Avene • skin recovery cream (US name: cream for intolerant skin) • Moisturizers

tfortash on 1/31/2012 2:30:00 PM more reviews by tfortash

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry, Fair, Warm   Hair: Blond, Relaxed, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I have sensitive fair skin, prone to flushing in cheeks, dryness and general irritation.

With consistent use (and sleep!), this product diminishes them all and makes me glow.

I always think "oh, there's probably something better for my skin out there" and try new products, but end up coming back to this. Ie. I just tried the Dermalogica Ultra Calming line, which broke my forehead out with over 50-60 of those tiny skin colored bumps. Three days back on this and they're all gone, 99% smooth.

This is the only product I actually run out of and re-buy. HG. Thanks Avene, my skin wouldn't be the same without this.

(I use the light version, with cetaphil as my cleanser)

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jj192 on 1/22/2012 5:40:00 AM more reviews by jj192

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

I don't see what all the fuss is about with this product. I expected it to soothe and calm my rosacea but it didn't really do anything and it left a bit of a sticky film on my skin.

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*TOP REVIEWER* GothicGal on 1/7/2012 11:03:00 PM more reviews by GothicGal

Age: 25-29   Skin: Other, Fair   Hair: Black   Eyes: Green    

I found this fantastic for my sensitive skin. It does calm redness & felt soothing. But it is a very heavy/greasy moisturiser, so when I tried using it under my makeup during the day I found I was melting a lot & needed constant powder touch ups (not good!).

As a skin repair cream used at night I absolutely adore it. It is very expensive, as goes with Avene products. But I do believe this cream is worth it for the soothing effects I get from it. Didn't break me out either.

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zee81 on 1/4/2012 8:22:00 PM more reviews by zee81

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I have been dealing with some nasty flakies all over my face lately. I typically use Cerave lotion and that is not enough. I was at the drugstore this weekend and the SA suggested to try this cream. I put it on before bed and what a difference. I have been using it twice a day since and my face has calmed down. I have smooth skin and the tone has evened out. I took off a lippie because it is pretty expensive for such a small tube ($31.00 CAD), but nonetheless it is worth trying if you are struggling with really sensitive, dry skin.

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miniipixie on 1/3/2012 3:47:00 PM more reviews by miniipixie

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I used to have acne-prone skin but after taking Accutane (month 6), my skin became extremely dry and sensitive. The sales lady at London Drugs highly recommended it to me and I must say this Avene creme works wonders! I apply the cream twice a day and after about 2 weeks, I've noticed excellent results. My skin is so smooth and I feel like my skin is glowing!

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kimannj on 12/23/2011 2:41:00 PM more reviews by kimannj

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I selected yes to purchase this product again but I'm not sure - probably only in desperate circumstances. I bought this some time ago to use as a night cream, however found it too greasy and my skin was ok at the time so I didn't notice any difference. Recently with the cooler weather and increase in cold/wind and central heating indoors (probably also some over enthusiastic exfoliation) my skin has become quite sensitive and intolerant and it becomes red and sore very easily. I abandoned my usual routine and pared it down to the bare minimum with products for intolerant skin, and started using this cream at night to protect and repair my skin. It has helped quite a lot with consistent use over a week, however it has been making me break out in small, blind red bumps that do go away with attention (spot cream) but my skin hasn't broken out in this way or this frequently since I was a teenager 10 years ago. So perhaps this is an emergency product, and not for frequent use. Will try some more natural alternatives first.

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sooyoungl on 12/12/2011 11:31:00 AM more reviews by sooyoungl

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

Since my early teens, I've been dealing with what I thought was perpetual bad skin. Acne, rosacea, little bumps on my cheeks, constantly flaking dry skin that just wouldn't go away - but now I'm 19 and my skin is finally smooth and clear! I'm not saying this is a miracle product, but this is my everyday moisturizer and it has been for two years! And I just realized it had mineral oil in it....and since I thought I had very acnegenic skin, I had been avoiding it like the plague.

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*TOP REVIEWER* GriffithsGirl on 12/6/2011 6:18:00 AM more reviews by GriffithsGirl

Age: 30-35   Skin: Oily, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

This didn't do anything for me. I used it to calm down my redness and rebalance my skin but it did nothing except break me out, as did the Cleanance products. Avene hares my face!

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*TOP REVIEWER* avironneur on 11/22/2011 4:49:00 PM more reviews by avironneur

Age: 30-35   Skin: Other   Hair: Other   Eyes: Other    

WHAT IS IT? Moisturizing cream for sensitive skin
INGREDIENTS: Water, Mineral Oil (Paraffinum Liquidum), Cyclomethicone, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Squalane, Benzoic Acid, Carbomer, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Triethanolamine
HOW DOES IT PERFORM? I had to be the odd man out but this cream, while providing adequate hydration and serving its intended purpose, also causes my face to immediately go red and blotchy minutes after application. I blame the butylene glycol as I experience a similar reaction when using Spectro Jel (Canadian mild silicone-based cleansing gel) which also contains butylene glycol as a principal ingredient. This cream has a gel-like texture and only a small amount is required to hydrate skin. This is best applied over wet skin. I personally broke out badly after using this for a week so I would be hesitant to recommend this to acne-prones although it did plump up my dry areas nicely and eliminate seborrheic dermatitis patches.
WOULD YOU BUY AGAIN? No - between the breakouts and the high price based on the ingredients, I cannot justify purchasing this again.
PRICE: $31.00 CAD for 40ml

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cloudpaper on 11/16/2011 5:14:00 PM more reviews by cloudpaper

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

This cream is very gentle and does calm down the skin. the only problem is it using mineral oil as the main ingredients so it does not absorb properly into your skin and leaves oily face. It also clog your pores and i develop some whiteheads after three days using it.

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tinybucket on 11/5/2011 5:10:00 AM more reviews by tinybucket

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

I've been told that I have sensitive skin, not combination skin like I previously thought by a aesthetician. I was glad she told me because I'd been having a reaction to my regular Dr Hauschka routine (which has done amazing things for my skin too) but anyways I bought this cream and have had pretty troublefree skin ever since. I think it was intended to use until the skin reaction is calmed down but I use it about once everyday at least (sometimes I swap it with Hauschka, depending on the state of my skin). It doesn't feel greasy, sinks in and leaves my skin soft and healthy. Great product. Here in Europe the price is okay I think, about 15 euro for the 40 ml tube. Have repurchased this product and will keep it in my routine.

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prairiegirl80 on 10/30/2011 7:55:00 AM more reviews by prairiegirl80

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Hazel    

This cream literally saved my skin! I had a horrible allergic reaction from another product that left my face red and angry. I slathered on this cream before I went to bed and the next day my face was 70% better! I am in shock!! If you have extremely sensitive reactive skin like me, Give this a try :)

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Cripella on 10/17/2011 3:36:00 AM more reviews by Cripella

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Dark, Warm   Hair: Black, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Black    

This is a review for the Rich version (Rich Skin Recovery Cream).

I have struggled to find a rich moisturiser for my very dry, VERY blemish-prone, mildly sensitive skin for years. All the rich moisturisers were comodogenic, and it just seemed to me like all the non-comodogenic/anti-acne products were geared towards oily skin types, so I just put up with those products and watched my skin spiral into pimply, flakey disrepair.

Then two months ago I decided to spend a little more than I normally would on a moisturiser (I'm but a poor uni student). The price point's a little much here in Australia, where it's AU$40 for a little 40mL tube (it's $31 at Chemist Warehouse though!). But it's worth every penny - my skin is happier and healthier than it has been in years, and no breakouts (except for the occasional pimple because of a topical antibiotic I'm using). It says to use it until your skin is back to its normal balance, but when I don't use it, my skin's still dry and tight. And realistically speaking, no moisturiser can permanently change your skin type.

My skin feels supple and balanced, perfectly hydrated but not at all greasy. This is quite possibly my HG moisturiser!

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marmaladecat on 10/16/2011 8:54:00 AM more reviews by marmaladecat

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Green    

This review is for the normal version; I know there is a 'Rich' version available too.

I am so pleased I found this. I've got combination skin which doesn't cope well with rich moisturisers or anything heavily scented. I picked this up hoping it would help calm the breakouts my face was experiencing owing to a number of unsuitable moisturisers I'd been using.

This moisturiser really did the job :) I noticed an improvement in my skin after only a few days of using it in the morning. Having now used it for a couple of months, I've not had any more breakouts (only the occasional spot which I would always get anyway) and my skin looks really smooth and much clearer.

The cream is fragrance-free and gives a pleasantly soothing cooling feel when applied. It has very few ingredients, which is great if you're looking to minimise your chances of getting any sensitivity. This does feel quite greasy on my face for a while after application but it doesn't bother me as it doesn't LOOK greasy when I have it on.

At £12.50 it is not cheap, but I find I don't need to slather loads on at least, plus the results are well worth the price in my opinion!

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tmfuller on 10/15/2011 3:02:00 PM more reviews by tmfuller

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

Finally, something that relaxes my irritated, break-out prone skin!!!
My skin is naturally oily-combination, but I'm using a topical acne treatment (Tazorac-great stuff) that has left my skin irritated, sensitive and red. I'm also breakout prone so typically, rich creams are not a fit. They generally leave my skin dehydrated and flaky, with a greasy layer sitting on top. I've used both the regular recovery cream, and the new rich version. Something about these creams make my skin calm down!! They also soak in beautifully, without leaving sticky residue. I originally bought the rich version as a night cream, but I've discovered it works great under my makeup during the day, keeping my face calm, hydrated and balanced so I actually end up less oily throughout the day.
I really just adore the whole Avene line! I have tried lots of skin products, many of them seeming to just complicate my skin problems even more. Ever since a lovely SA at Shoppers suggested this line, I've never dreamt of going back. They're simple and effective, and my skin finally feels consistently comfortable, healthy and balanced! This cream, the gentle purifying scrub and the gentle gel cleanser are permanent additions to my routine!

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yuriyuri0905 on 9/27/2011 3:15:00 AM more reviews by yuriyuri0905

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

One of my favourite moisturiser! excellent on my dry sensitive skin. It is little bit greasy after you put them on but after a while it really keep the skin moist. Its really good for dry and sensitive skin, but I don't think it suits oily or acne skin since it does give a greasy feeling for quite a while.

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rasbperries on 9/14/2011 7:43:00 PM more reviews by rasbperries

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I have very sensitive skin, and since it's been congested and gross lately I'm trying to cut down on how many products I use. I bought this because I wanted something calming and simple but also moisturizing (since I'm using BP to try and calm down my acne and it's been super drying to my skin). The price by itself isn't too expensive (I mean, it's expensive, but not completely exorbitant), it's just that honestly I didn't find that this product worked at all so it was essentially a waste of money. It didn't sink in all the way and felt like it was just sitting on the surface of my face, so my skin had a gross oily/sticky texture but was still dehydrated and tight feeling. I didn't feel like this did anything beneficial at all, and on top of that I think it broke me out (pretty sure it was the mineral oil).

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sunnyraingene on 8/9/2011 12:39:00 PM more reviews by sunnyraingene

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

This cream is really awesome for my eczema flare ups on humid summer days. It does what it's supposed to do, calm and balance my flakey cheeks. I used this over the mild steroids cream prescribed by the doctor and my flakey cheeks are gone after a week of use! The label recommended that the product should be used until skin is balanced. I'm gonna use this twice daily for one more week and maybe use it as a night cream to keep my face moisturized until I finish the product.

Will definitely repurchase this, although the usual retail price is kinda steep. I bought this at a discount of 20%.

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*TOP REVIEWER* wiseowl on 7/14/2011 2:58:00 PM more reviews by wiseowl

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

Oh, how I love this product. I have mild rosacea. Due to stress and the heat outside(it stays over one hundred degrees from late May through August where I live), my mild rosacea has been really hard to control this year. I realized I needed to upgrade my rosacea care regime and I invested in some Avene.
Immediately, on contact, this cream soothes the burning, stinging of my cheeks. It doesn't magically erase all the pinkness of my cheeks, but it does tone down the redness of my cheeks so my skin looks calmer. Through continued use, applying some to my cheeks and nose morning and night, I've noticed my skin seems less sensitive. Despite the mineral oil in this, I've had no breakouts or clogged pores from this. In fact, the cystic pimples on the sides of my chin that I'd had the past eighteen months due to stress hormones have gone away. I've used this all over my face and it's been fine for me, though I suspect some might find it a little heavy all over the face; however, I generally just use it on my rosacea-prone areas to help stretch out my supply. It immediately moisturizes, but at the same time, there's enough moisture in the cream to last me all day, my skin won't suck it up leaving me bone-dry in my rosacea patches like with some products. If your particular sensitivity comes from using overly harsh acne products for regular acne (not acne rosacea) and you know for a fact mineral oil breaks you out or clogs you, I might suggest starting out with Avene's Thermal Water for soothing purposes rather than this cream.
I hesitate to mention the most dramatic result because I suspect such results won't necessarily happen with everyone. I've had for over ten years visible capillaries around my right nostril. I had just accepted I'd have to use concealer/foundation there. Within ten days of starting Avene, I noticed a section of the capillaries had disappeared and each week since a little more of the capillaries have faded from view. After switching over to Avene and La Roche Posay cleansers (Extremely Gentle Cleanser and Micellar Water for Sensitive Skin, respectively) in addition to the Avene cream, it seems like the capillaries have faded even more and my skin seems clearer and less sensitive. It should be noted Avene has a whole line of Anti-Redness products focusing on the appearance of rosacea and capillaries, but my main concern has been getting rid of the physical discomfort rather than aesthetics so I chose products from Avene's "Intolerance" line for soothing skin. (So, the fading of the capillaries, and in general less redness in the cheeks, is just a nice bonus.)
Alright, here's the big flaw to Avene, the same flaw I've noticed in all French "parapharmacie"/ds products--scanty marketing/education for the English language market, especially in the US. The best information I got on French parapharmacie brands was from beauty blogs (A Model Recommends, We Heart This, beaut.ie) rather than the brand's own English language website. As a result, I think it's very easy for an American consumer to buy the wrong Avene for his or her needs. Avene will include a decent pamphlet with a purchase, but that's not much help if you're trying to decide which product you should first purchase. So, I urge people new to French parapharmacie brands to really research before initial purchase--ask beauty blogs where the blogger has the same specific condition and has used French brands, asking MUA reviewers with the same condition and have used these brands, asking French MUAers familiar with these brands, and of course, asking a dermatologist you trust.
Lastly, I really wish Avene was available at American drugstores, at drugstore prices. However, even with the jacked up price I paid for this ordering online, it's still cheaper than seeing a dermatologist and getting a prescription. (I've found the better online prices have been at Amazon, for those looking for the best deal.)

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JM234 on 7/10/2011 7:02:00 PM more reviews by JM234

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

HG moisturiser. I also like Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream, but this one is obviously a lot more affordable. Has really helped to calm the irritation of my cheeks (caused by air con in my office building I think as I never had this issue before starting work in an office).

Spent a fortune on all the HE brands and tried things like Nivea and E45 but nothing was working. Tried this as it was on 3 for 2 in Boots and is only £12 a tube here in the UK - I realise this is quite expensive but relatively speaking it wasn't a lot to pay compared to the Dior/Clinique/Elemis creams I was buying at the time.

Convert! Have bought tons over the past 3 years and continue to hand tubes out to my sisters and cousins when they have problem skin in order to convert them too!

I have combination skin and like that this is hydrating enough to calm my cheeks while not leaving my looking oily on my T zone.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No