Review: Avene Skin Recovery Cream

credit: avene.co.uk

Product Info (credit: avene.co.uk):

Calming cream specifically designed for naturally sensitive skin (fair, thin, prone to redness), or skin which has become sensitised due to climatic conditions, excessive cleansing, drying cosmetic or dermatological treatments. It quickly calms irritation, helps restore the hydrolipidic film and provides long-lasting protection. Its formula has been specially developed with a minimum of ingredients, all selected for their gentleness. Free from paraben, fragrance and colouring agents.

Review:

I have used about 3 or 4 tubes of Avene Skin Recovery Cream now, also known as Cream for Intolerant Skin in the US. There is another Rich version of the cream that I have also used and will review later. 

 I started using Avene Skin Recovery Cream when I got a very bad eczema outbreak. I still have my eczema and I like Avene Skin Recovery Cream because it doesn't irritate my skin further. There is no stinging sensation or redness even when applied at the eczema areas. It does help to soothe my eczema but I need something oilier on top as the areas are usually very dry. I usually layer with either Avene Instant Smoothing Moisture Mask or Avene Cicalfate Restorative Skin Cream, both are oilier creams which I do not use daily. Avene Skin Recovery Cream can be used daily as it is a moisturizer. 


The Skin Recovery Cream spreads very easily and absorbs fast. There is no sticky sensation when applied and it leaves my skin feeling soft and hydrated.  The cream is not oily, it feels more water based and soothes my skin well. Avene Skin Recovery Cream is good if you have eczema skin/sensitive or irritated skin like mine.


All in all, I am satisfied with this cream as it is a simple, basic hydrating cream which does not irritate my eczema and is suitable for my skin type. I have been re-purchasing many times and I even have spares of this tube so that I never run out. 


The cream does not come cheap, it is S$40+ for one 30ml tube, so it is best to stock up during a sale or buy them from hospital pharmacies where they are sold at a cheaper price. 

My Eczema Skin Triggers

I have noticed that there are a few things that trigger my eczema and I thought I'd share it with all of you. For those with eczema, or any kind of skin sensitivity, it is important to identify triggers that set off the skin irritation so as to reduce the likelihood of eczema. Ultimately, I would like to be able to stop topical steroid creams.

1. Alcohol
A very common ingredient found in so many skincare products/cosmetics. It is difficult to avoid it but it is do-able. Alcohol stings my skin and makes my skin turn red. After a few hours or by the next day, my skin will start to itch. It is a common skin irritant but cosmetic companies still include alcohol as it has it's uses - helps product absorb faster, leaves a refreshing feel for those with oily skin, etc. My advice is always look through the ingredients list and avoid products with alcohol featuring prominently on the top of the list.

Problem is, so many skincare products have alcohol within their first 10 ingredients. In most products, alcohol is the second ingredient after water, which means there is a lot of alcohol to potentially irritate your skin. I can't avoid alcohol a lot of the time. The 2 serums I use - Shiseido Whitening serum and Kose moisture serum - both contain alcohol. What I do is a mix it into my Avene Skin Recovery Cream. Yes, I know serums should go first before cream so work at it's best. But given my skin condition, the only way for me to get whitening benefits is to mix the serum into the cream to make it a whitening cream. I mix by rubbing the cream and serum (sometimes both serums) together in circular motion between my palms. After doing this, I feel that a lot of the alcohol evaporates with the heat generated by the rubbing. I then gently spread then pat the cream into my skin. So far, this works for me.

2. Exfoliants
Manual scrubs and chemical exfoliants like AHAs and BHAs irritate my skin but I do have blackhead and clogged pore problems to deal with. What I do now is I only use AHA cream (Avene Cleanance K Cream-gel) only at my t-zone area where I don't get eczema flare-ups. To deal with my cheeks, I use a very mild AHA face wash but only once a week or once in 2 weeks.

3. Harsh chemicals
Chemicals like retinoids and sometimes even Vitamin C makes my skin red and itchy.

4. Some natural skincare products
Since I'm working on this list I thought it would be good to debunk the myth that natural skincare products is safe on sensitive skin precisely because it is natural. Not.True. Don't fall for these irresponsible sales tactics the sales staff use. I've gotten burnt many times by natural skincare products that turn my face red and burns my face like mad. When you buy natural skincare, it is very important to know what goes into it. If you read websites like environmental working group's you'll know how much harsh non-natural and natural ingredients are used. In general, I am wary about natural skincare products, especially if you cannot by sure the ingredients are truly natural or just chemical derivatives of it. I prefer to use skincare brands specifically developed for sensitive skin instead.

5. Dry skin
The moment I don't have sufficient moisture/oil on my skin, it will start to itch. I have to layer on my moisturiser immediately after cleansing before allowing the skin's moisture any chance to evaporate. Immediately after cleansing, I pat dry my skin, use toner and follow with my moisturiser mix (as described above). The Avene Skin Recovery Cream works for me as it is oily enough to counter my dry skin. Creme de La Mer also works but it is also very expensive. Although strictly speaking, I do not have dry skin, but more combination skin. However it is important for me to use products for dry skin as products for normal to combination skin do not provide enough oil/moisture balance for my skin.

It is important to know your skin well. If you have eczema-prone skin like mine, try to identify your skin triggers. It is likely that your skin triggers are different from mine as sensitive skins tend to be a mystery. Just observe how your skin reacts to certain products and if the same reaction occurs repeatedly and results in skin irritation, that might very well be your eczema/sensitive skin trigger.

Share your skin triggers with us so we can all get to know our skin better!

Review: Laneige Multi Cleanser

Product info (pic credit: Laneige.com):
4-in-1 multi cleanser with papain enzymes, removes makeup, removes sunscreen, cleanses and exfoliates skin.

Review:
I use this cleanser on days when I am lazy to double cleanse - days when all I have on is a layer of sunscreen and don't want to go through the oil cleanser, face wash regime. This cleanser saves time as it can remove my sunscreen and cleanse at the same time. (When I use makeup, I will still use an oil cleanser.) Do note that sunscreen has to be removed using a makeup remover. If you are using a water-proof/water resistant sunscreen, I'd still suggest using an oil cleanser.

This cleanser foams well and cleanses well. My skin is left clean with no tight of dry feeling. I did not feel any skin irritation or sensitivity. The exfoliation is very mild and after foaming I can hardly feel anything. It is the papain enzyme that is responsible for the exfoliation and is gentle enough for daily use.  The scent is not over-powering and is a nice refreshing scent that I like. Those who are sensitive to fragrances might have to be more careful though.

Price-wise, I think it is reasonable at $33 for 180ml, almost the same price as my other Avene cleansers.

All in all, a good all-in-one cleanser perfect for the lazy day or days when you get home so late you just want to quickly cleanse your skin and go to bed.