Avène Soothing Eye Contour Cream

RRP: £9.50/10ml

--What does the promo say?--

"This Soothing Eye Contour Cream has been specially formulated to gently protect the most delicate part of the face. Rich in Avene Thermal Spring Water and soothing alpha-bisabolol, this light emulsion calms skin irritation, tightness and redness. Dextran sulfate also acts by relieving hypersensitive eyelids. Thanks to its formula enriched with moisturising and anti-free radical actives, this soothing care promotes hydration and protection of the eye contour area and eyelids. Paraben-free."

--Packaging--

Combines white with coral to create a soothing yet unusual colour scheme. The tube is tiny and the tapered screw-top lid is well designed - not too difficult to undo, but stays on securely when you need it to.

--Application--

On a cleansed, make-up free face, blend a tiny amount around the eye contour area. Nothing difficult about that.

--Appearance--

The pure white cream takes on an opaque appearance as soon as you start to rub and quickly disappears into nothing at all. No visible residue left on skin.

--Scent--

Just a very clean, mineral-water type scent. Nothing soapy or artificial-smelling here and definitely not a strong scent.

--Texture and consistency--

Smooth, soft and absorbs quickly. Not at all runny.

--Effects on the skin--

I bought this product because I'd had totally unexplained layers of dry skin over one eyelid for more than a week and none of the other eye creams I had in the house were able to shift it. We therefore took a trip to the pharmacy, where the pharmacist recommended this. She said that if the dry skin didn't clear up in a week I was to see a doctor. Sceptical due to the dry skin's apparently bullet-like resistance to every other eye cream under the sun, I used it without hope or agenda, but was amazed to find that a visible difference was apparent in just a day or two days of morning and night use, and that it had cleared up completely well short of the week's usage prescribed. Amazing!

--Value for money--

After my disappointment with Avene's almost completely ineffectual exfoliator, I cannot say I had had much hope in another Avène product. However, my faith in this brand has now been restored, and I would be much more willing now to try another of their products. Now it's much clearer to me why this affordable yet (at times) effective brand is so much beloved by the French.

perfect partners

Eau Thermale Ystheal + Eye Contour Cream, £17
Gentle Eye Makeup Remover, £9.50
Cicalfate Repair Cream, £7.50
Extremely Gentle Cleanser, £8
Soothing Hydrating Serum, £17