Introducing Avene – not a brand I had heard much of, serial
lagger-behinder that I am, but since the introduction of a relatively comprehensive range
in Victoria Centre Boots (Nottingham) I picked up their Gentle Toner (thinking nothing of it – it was
decently priced and saved me walking into the shop too far) – but when I got it
home for “first contact”, a new love affair was instantly kindled.
My interest piqued, I went on to the Avene website for
more info on the brand, and came across their Skin Diagnosis
tool - a series of questions which ask you to describe your skin type – one of the
more detailed questionnaires I’ve come across on website like this.
Shock of shocks, my results came out to be both “very
dry” and “sensitive” (not in itself ground breaking information….), and the
website then very helpfully took me to a new page where several products were
listed that would be specifically suited to my skin type. Again, not
necessarily that innovative, but I found myself being impressed with their
detail – there were products across all stages of a typical skin-care routine,
along with suggestions of complementary products such as night creams etc. Something I particularly liked, was the
lack of hard sell – and the product recommendations could then be saved on the
website by setting up (what I presume to be a secure) account, so the info
could be modified/retrieved at your leisure.
The bit that really made my day however, was that just
over a week later, a little parcel of samples landed on my door mat, completely
unannounced. I guess this happens to everyone so I am probably not special (sad
face) but I FELT special, just for that brief moment in time. Those little
details are what makes me loyal to a brand – and the fact that these products
work wonderfully just put the icing on the cake. Avene, I am your new Number
One fan…!
These samples were tiny teeny versions of a couple of the
products that had been recommended to me, namely:
Hydrance Optimale Rich Hydrating
cream (SPF 20) – sample size 5ml (for me, two applications!)
Thick, gooey, smells a bit “sun cream-y”, but OH MY GOD MY
SKIN LOVES THIS STUFF – new replacement favourite for my much-loved Embryolisse
Lait Crème Concentre/Baume Riche combo, or No7 Beautiful Skin (dry to very
dry).
Gentle Milk Cleanser – sample size
25ml
Does the job, leaves skin feeling nourished, but can be a
bit residue-y unless you also use a toner. But, seeing as I had already started
to use the Gentle Toner in my previous cleansing routine….. Hakuna Matata. I prefered to use this as a
hot-cloth cleanser, just so I could feel it working. Takes off foundation nicely,
but struggles a little with gel or liquid eyeliner so I always use a bit of
Clinique “Lids, Lashes and Lips” on that bad boy first. I got five decent cleanses out of the sample.
For those of you that don’t suffer with very dry skin,
you will probably not be that amazed – but to poor old flaky-scaly-itchy me,
the deal clincher here is that I DON’T HAVE TO PUT ON EXTRA LAYERS OF
MOISTURISER. For the first time in my life, I can put on one layer, and wander
out of the bathroom happy-go-lucky, even whistling a little tune, while I wait
the obligatory ten minutes for it to soak in properly so I can put my face on.
If you’d told me that was even possible a week ago, I would have slapped you
down for crazy talkin’.
Boots, I’ll be seeing you again very shortly. I NEED TO
BUY EVERY SINGLE PRODUCT.
Jen
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