Avene Sensitive Skin Saviours Kit

RRP: £20 for 2 cleansers, a toner and a moisturiser

--What does the promo say?--
"The answer for those whose skin feels tight, blotchy and uncomfortable, this gentle routine contains all the steps needed to soothe, comfort and protect the skin and helps to reduce skin sensitivity long term. Hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic. Free from fragrance, parabens, colouring agents and alcohol."

--Packaging--
The cleansers come in see-through plastic bottles, while the toner comes in a spray can (which I have been assured by Avene is suitable for cabin baggage travel). The moisturiser comes in a standard plastic tube. Nonetheless, all good sizes to help you save space in your suitcase. The white and coral colour scheme is calming and unusual.

--Application--
Avène advises applying the cleanser to your skin and wiping it off with a cotton pad. However, it lathers well, so feel free to rub onto wet skin before removing with a damp flannel. The toner can be sprayed directly onto skin, or onto a cotton pad before rubbing over the face. Finally, the moisturising cream should be rubbed into clean dry skin until absorbed. All fairly straightforward really.

--Appearance--
The cleanser takes the form of a pearlescent liquid soap-like substance, which lathers white. The toner is just water really - and the moisturising cream is also white. None leave any visible residue on the skin.

--Scent--
Cotton-like and clean, with no artificial fragrances added. The spring water's minerality is what dominates.

--Texture and consistency--
As mentioned, the cleanser is soap-like and lathers well. The moisturiser is opulently thick, but absorbs well and doesn't leave a greasy or sticky film.

--Effects on the skin--
Skin is visibly calmed and less red, with dry patches combatted, although acne itself does not specifically diminish (but then again the product never claims to do this and Avene has a whole other range for this purpose).

--Value for money--
Avene's PR kindly sent mine over for nothing, but £20 for a travel pack compares favourably to the prices of all of these products separately (£29.50). Equally, it's averagely priced for the travel cosmetics market - and to get 300ml of product for this price is very good. My only change would be to take the toner out of its can so as to see more clearly how much is left. Otherwise, effective and well-packaged products to keep skin calm in the face of sun, sea and sand.

perfect partners
Avene Tolerance Extreme Mask, £15 for 50ml
Cold Cream Body Lotion, £20 for 400ml
Very High Protection Spray (SPF50+), £20 for 200ml
Gentle Eye Makeup Remover, £9.50 for 125ml
Soothing Eye Contour Cream, £10 for 10ml
Hydrance Optimale Skin Tone Perfector (available in multiple shades), £16.50 for 40ml

Avène TriAcnéal Treatment Cream

RRP: £23 for 30ml

--What does the promo say?--
"TriAcnéal is a non-greasy emulsion which helps eliminate severe imperfections. After 2 months of use, the number of spots is reduced and scars are visibly smoother. Efectiose® enables targeted action on the mediators responsible for the irritation observed in the problems of skin subject to severe imperfections. Retinaldehyde helps regulate keratinisation disorders, hence preventing thickening of the skin and formation of blackheads. Glycolic acid, a powerful exfoliant, has a peeling effect upon the surface of the skin. Paraben free."

--Packaging--
Avène's characteristic white and coral colour scheme continues to please, being simultaneously summery, cheerful, unusual, adult, and unisex. The squeezy tube is also elegant, but the incredibly tapered nozzle seems ultimately pointless: since most sufferers of severe acne will be applying this all over the skin, it's frustrating to only be able to squeeze the lotion out in minuscule amounts. Nonetheless, this is only a small issue.

--Application--
Avène recommends applying this only in the evening, but I find it works equally well in the morning, especially if you mix it with your normal moisturiser.

--Appearance--
A golden cream with an almost nacreous look to it, making it feel like a real luxury to use, rather than just an ordinary clinical acne-fighting product. Fades invisibly into skin.

--Scent--
Nothing specific is detectable; but it definitely doesn't smell alcoholic or chemical, which is good, and which can often be a problem with products for problem skin.

--Texture and consistency--
A rather stiff cream that mollifies slightly when rubbed between the hands. Does not feel dry, tight or sticky on the skin once applied, but doesn't quite have the baby-soft smoothness of a traditional moisturiser either, so you don't want to neglect using your usual moisturiser in addition (or even better, the Cleanance option offered by Avène).

--Effects on the skin--
Did seem to diminish acne, but my skin still felt like an oil slick by the end of the day. However, I chalk this up to another line I've been testing concurrently; I have every confidence that if I were using the full complement of Avène's Cleanance range alongside, this wouldn't be a problem.

--Value for money--
Admittedly, at £23 this is more expensive than I expected it to be. However, the results are good, and one tube seems to go a very long way (even if you're being a bit renegade and using it twice a day instead of only once, ahem).  However, I'd definitely repurchase this as part of a full-on Cleanance plan of attack once my free tube from Avène's PR runs out. To be recommended for its luxurious appearance and texture, as well as its encouraging results.

perfect partners
Cleanance Soapless Gel Cleanser, £11
Cleanance Cleansing Water, £16
Cleanance Toner, £11
Cleanance Emulsion, £12
Cleanance K, £11
Cleanance Mask, £15

Avène Cleanance Soapless Gel Cleanser

RRP: £8.25/200ml

--What does the promo say?--

"Ultra mild cleansing gel for blemish-prone skin. Helps purify the skin and regulate oil secretion. Paraben-free."

--Packaging--

I was sent a few mini samples of this from online pharmacy Farmaline, which came in a transparent squeezy tube with a screw top lid. However, other users on the web report that the full size has a twist-open lid which dispenses the product in a very controlled way and closes securely. No problems in any case.

--Application--

Only a small amount of the product is needed - just a pea-sized amount is fine. Lather up, rub it onto the face, and rinse with a damp flannel. Job done.

--Appearance--

The gel itself is pale blue, but lathers up to a white creamy foam. Rinses off with no visible residue.

--Scent--

Smells of soap even though it's soap-free. This seems to be thanks to an artificial fragrance used as part of the ingredients. Make of that what you will.

--Texture and consistency--

The gel itself is smooth, not sticky, and the lather that builds up with the addition of water is luxurious and plentiful. This washes off easily and makes for a pleasant experience.

--Effects on the skin--

Skin feels smooth and like oil production is under control. The effect is similar to having had a really nice facial! Over time, acne is reduced.

--Value for money--

With so little product needed each time, one bottle of this would last you ages. Avène is a cult brand in France and is stocked in every pharmacy and supermarket, and it seems that the French are onto something here for sure - I definitely noticed an improvement in my skin condition in just a few days of use. I would definitely purchase a full-size bottle.

perfect partners

Cleanance Anti-Shine Purifying Lotion, £8.75

Cleanance Anti-Shine Regulating Lotion, £10.50

Cleanance K, £10.50

Triacnéal Treatment Cream, £23

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

Avène Gentle Purifying Scrub

RRP: £8.50/50ml from www.leguidesante.co.uk

--What does the promo say?--
"Avene's Gentle Exfoliating Scrub is specially formulated to cleanse sensitive skin in depth by gently eliminating all impurities. Avene's Gentle Purifying Scrub is very rich in Avene Thermal Spring water, and acts by releasing all the water's soothing and anti-irritant properties. The mild and gel-like texture prevents cutaneous dryness and leaves a pleasant feeling of comfort."

--Packaging--
Charmingly and fashionably decorated with a large coral swirl and simple coral writing. While this more evokes shells on a white tropical beach than springs in the heart of France, it is nevertheless pleasing to the eye and somehow still seems appropriate for the brand. The lid is a white stand-alone screw-top, decorated with a coral band.

--Application--
Squeeze out a pea-sized amount of the exfoliator onto the fingers and massage onto damp facial skin (either alone or mixed with your usual cleanser). Rinse off using a warm damp flannel.

--Appearance--
A clear gel with almost neon artificial beads in the same coral shade as on the tube and box. While Avène claims that these artificial beads have been selected for their durability, I have never understood why brands opt for these instead of natural exfoliants (such as shell, salt, or sugar) - not only are they harder to wash away from the face but they are also generally less effective. Apart from the occasional bead that you'll find on your skin even after washing off, there is no other visible residue after use.

--Scent--
None.

--Texture, consistency and sensation--
The gel is smooth, mild, cooling and non-greasy. The beads are palpable, but they too are very mild and don't seem to exert any significant effects on the skin. The gel is a little runny, but nothing too serious.

--Effects over time--
Skin is minimally smoothened in the immediate time after use, but some dry patches still remain. Annoyingly, there appear to be no positive effects over time either - dry patches continue to recur and remain on the skin over weeks.

--Value for money--
While this isn't the most expensive stuff in the world at under a tenner, I was still disappointed. With all that natural stuff in the exfoliator, even despite the artificial exfoliating beads, I really expected more from Avène, which appears to be quite well-known and well-respected in France. In fact, it's just turned out to be the most useless exfoliator I've ever used, which is a bit of a shame.
However, I won't be writing Avène off completely - I have a tube of their cold cream for lips which is fantastic (review forthcoming). It does occasionally happen with some brands that they veer from the amazingly good to the amazingly rubbish in the space of a few products - even if the exfoliator did not make a brilliant first impression for me as a first-time user of the brand, I'm willing to accept that this might be the case with Avène.

perfect partners
Avène Thermal Spring Water Spray, £5.25/150ml
Avène Cleanance Anti-Shine Regulating Emulsion, £9.50/40ml
Avène Cleanance Soapless Gel Cleanser, £7.95/200ml