REVIEW: Avène Cleanance Mask

~AG~

Bought this Avène Cleanance Mask (S$30) in Italy and finally got around to using it. This is the third product from the Cleanance range, which is designed for oily and blemish-prone skin. Avène Cleanance Mask is a 3-in-1 clay mask that exfoliate, deep cleanse and absorb excess oil.

This scrub/mask is designed for oily, blemish-prone skin. It contains AHA (Glycolic & Lactic Acid) and BHA (Salicylic Acid) that unblock pores and helps skin blemishes. Monolaurin targets the acne bacteria which produces excess lipid, thus regulating sebum. Kaolin clay also absorbs sebum and mattify the skin. Of course, it also contains the signature Avène Thermal Spring Water that has soothing properties.

This mask comes with 50 ml of product which will lasts me a long time if I use it weekly. The texture of this Avène Cleanance Mask does not resemble those of traditional clay mask. It does not have a dry clay texture, and rather has a cream texture. This mask contains gentle microbeads. The first time I used this Avène Cleanance Mask, my skin felt okay. However, the second time I applied it on my face, there was stinging sensation. Perhaps it is because my skin has become more sensitive due to the Vitamin C Serum that I have been using. Subsequent uses also resulted in burning sensation on my skin. 

Overall, Avène Cleanance Mask is an okay product but I would not re-purchase it. This mask seems to not work well for my sensitive skin type. There was no noticeable difference on my blackheads and skin texture as a result of the using Avène Cleanance Mask. This is one product from the Avène Cleanance range that you can skip. 

REVIEW: July 2018 Skincare Regimen

~AG~

The skin condition tends to vary throughout the months due to lifestyle changes - time of the month, traveling, lack of sleep and etc . So, I tend to switch up my skincare products. This is my current skincare regimen. It is a mix of affordable drug store and high-end products.

1) Bioderma Hydrabio
500ml
S$41.90
This cleansing water is designed for dehydrated skin types. It has Hydrabio serum that stimulates the skin and reactivates natural hydration. I use it twice a day to gently remove sunscreen, makeup and other impurities. Since my skin has been on the drier side recently, Bioderma Hydrabio makes my skin feels comfortable. This 500 ml bottle will lasts me around 5-6 months.

2) Avène Gentle Cleansing Foam
150 ml
$37.70
This is my 3rd bottle of Avène Cleansing Foam. This cleansing foam comes with a pump for convenience. It gently cleanses sensitive skin without irritating the skin. One bottle of Cleansing Foam lasts about 4-5 months since I only use it once a day. I would switch to another cleanser after this bottle because my skin has been feeling dry.

3) Thayers Witch Hazel Aloe Vera Formula Rose Petal
355ml
$11.69 
This alcohol-free toner helps keep my skin in check. It contains Witch Hazel to tighten pores and control production while Aloe Vera hydrates the skin. Rose Petal contains ingredients to create a healthy complexion. After using it for over 2 months, my skin has become more balanced. Thayers Witch Hazel Hazel Aloe Vera toner is an affordable drugstore buy.

4) Skinceuticals C E Ferulic
30ml
$231 
Been using this serum for over month. I apply this serum all over my face only at night. So far, I cannot tell that Skinceuticals C E Ferulic significantly improves skin appearance or reduce fine lines or wrinkles. Would have to use it for a more extended time to verify whether there is any skin improvements.

5) Clinique All About Eyes
15ml
S$52.20
This lightweight eye cream hydrates the eye area and is supposed to help with dark circles and eye puffiness. Even though it does not diminish my dark circles, this eye cream works well and you only need a small amount. I apply it using my ring finger, twice a day. A tub of Clinique All About Eyes can lasts 3-4 months.

6) Embryolisse Lait Crème Concentrè
75ml
S$28 
This is my favorite beauty find of 2017. This is my HG moisturizer! I am on my 2nd bottle of Embryolisse Creme Cocentre. It works well to hydrate and soothe my combination skin. The texture is light and does not feel greasy. Even when I travel to dry climate countries, this Embryolisse moisturizer works well. The only downside is that this product is not sold in Singapore. So I stock up or asks those traveling to France to help me buy.

7) Derma-RX Tinted Sunscreen
50ml 
S$69
Wearing sunscreen everyday is a must! Due to my sensitive skin, I am hesitant to try new sunscreen. Sunscreen tends to be the skincare product that aggravates breakouts for me. This is probably the 3rd bottle of Derma-RX Tinted Sunscreen I have used. The new version is good and does not make my face looks greasy. With SPF 50, it provides protection against UV damages. One bottle of Derma-RX Tinted Sunscreen lasts 5-6 months with everyday use.  This is a staple of my skin care regimen.

REVIEW: Avène Gentle Cleansing Foam

 ~AG~ 

Bought a bottle of Avène Gentle Cleansing Foam when I was in Italy last April, and actually like the product. This Cleansing Foam comes in a pump packaging that dispenses foam. Previously, I have tried another facial cleanser from Avène, Cleanance Cleansing Gel, which is designed for oily and acne-prone skin. Since my skin has been on the drier side recently, I was looking for a different facial cleanser. This gentle cleanser is just right for my skin condition. This Cleansing Foam is designed for normal and combination skin. My skin does not feel tight after washing my face with this Cleansing Foam.

It costs Euro 17.10 (S$28) in Italy while Guardian Singapore retails it for S$31 when it is on offer. Since my skin is ultra sensitive, I have to be careful of the skincare products I use. So far, Avène skincare products has been suitable for my skin. This soap-free cleansing foam gently removes makeup and dirt from the skin. The soft foam is comfortable on the skin. Compared to Cleanance Cleansing Gel, Gentle Cleansing Foam does not have any fragrance. The only con about this product is that it goes by rather quickly. It takes 1 to 1.5 full pumps to thoroughly cleanse the face. One bottle of 150ml can only lasts me for 2 months. While the Cleanance Cleansing Gel which is 200 ml could lasts me for more than 4 months. With that said, it is a pricey facial cleanser and I might look for an alternative. Overall, Avène Gentle Cleansing Foam is a good product for sensitive, normal/combination skin. 

UPDATE (15 August 2018): I am on my 5th bottle of Avène Gentle Cleansing Foam. This is the longest-serving facial cleanser on my record. It is a good product and is suitable for my sensitive skin. Since I only use it at night time, a bottle can lasts me about 3 months. However the product seems a little drying for my skin now and I am switching to a cream cleanser instead.

Avène Skincare Haul

 Avène skincare haul

~AG~

Gentle Purifying Scrub
This scrub from Avène contains jojoba wax microbeads to gently exfoliate dead skin. Other ingredients such as salicylic acid and zinc gluconate helps to clog pores. This non-abrasive scrub also contains Avène Spring Water to soothe the skin. 

Gentle Cleansing Foam
This soap-free and fragrance-free formula is rich in Avène Thermal Spring Water. This gentle foaming cleanser comes with a pump dispenser.

Cleanance Mask Scrub
This Cleanance Mask Scrub is suitable for oily and blemish-prone skin. It exfoliates and absorbs excess sebum. The AHA-BHA complex combines with exfoliating particles to unblock pores and prevent blemishes

REVIEW: Avène Cleanance HYDRA Soothing Cream

~AG~

One of my favourite thing to do while travelling abroad is browse through the local drugstore (pharmacies) aisles. During my recent trip to Italy, I dropped by a "Farmacia" to look at their offering of skincare products. Avène is my recent go-to brand. This French brand works well for ultra sensitive skin. Avène Cleanance product line is targeted  for acne-prone skin.

This Avène Clearance HYDRA Soothing Cream costs €14.90 (S$23). It comes with 40 ml of product, and should be discarded after six months of use. The product description were all in Italian so I had to google about this Avène Soothing Cream while in-store. According to Avène website, this product offsets the drying and irritating effects of medicinal acne treatments. My skin has been on the dry side recently. During my hair and makeup trial for my nuptial, the makeup artist commented that my skin was dry and that I needed to take good care of it. Dry skin causes the foundation to cake up. Not a good sight! My skin was especially dry around my nose area where I had applied topical acne treatment.

This Avène HYDRA Soothing Cream contains moisturizing ingredients such as coconut, shea butter and jojoba oil. In addition to my dry skin condition, the cold and windy climate of Italy left my skin feeling tight with dry patches. My usually combination skin type felt uncomfortable. Without any hesitation, Avène Soothing Cream was added to my shopping cart because it is designed for acne-prone skin. There was no worries of breakouts or adverse reactions to this product.  

To test the efficacy of this Avène Soothing Cream, I opted not to use my regular moisturizer and solely used this product for hydration purposes. The texture of Avène Soothing Cream was not thick nor was it creamy. It has somewhat of a gel texture. Though, it is not as lightweight as Crème Simon Moisturizer. It felt more hydrating than my HG Laneige Water Bank Essence. My skin did not feel sticky after application and the product was absorbed well into the skin. 

The next morning, my skin was well hydrated and did not feel dry at all! Avène Soothing Cream really helped to combat my dry, flaky skin. This Avène Soothing Cream is especially suitable for those with very dry skin or during the Winter months. I am glad I found a hydrating cream that is not too heavy for my acne-prone skin. My ultra sensitive skin did not any adverse reaction to this product as well. In Singapore's humid weather, this Avène Soothing Cream works better as a targeted treatment instead of being part of a daily skincare regimen. Will highly recommend Avène Soothing Cream for those that travel frequently, especially to countries with drier climate.

REVIEW: Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel

200 ml of cleansing gel that can lasts me for 6 months

 ~AG~
NEW BUY: Avene Cleanance Cleansing Gel

It has been four months since I started using Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel, and I am more than halfway through. 

So what can I say about this Cleansing Gel for acne-prone skin?
Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel comes in a twist top packaging. The mouth of the twist cap is small so that there will be less chances of over-pouring of the cleansing gel. This cleanser is gentle for my skin. My ultra sensitive skin did not have any adverse reaction to this Cleansing Gel. This cleanser, designed for oily skin type, did not over-dry my skin as well. No skin tightness after facial cleansing. *thumbs up* This Avène foaming cleanser has a fresh oceanic scent that I enjoy. This cleanser claims to have mattifying properties that is supposed to regulate the overproduction of sebum. However, I did not particularly notice its mattifying effects. Overall, it has good cleansing properties.

In conclusion, Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel is a good cleanser for oily and acne-prone skin. For 200ml worth of cleanser, it should lasts me for at least six months. Thus, making its price tag of S$29.90 worth it! Will definitely recommend this Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel for those with oily or combination skin type. This is one facial cleanser that I will re-purchase without hesitation.

NEW BUY: Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel & Thermal Spring Water Spray

200ml of Cleansing Gel and 50 ml of the Thermal Spring Water Spray

~AG~

Bought this set today at Guardian for $29.90. Such as good for value purchase. The retail price for the Cleansing Gel alone is $30. So the travel version of Avène Thermal Spring Water is basically free :) This Avène Cleansing Gel has been on the market for years. I remember seeing it ever since I was in Secondary School which was decades ago. 

Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel is suitable for sensitive oily, blemish-prone skin type. 

Its benefits are:
1) Cleansing:  It gently cleanses your skin with its gentle cleansing base
2) Mattifying: Monolaurin (patent pending) regulates the hyperproduction of sebum.
3) Soothing: Avène Thermal Spring Water provides soothing and anti-irritating benefits.
It leaves the skin clean, clear and refreshed

Avène Thermal Spring Water Spray is an award-winning product. Avene's star product works especially well for sensitive, hypersensitive and irritate skin. Avène Spring Water soothes and softens the skin. My friends who are plagued by rosacea or redness, swears by this Avène Thermal Spring Water Spray. However, unlike MG who is a devoted fan of facial mist, I am not big on this skincare product. From my past experience, facial mist does not have any noticeable effects on my skin. I will probably pass this Thermal Spring Water Spray to MG instead. 

Please stay tuned for my review of Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel. I hope it works for my sensitive combination skin. *fingers crossed*