There’s a reason why Avène is considered to be a skincare classic – it’s an iconic French pharmacy staple, made famous by its dry and sensitive skin-friendly formulas which focus on hydrating and soothing damaged skin. The key ingredient in all of Avène’s formulas is its Thermal Spring Water, a naturally pure water which is pH neutral and contains a balance of calcium and magnesium, which help to improve skin’s balance and tolerance.
Avène’s product range encompasses over 40 products for face and body, but these 11 are the ones you absolutely need to add to your skincare shelf.
1. Avène Thermal Water
This basic-in-a-good way face mist is a staple in French beauty cabinets – the mineral-rich water is perfect for soothing and relieving stressed and sensitive skin, refreshing the face during hot weather, and for dampening skin before applying serums and moisturiser.
2. Avène Soothing Eye Contour Cream
An Avène bestseller, this soothing eye cream is perfect for treating dry and sensitive skin in the delicate eye area. As well as hydrating skin, it also helps to relieve soreness and tightness, and reduce the appearance of redness.
3. Avène Hydrance Aqua Gel
Oily and breakout-prone skin is often dehydrated, so needs moisture just as much as dry skin does – but chances are you’d rather not apply a thick cream to your face. This light gel-cream textured moisturiser is a perfect substitute. It’s soothing and cooling, but still packs skin with moisture.
4. Avène Hydrance Rich Hydrating Cream
Dry and sensitive skin types especially will benefit from using this rich moisturising cream – which offers an impressive 24 hours of continuous hydration. It’s best applied the final step in your evening skincare routine – layer it on thick and you’ll wake up to skin that feels noticeably softer.
5. Avène UV Hydrance SPF30 Light
Formulated with combination skin in mind, this light moisturiser has a smooth, fluid consistency which absorbs quickly, leaving skin feeling instantly hydrated and supple. What’s more, it does double duty as a sunscreen, providing SPF30 and anti-UV protection.
6. Avène B Protect SPF50
If you prefer to keep your skincare routine to just the essentials, you’ll love this 3-in-1 sunscreen. It not only provides SPF50 protection, but also subtly tints skin to even out skin tone and boost glow, and provides a lasting moisture boost.
7. Avène Tolerance Control Soothing Skin Recovery Cream
If your skin has had an unexpected allergic reaction, is feeling hypersensitive, or has a damaged barrier, this is the cream to have on hand for sensitive skin emergencies. It’s incredibly soothing – calming skin and relieving sensations of tightness and stinging instantly while working to restore a healthy skin barrier within 48 hours.
8. Avène Intense Protect SPF50
Providing SPF50 UVA, UVB, and blue light defence, this broad-spectrum sunscreen offers thorough protection against sun damage. It has a light, hybrid texture which absorbs quickly and leaves an invisible finish, even on dark skin tones.
9. Avène Tolerance Lotion Extremely Gentle Cleanser
When skin is dry or damaged, it’s important to have a gentle cleansing routine which doesn’t strip skin. This soothing gel cleanser has a no-rinse formula so it removes makeup without causing tightness or irritation.
10. Avène Soothing Radiance Mask
This refreshing mask is perfect for soothing tired, dry, and sensitive skin. It’s packed with skin barrier-strengthening ingredients – such as vitamin E and red berry extract – which moisturise, brighten, and comfort skin.
11. Avène Gentle Milk Cleanser
Thanks to its fluid, velvety texture, this cleanser melts away makeup, leaving skin feeling fresh and soft. What’s more, it can even be used to remove stubborn eye makeup – no scrubbing required.
