Avene is a brand you may have spotted in the drugstore but never gave a second thought about. I know I passed by their products quite often without stopping to take a look. I actually did purchase an Avene product a while back, but have no memory of how well it worked (it was way before my blogging days).
Eau Thermale Avene has been around for more than 20 years, well known for their relieving and non-irritating products that are ideal for sensitive, intolerant, and allergic skin types. Avene has many product lines dedicated to different types of problematic or sensitive skin, such as allergic, irritated, dry, acne prone, and rosacea skin.
While discovering their website, I had no idea they had so many products that would be of interest to me. I have mildly sensitive skin with redness, dryness, allergy, and acne prone tendencies so finding new products that work and don't break me out are often hit or miss.
In the cold winters of Canada, we often suffer from dry skin, itchiness, eczema, and other skin conditions because of the harsh weather. Typically, we pull out our heavier moisturizers, but there are few products that actually cater towards these skin conditions. I was sent the Avene XeraCalm Lipid-Replenishing Cleansing Oil and Lipid-Replenishing Balm, as well as their popular Thermal Spring Water Spray to test out.
XeraCalm A.D. (Atopic Dermatitis) is a range of products by Avene intended for moderate to intense dry skin for all age types: infants to adults. XeraCalm products are based on an innovating formula, I-modulia, used to reduce itching, redness, and irritation from dry skin and hyperactivity. The XeraCalm line is in the 'Body' product category on their website but the bottles say 'For Face and Body'.
- I-modulia: Reduce itching sensations due to dry skin, soothes redness and irritations, allows skin to create protection.
- Cer-Omega: Repairs and nourishes the skin, strengthens the protective hydrolipidic film.
- Avene Thermal Spring Water: Soothes, reduce discomfort, soften the skin.
Fragrance free, soap free.
The XeraCalm Lipid-Replenishing Cleansing Oil is thin and translucent which thickens as you rub it on the skin. I tried it both on dry skin and wet skin and I prefer to apply it to dry skin first, rub it in, then add a small amount of water. It will lather a bit when water is added. The jar is huge at 400ml and I'm sure this will last me quite a while. The pump however, is a bit short on such a large bottle which might make it difficult for larger hands to dispense the product. It's probably best to tilt the bottle when dispensing product out.
This doesn't claim to be makeup removing but I did test it to see if it could get the job done. It does slightly remove my makeup (but not all) but it isn't purposed for that and you are best off using a makeup remover beforehand. I do wish it removed my makeup better but I guess it wouldn't be such a gentle cleanser if it did. There is no oily feel to the skin afterwards and you are definitely able to use this night and day. My face didn't feel dry afterwards and it did not break me out either, which is a huge plus. I did not use this for the body because I feel it's more suitable for the face, but I don't doubt that it will work well for very dry and sensitive skin.
No preservatives, parabens, fragrance, or alcohol. Is hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic.
First off, I love that the balm has relatively good ingredients, with no preservatives, parabens, fragrance, or alcohol. I do not like that the Lipid-Replenishing Balm contains Mineral Oil as the second ingredient, but it did not seem to clog my pores or break out my skin, which is good. It takes a while to sink into the skin and feels very thick and slightly greasy. It doesn't sting, burn or itch when applied. It is quite a thick cream and I would not recommend it for daytime use (on the face), especially for skin that can tend to get a bit oily.
In fact, I prefer to use this as a spot treatment for my face on the problem areas, and on my hands as well. I've had severely dry hands and cheeks lately and the balm actually cured my rough dry spots after a couple days of use. I had an itchy and very dry spot on my hand and was surprised that it did actually relieve the itch. I also wanted to add in that the dryness on my cheeks is totally gone, and this doesn't seem like something you'd have to use every single day to continue seeing results, so I can see this lasting quite a while.
The tube that the balm comes in actually is a special sealing system that keeps the product sterile, and the ability to last without contamination. I found the tube quite hard to squeeze a lot of product out at once which is the only downside to this balm. However, I do love that this was designed with us consumers in mind.
Avene uses a key ingredient, Thermal Spring Water in their products. Avene's Thermal Spring Water is derived from the Cevennes Mountains in France and sent to the production facility where Avene products are produced. Spring water is originated as rain, and over the vast amount of years, gradually becomes infused with trace elements and silicates meaning a balanced mineral composition, ideal for sensitive skin. Read more on Avene's Spring Water here and an informative video here.
Avene recommends their Spring Water Spray to be used after shaving, make-up removal, diaper rash, damaged skin, post-surgery, when redness of the face occurs, after hair removal, or sunburn. Of course, there are other uses for the spray such as for wetting your makeup brushes, or for a little pick-me-up on a hot day. I can't say much about this other than that it definitely beats splashing your face with tap water, and I like to use it right after a hot shower. If my face feels a little dry it will instantly soothe it. Just don't forget to moisturize as well.
Overall, the XeraCalm line is perfect for all skin types and best for skin with dryness. I will continue to use the Lipid-Replenishing Balm as a spot treatment for dry spots on the face, and other dry spots on the body (mainly my hands!). I love the Cleansing Oil, and would definitely consider repurchasing once this huge bottle is done. Again I wish it removed my makeup better, but I don't mind using a makeup remover beforehand (as I typically do). I would recommend Avene products for those with sensitive skin but aren't always able to use all natural ingredient products (due to breakouts, or allergies). Both Avene's XeraCalm Cleansing Oil and the XeraCalm Lipid-Replenishing Balm retail for $27.99 CAD. They are available at Shoppers Drug Mart, Rexall (Pharma Plus), and London Drugs in Canada.
Check out the Avene Relieve Me Campaign, here and enter to win an Avene XeraCalm Prize Pack below!
This is a sponsored post and the products were received for review. As always, all opinions stated are my own and are not influenced by any affiliates.
