Avène: Clean Beauty for Sensitive, Rosacea & Eczema-Prone Skin

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If you have sensitive skin, you’ll know that finding beauty products that actually work without causing a reaction can feel like a full-time job. My skin is particularly reactive. I have rosacea, eczema and skin that is prone to breakouts, which means I can’t simply pick up a new product and hope for the best. More often than not, introducing something new can leave me with redness, irritation or yet another breakout.

So, when I find products that genuinely make my skin feel calmer and happier, I take notice.

I was recently attedning a clinic called Dr Rasha in Knightsbridge, and they immediately noticed my rosacea and asked about my skincare routine. When I mentioned that I was already using Avène Cicalfate+, she told me I should absolutely continue with it. It was one of those moments that made me think, okay, I’m definitely onto something here.

If you have eczema, rosacea, irritated skin or a compromised skin barrier, this is the product I keep coming back to. Avène Cicalfate+ is designed to help restore and protect the skin barrier, which is particularly important when your skin is feeling angry, dry or inflamed. I find that even after the first use, my skin looks noticeably less red and feels much more comfortable.

When your skin barrier is compromised, your face can feel almost raw. Instead of looking smooth and settled, everything feels irritated and exposed. Cicalfate+ is one of those products that helps bring things back to a calmer place.

If you’re acne-prone, you’ll also know the struggle of finding an SPF that doesn’t leave your face feeling greasy or congested. Avène’s Oil Control SPF 50+ has been one of my favourites because it dries down without that heavy, shiny feeling that some facial SPFs can leave behind. For me, that makes such a difference because I want to protect my skin every day without feeling like I’ve put a thick layer of product over it.

Another thing I’ve been thinking about recently is just how much we put on our skin.

I’m very drawn to clean beauty, partly because I personally feel better when I simplify my beauty routine. When I switched a lot of my products over to gentler formulas, I noticed a difference in both how my skin looked and how it felt.

That doesn’t mean I’m completely strict about it. I’ll happily wear a lipstick that probably isn’t winning any clean-beauty awards if it makes me look fabulous. I believe in balance.

But when my skin is irritated, I’ve learnt that less really is more.

One of the most useful things they told me at the clinic was about how I was taking my makeup off. I had been using a hot flannel to remove everything, which seemed harmless enough. But when you have rosacea, eczema and acne-prone skin, unnecessary rubbing and friction can be exactly what your skin doesn’t need. She recommended switching to a cleansing foam and washing it away with water instead. I’ve been using Avène’s cleansing foam and have really noticed the difference. When I’m wearing makeup, I double cleanse and simply rinse with water. It removes everything without me having to scrub at my skin.

I’ve also switched to tubing mascara, which makes removing eye makeup incredibly easy because it comes away with water rather than requiring lots of rubbing and cotton pads.

I think the biggest lesson I’ve learnt is that you don’t necessarily need more products. You need the right products. When your skin is reactive, throwing ten different serums, acids and treatments at it probably isn’t going to make things better. For me, the focus has become calming my skin, protecting the barrier, keeping things simple and paying attention to what my skin is actually telling me. Avène has become a big part of that approach for me, particularly because the brand has such a strong focus on sensitive skin.

If you’re dealing with rosacea, eczema, sensitivity or breakouts, I know how frustrating it can be. I’ve been there, and I still have days when my skin is angry. But finding a routine that works for you can make such a difference.

For sensitive skin, my mantra is simple: calm it down, protect the barrier and, above all, keep it simple.