weeks, our complexion went from strength to strength.
We have naturally red, irritated skin that gets worse throughout the day. After using the Aveeno moisturiser for just two weeks, we saw a noticeable improvement. Making it ideal for sensitive skin. By the end of our Aveeno Oat Gel review period, our skin was transformed.
Its lightweight consistency makes it ideal for people with oily or combination skin, like us, and it hydrates without overwhelming.
The only downside is the packaging. We’re not huge fans of pot moisturisers because you have to use a skincare spatula to avoid adding bacteria to the formula, which is common if you use your fingers – no matter how clean they are.
If you decide to skip the spatula and take the risk, you may find that you suffer from breakouts that only get worse over time, not better. You can buy reusable cosmetic spatulas on Amazon for around £8 but that is another outlay.
This is a very minor point, and it’s worth the extra effort, but it won’t be for everyone.
The following list of ingredients is taken from the INCI Decoder website. You can hover over each ingredient to find out more about it.
The numbers next to each ingredient represent its Irritation Rating (the number to the left of the comma), and then Comedogenic Rating (to the right of the comma).
Both ratings are scored out of five and the higher the number, the higher the chance of it causing irritation, or comedones (spots). Green means it has a low rating so is less likely to cause problems. Yellow and red numbers represent high ratings and are more likely to cause problems.
sii|h 0 0, Dimethicone emo 0 1, Cetearyl Olivate 
emu, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Flour so|aox|emo, Sorbitan Olivate emu, Polyacrylamide vc, Synthetic Beeswax vc, Phenoxyethanol pres, C13-14 Isoparaffin emo|vc|solv, Butylene Glycol h|solv 0 1, Dimethicone Crosspolymer vc, Panthenol so|h 0 0, Chlorphenesin pres|amic, Dimethiconol emo|h, Carbomer vc 0 1, Laureth-7 emu|surf, Chrysanthemum Parthenium (Feverfew) Flower/Leaf/Stem Juice aox, Ethylhexylglycerin pres, Sodium Hydroxide buff, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract aox|so|emo|abrasive/scrub, Centella Asiatica Extract so|aox|hHover the mouse / tap over an ingredient for short explanation. Read more on INCIDecoder.
Victoria is founder and editor-in-chief of mamabella, freelance journalist and Mum. She has a passion for empowering people to feel beautiful whatever their age, size, skin type and budget
