I still remember how I felt the first time I saw the green cross outside of a pharmacy in Paris. I was in my late 20s, visiting a friend who was living there at the time. I’m not exaggerating when I say I basically dragged him across the pharmacy’s threshold to gawk at all of the French skin-care products that, at the time, were unavailable in the United States.
One such brand was Avène. The line, all of whose products are formulated with a proprietary Thermal Spring Water to help soothe, soften, and calm skin, utterly fascinated me. I’ve been a major fan of the brand ever since—and, lucky for me, it’s now available in the United States. Not only are they available, but they’re sometimes on sale—and right now is one of those times. From now until July 16, products from the popular French drugstore brand are currently 20 percent off on Avène’s website.
Yes, you read that right! Now’s the time to stock up on all the best-selling products from the skin-care brand that brought us Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream, RetrinAL 0.1 Intensive Cream, and more.
Below, the Avène products W+G editors find it absolutely imperative to shop immediately, if not sooner—especially since they’re rarely on sale. Just use code SHOPDIRECT20 for 20 percent off EVERYTHING.
The best picks from Avène’s summer sale
Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream — $34.00
Originally $42, now $34
A rich cream formulated for all skin types, Cicalfate+ is formulated with a host of nourishing, good-for-the-skin ingredients that help to protect and deeply hydrate the skin. In fact, clinical results from the brand point to it helping restore the skin barrier four times faster, and reducing skin discomfort by 80 percent after 48 hours. Not to mention it’s a pretty darn perfect dupe for the ever-popular Crème de la Mer at a fraction of the price (one of our writers tested and compared both, and found that she liked Cicalfate+ more!).
Thermal Spring Water, $8-$15
Originally $10-$19, now $8-$15 (depending on size)
The brand’s iconic Thermal Spring Water, bottled directly at the source and packaged up in a need-to-have spray. I am an admitted devotee of face mists, and Avène’s is one of my favorites—it’s lightweight, cool, and supremely hydrating. It’s also especially nice on a warm summer day, so now’s the perfect time to add it to your beauty regimen.
RetrinAL 0.1 Intensive Cream — $59.00
Originally $74, now $59
Let’s “face” it—most of us are looking for one way or another to reduce the signs of aging. This night cream is formulated with Retinaldehyde, which is clinically shown to be more effective than retinol, to help smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and brighten skin. Plus, Relastide—a pro-elastin peptide—helps plump and firm. It’s basically considered a “Fountain of Youth” of sorts.
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Hydrance Aqua-Gel — $30.00
Originally $38, now $30
Hydration, hydration, hydration. I’m a sucker for it—and my typically Sahara-like skin craves it. This skin-care powerhouse features a host of hydration-boosting ingredients, like Cohederm (a patented lipid trio), hydration-boosting microspheres, and always-popular hyaluronic acid, to leave skin feeling intensely hydrated and looking supremely dewy. I love that it can be used as a daily moisturizer, overnight mask, or along the eye contour, leading to an allover glow.
XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Balm, $27-$38
Originally $34-$48, now $27-$38
For those with ultra-dry skin, this lipid-enriched balm may be just the answer they’ve been looking for. It’s actually even approved by the National Eczema Association to help rebalance the microbiome while supporting skin’s defense system for healthy skin. It nourishes, it soothes, it replenishes, it calms … seriously, is there anything it can’t do?
Makeup Removing Micellar Water, $8-$19
Originally $10-$24, now $8-$19
Micellar water is one of those multitasking miracle workers that continue to fascinate me. No matter how many different brands I try, I always love watching makeup dissolve instantaneously, seemingly powerless under micellar water’s spell. Avène’s version is a 3-in-1, no-rinse cleanser, makeup remover, and toner that helps moisturize and soften skin while it cleanses. I’m not even a frequent makeup wearer, but now I definitely want to be.
Soothing Eye Contour Cream — $23.00
Originally $29, now $23
If you suffer from under-eye puffiness and dryness, this eye cream is one to watch. (I couldn’t resist the pun.) Avène’s signature Thermal Spring Water is accompanied by soothing chamomile, hydrating hyaluronic acid, and antioxidant-boosting Pre-Tocopheryl in a gentle, lightweight formula. “Eye” spy a true skin-care gem.
Solaire UV Mineral Multi-Defense Sunscreen SPF 50+ — $27.00
Originally $34, now $27
Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen. If you do nothing else in your skin-care routine, this is the one step not to skip every day. (Yes, even on gray, overcast days or days spent indoors!) This 100 percent mineral sunscreen provides broad spectrum UV protection in a lightweight, quickly-absorbing formula. Since I’m paler than Casper on a good day, I’m definitely loving the SPF 50+, too.
Cold Cream Nutrition Nourishing Lip Balm — $11.00
Originally $14, now $11
My friends and family know I have one very major skin-care obsession—lip balm. I keep one everywhere—on my nightstand, coffee table, side table, kitchen island, car console, and every single handbag. What can I say? I like to have a super soft pout. Luckily, Avène’s lip balm helps hydrate, nourish, and soften up your pucker, and it’s water resistant. I sense a new favorite on the lip balm horizon.
Cleanance Cleansing Gel, $10-$24
Originally $12-$30, now $10-$24
A soap-free cleanser?! Honestly, that’s all I had to read to be completely and totally fascinated by this Avène product. The bright blue cleanser is formulated for both face and body, and helps eliminate dirt, oil, and other impurities without any harsh stripping of the skin. It also helps mattifies the skin to help minimize the production of excess oil. Sign me up.
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