Update: This moisturizer has been discontinued.
Have you spent your money on countless moisturizers and still not been able to find “The Love” for your skin? I can feel you; I have been in your shoes for more than a decade. Finding a truly hydrating moisturizer is a challenge.
I would buy a new moisturizer every few weeks, with the hope – this might be it. But it was a failure for a long time until I met Avene Tolerance Extreme Cream. Finally, a moisturizer I can fall back on without worrying about irritation or breakouts.
I was thinking “Do I need to write a separate post for this moisturizer?” But you know what, I have spent so much money on different moisturizers and this discovery is the outcome of that. So, definitely, more people need to know about this little gem.
In this article
The Brand
Avene is a well-known brand worldwide. Its spring water is loved for its healing properties. The same water is part of its products. They have a wide range of products for every age and every skin type.
Avene Tolerance Extreme Cream
Ingredients
Full Ingredient List
Water (Avène Thermal Spring Water), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Behenyl Alcohol, Sodium Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Free of
Preservatives, fragrance, mineral oil, and dyes
Packaging
The packaging of this product is very unique. It uses the D.E.F.I. system (Device for Exclusive Formula Integrity), which was developed and patented by Pierre Fabre. With this, they are able to create an airtight formula that is never exposed to the outside environment.
So, you don’t have to worry about the growth of bacteria and other germs. For this to work, they also make sure the environment is completely sterile in their production plant.
How cool is that! I really appreciate all their efforts to make such innovations.
Though allergy to preservatives is not very common, limiting their use can be beneficial for people who have sensitive skin or other underlying skin conditions and cannot tolerate a lot of skincare products.
Note: Not all Avene products come in this unique packaging, so check the product details of the individual product.
Ingredient Highlights
Avene thermal spring water: The brand is well known for its thermal spring water. It is water from natural resources that is rich in minerals, trace elements, silicates, and unique microflora (Aqua. Dolomiae). Multiple studies have documented the anti-inflammatory properties of Aquaphilus dolomiae extract (first study and second study).
Also, it has lower mineral content as compared to similar water from other brands, making it softer for the skin. This unique feature of this water gives it soothing, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial properties.
It can be beneficial for inflammatory skin conditions, along with strong topicals like retinoic acid and some treatments like chemical peels and laser resurfacing.
Caprylic/Capric triglycerides: This is an emollient that is made by combining fatty acids with glycerin. It gives a silky light feeling to the formulation.
Glycerin: It is a great humectant or hydrator for our skin. It can pull water from the environment and the deeper layer of skin to the top layer of skin.
Shea Butter: Shea butter is rich in fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants. It is an emollient (conditions the top layer of skin and fills in any gaps) and can also act as an occlusive (forms a layer on top and prevents evaporation of water).
It has anti-inflammatory, healing, and moisturizing properties. I know a lot of people think “Shea butter = acne breakouts” but that is not true. A lot depends on the formulation and also how an individual’s skin reacts to a skincare product.
So, don’t give this a pass because of shea butter. A lot of creams and ointments which are useful for different dermatitis/inflammatory skin conditions, actually have shea butter as one of the ingredients.
Safflower oil: This is an amazing oil, rich in fatty acids and antioxidants. It is especially rich in linoleic acid (around 70%) which is great for acne-prone skin. It has moisturizing (an emollient), anti-inflammatory, healing, and anti-microbial properties.
Behenyl Alcohol: It is a moisturizing fatty alcohol.
Formulation
Did you notice the ingredient list? It’s just 7 ingredients. I love products with a short ingredient list since that means lesser chances of a potential reaction. It is a very basic moisturizer with a mix of emollients, occlusive, and humectants, a perfect trio.
It doesn’t do anything special, but it does what it is supposed to do – hydrate and moisturize the skin. The same thing hundreds of moisturizers failed to do for me.
Avene also mentions a study where two products (cleansing lotion and extreme cream) [Pdf file] from this range were used. However, the ingredient list of those products is slightly different, probably they were the previous formulation and the one I am talking about is the newer formulation.
Ingredients of the extreme cream mentioned in the study: Avene thermal spring water, glycerin, paraffinum liquidum, squalane, Carthamus tinctorius oil, Cyclomethicone, glyceryl stearate, sodium carbomer, and titanium dioxide
The previous version had mineral oil and a total of 9 ingredients. The current version has just 7 ingredients and no mineral oil.
These products led to positive outcomes in people with dermatitis (contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, photosensitization, rosacea flare-up, and intolerance to cosmetics). Only a small percentage of these people were given additional topicals like steroids, antibiotics, etc.
With the use of both products, more than 70% participants of in the study had improvement in the skin’s comfort level. There was a significant improvement in skin irritability as well.
In addition, these products also improved the outcome after procedures like lasers, chemical peel, dermabrasion, etc.
These positive effects were attributed to Avene thermal spring water. So, the current version of the cream should be helpful for sensitive skin as well. But since the study had an entirely different version of cream, I cannot directly relate it to the current cream version.
As I have already mentioned above, the thermal spring water has some convincing studies proving its benefits for the skin.
Application and Finish
In the mornings, I use an antioxidant serum (like Dr. Sam’s Flawless Brightly serum, or Skinceuticals Serum 10 AOX+) followed by this moisturizer. It leaves a natural finish on the skin. It is a wonderful makeup base as well.
I skip my moisturizer and jump directly to sunscreen when the weather is very hot and humid. In the evenings, I use azelaic acid on slightly damp skin followed by this moisturizer. I do not get any dryness or irritation from actives in my skincare, all thanks to this moisturizer.
Multiple times, this moisturizer has saved my skin and repaired my skin barrier. Yes, it doesn’t have any special ingredients or ceramides, but it nourishes my skin enough to help boost the skin barrier.
The tolerance extreme range also has an emulsion, which is free of shea butter, but it is not as moisturizing as the cream version. However, it is a great moisturizer for hot days.
Value for Money
It comes in a 50 ml tube and it retails for $38 – official Avene website (price may vary and is subject to change). That’s one small tube! I usually finish one tube in 3-4 weeks (my skin just loves this).
But I am also very liberal with my moisturizer. It might last longer for some. It is a little on the pricey side when you can get some good moisturizers for a lot less, but for me, it’s worth the investment.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Minimal ingredients
- Very soothing and comforting
- It does its job of moisturizing the skin
Cons
- The packaging is too small, wish it came in a bigger pump
- Little expensive
Will I buy it again?
Yes, and actually I have gone through multiple tubes of this cream. There are other good moisturizers that I really like but this is the one I can truly trust when my skin is dealing with sensitivity or a rosacea flare.
Where to buy
Make sure to check the label of the product. Avene has two lines: Tolerance Control and Tolerance Extreme. The cream I am talking about is from the Tolerance Extreme range.
Summary and Score
Review Rating: 5/5
Avene Tolerance Extreme Cream is a simple moisturizer with just 7 ingredients. It comes in unique packaging developed by Avene. It moisturizes the skin and doesn’t leave behind any stickiness or greasiness.
Disclaimer: The ingredient list/ price is subject to change over time, so make sure you check them before buying any product.