So, I have a confession to make. I know this cream is marketed as a repairing cream for the entire family, especially for the body, I got this cream to use it on my face. I know….such a rich cream for combination skin? And during summer? I must be crazy! But, like any drunk or high person would say to their friends, hear me out, ok?

Avene products were always on my list of to try. I love products that make use of thermal waters because I have the strong belief that some waters do make wonders for us. For example, I started to drink this alkaline water since a couple of months and…I do feel better for some reason. I can’t explain it. And people were seeking all kinds of treatments in thermal springs since centuries. Avene is a place well known for its thermal waters since the 18th century when people used to travel there just to enjoy their benefits. So, naturally, I wanted to give them a try on my own. Avene is now part of the Pierre Fabre Dermo-Cosmetique Laboratories and the products are still made in France. Plus, they are very popular among dermatologists, at least here in Romania they are. So, I wanted to buy a face cream from Avene but they do tend to be a little more expensive, especially since I have to buy a new one each month, so when I saw this cream and the fact that it’s also available in a large 100 ml size….I just had to try it!

Packaging:

The cream comes in a plastic tube that contains 100 ml. There are also smaller sizes available (15 ml and 40 ml). The packaging is very simple, white and orange for all of the products in their lines.

Texture:

This is a very thick cream! It looks and it feels more like a white ointment that has no scent (because it doesn’t contain any perfume). I use just a very small amount, I rub it a little between my fingers and then I apply it on my face. So, since a little goes a long way and this is a large tube, I’m hopeful it will last me for a couple of months.

Ingredients:

Avene Thermal Spring Water (Avene Aqua), Caprylic/​Capric Triglyceride, Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum), Glycerin, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Zinc Oxide, Propylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-2 Sesquiisostearate, PEG-22/​Dodecyl Glycol Copolymer, Aluminum Stearate, Aquaphilus Dolomiae Ferment Filtrate, Arginine, Beeswax (Cera Alba), Copper Sulfate, Magnesium Stearate, Magnesium Sulfate, Microcrystalline Wax (Cera Microcristallina), Tromethamine, Zinc Sulfate

The key ingredients are Copper Sulfate and Zinc Sulfate (the combination limits the risk of bacterial proliferation) and, of course, the Avene thermal water for its calming effects. While it doesn’t specifically say on the packaging that it contains sunscreen, Zinc Oxide is a sunscreen, so that’s why this is another reason why I wanted to try this on my face. Also, I like the Arginine in there and the Aquaphilus Dolomiae Ferment Filtrate ( a skin conditioning and skin protecting ingredients).

Overall, the formula is very nice, and they say on the brand’s website that it’s a good product for scarring, and I have some acne scars on my jaw line.

Price and accessibility:

Avene products are available in pharmacies and in several online shops. I ordered mine together with the CeraVe cleansing gel from the Dr. Max pharmacy and I got it for around 8 euros, which is cheaper than any other face cream from Avene at more than double the quantity (usually Avene face creams contain 40 ml).

My overall opinion:

After using the cream in the morning and in the evening, I can say it its non-comedogenic and it doesn’t break me out. I read some reviews that people with acne or oily skin tried it and it didn’t go well, but for me, it seems to work just fine. It has a very calming effect on the redness of the skin, it seems to help with the scarring (as far as I can tell) and it makes me look glowy, not shiny. The skin feels hydrated and soft and I think it fits nicely for hot summer days, even if it’s a heavier cream because sun exposure and a dry climate tend to make even the oiliest skin feel a little bit dry.

Now, keep in mind I’m not a dermatologists, nor an esthetician nor a skin care fanatic, so don’t take my word on it, but…I tried a repairing cream designed for the body as well (hands, nose, wounds etc.) on my entire face and I love it so far. So, I don’t feel like I made a mistake, on the contrary.