Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream, Face Moisturizer, face cream for sensitive skin, helps restore skin barrier, restorative cream, safe for infants, children and adults

In seeing so many negative reviews I felt compelled to weigh in as this is my favorite moisturizer. I have very dry, menopausal skin. Additionally, I have rosacea which seems to have been a nice gift from said menopause (you can only laugh, right?). It's very common for those of us in our 50's to have a compromised skin barrier and when an issue like rosacea is present, even more so. Because of all this my skin is very intolerant to most moisturizers and nearly all actives (over the last few years I've had to discontinue my retinols and chemical exfoliators). While ingredients like ALA's, petrolatum, mineral oil, parafin/bees wax, and lanolin are well tolerated and known to be quite soothing, they don't hydrate very well as they are more occlusive than moisturizing. Enter this product. Magically, it does both! It's marketed as a protective cream, which again implies occlusive, but it penetrates like no other. Gone is the tight, dry feeling that persisted even when I had a heavy layer of product on my skin (my previous moisturizer was Eucerin Original Healing Cream -- which still has its uses -- because it was the only thing I could put on my skin outside of squalane oil during a flare).Now, no topical can cure rosacea. However, the right product can calm the skin, repair the damaged lipid barrier, and improve its appearance. This moisturizer does just that and it's become my holy grail. Since starting this I've also added in the Cicalfate Serum which has only aided in repairing my skin. Another Avene product that works great for me is the XeraCalm Balm which helps with itching. I use all three of these daily and they've really helped fix the secondary issues that come with rosacea.As for the complaints about it being greasy or too heavy. I can see this not working for people with normal or oily skin (or perhaps only in moderation). But my skin loves the heavier weight and because one of the ways I soothe a flare is to keep a tiny mister bottle on hand and repeatedly spray my face so I have to guard against the drying effects of evaporation. These products are so lipid heavy that I can wet my face all day long without worrying about that, though I do reapply throughout the day.As for the watery consistency issue, I haven't had that problem but it does caution on the packaging not to expose the product to temperatures below 41 degrees F (5 C). I suspect that if it gets too cold either because of the weather or because of whatever warehouse it sat in during transit it will separate. Maybe open the package and before squeezing some out look to see if it has split and then shake it up/message the tube.So, if you have skin like mine don't hesitate to try this product. I'm leaving this absurdly long review for my struggling brothers and sisters out there with rosacea in hopes that it provides some relief! Happy moisturizing, internet strangers. ;)

I love this product so much, but, like everyone else the water HEAVILY separated. A lot of water just shot out immediately and as i've used the cream it has felt more and more thick bc of that, shaking the tube or not.POSSIBLE SOLUTION:I actually think the company could salvage this problem by upgrading packaging to a Cosmetic JAR and then customers could take a toothpick and stir if separation has occurred by the time of purchase. I hope to try this with my next tube, just toothpaste squeezed everything out into a nice cosmetic jar and stir the water back into the product. This is such a simple solution that could really solve the product waste.This refreshes my skin, doesn't break me out, and is lovely. I break out so easily, and being middle aged my skin really requires a dense help with moisture. <3

Ok, So I heard great things about this cream and decided to order. I ordered on May 28th and I live on the Gulf Coast of Texas and it is in the low 90s right now. I was worried mine would arrived separated like many others claimed to have gotten theirs, and sadly it did. Warm weather or not, blue water shot out of the tube the minute I squeezed it. Luckily, I read Mia P's review and submerged my tube in warm water (hot water actually straight out of my instant hot water faucet). I left it for about 5 minutes then shook it vigoroously. It seemed to help but was still a bit wonky so I repeated the process again and success! My tube is totally fine now and comes out in a thick, rich, emollient cream as it is supposed to. I will update my review after I use it more but so far I love the way it feels on the skin. It is very thick but spreads nicely and completely absorbs into the skin and leaves no greasy residue which is a big deal because I have oily skin. I purchased this to help with my Retin A uglies (I actually am using Musely with .05% tretinoin) and am hoping it helps with the redness and peeling I am having. I will update my review once I've used it for a while but wanted to post this review as I saw so many people complaining about the separating and just thought I'd mention that you can fix this issue if you have it (and there is a good likely hood that you will).Update: I've been using this for a week now and I am absolutely in love with this cream! It is the most hydrating and healing cream I've ever used. Usually, thicker face creams like this would cause issues for me with acne or clogged pores as I do have oily skin that can break out if I use products with occlusive ingredients, but this one does not. In fact, my skin has never looked better! This is a must-have if you are using Retin-A/Tretinoin and going through the red/peely phase with your skin. The separation that occurred when I first received it has not been a problem and the cream is staying thick and free from any strange liquidy issues after I put it in hot water as mentioned in the first part of my review.

I avoided purchasing this product for a while due to the bad reviews. However, it is still highly recommended by several dermatologist for skin barrier repair. Upon doing my own research, the product can separate if it is stored in cold temperatures (41 degrees or less). This can be fixed people!! It literally says it on the bottle/box and there’s even a video that Amazon posted saying this can happen. It does not affect the product. It’s just the thermal spring water and some oil separating but it can be reincorporated.So I took the risk and ordered this. I’m a first time purchaser. It was already at my door when I was leaving for the gym at 5:30am so I let the package sit in my car for about 1.5 hours (temp was about 70s). I put the tube in a glass of hot sink water for 10 minutes when I got home. I rolled the tube in my hands for a few minutes to mix everything together. Guess what. It came out like a CREAM. No liquid shot out at me. If you can read, do a little research, and can follow instructions, you can get a working product.I have sensitive skin. It’s been a struggle healing my skin barrier but it was getting better. I decided to do something dumb and try dermaplaning. My cheeks have been very red and irritated since. I did avoid active products for a few days after dermaplaning but it was still irritated. Just with the first time use of this product, it was nearly instant relief of some of the redness. It’s fragrance less which is great. It is currently on sale so I think the value is good for what it is right now. I only used two pea-sized amount for my whole face so I think it will last awhile.This can significantly help your skin barrier! Do your own research and read the instructions!

I was having the worst skin winter of my life. I am hypersensitive and my skin started rejecting an expensive line I had used for many years (EL). My skin wasn’t healing even just using AQ balm on it and occasionally steroids when it was extra bad, and the pronounced eczema on my eyelids and neck for months was making me miserable and gross looking. I started researching brands I hadn’t tried for super sensitive skin and saw recommendations for Avene. We were leaving on a vacation and I was desperate to feel better so I ordered this and the matching serum. I started with only this cream and overnight I saw my skin start to heal. Within a few days it was like the last few months never happened. I carefully added the serum and had no issues. I used only these two products for the month I was gone and had glowing skin the whole time. This is thicker than a normal lotion since it is made to protect your skin but if you let it warm up a few seconds it smoothes easily. This will definitely remain a staple in my skin arsenal and I can’t thank you enough for making an actually gentle but effective product! This picture is two weeks after starting the product, smooth skin and confident to take selfies!

My dermatologist recommended this cream after a laser procedure, and gave me some samples to take home. I found the thick, smooth cream calming and protective for my irritated skin. The zinc oxide leaves a whitish cast at first, which does tend to fade after it sinks in, but it could be problem if you have darker skin. Not an issue for me since I’m pale.Because I liked the samples, I ordered two full-size tubes. Both arrived with the product inside completely separated. The texture was nothing like the samples. I opened the first tube and clear, watery liquid spilled everywhere. I quickly recapped it, shook and squeezed the tube as much as possible to try to re-emulsify the product, and it remained stubbornly separated, with chunky white paste suspended in thin liquid. I’ve thoroughly shaken the second tube and continue to hear the sloshing of thin liquid. So apparently once the cream has separated, it will not re-mix.I don’t know what caused the unacceptable condition of the product—manufacturing variation, storage conditions prior to shipping, or conditions during shipment. Whatever it was, I would not buy this product in this way again. The samples were a five star product. The full size product I received was zero stars.

I bought this because I severely damaged my skin barrier and needed something gentle that would help my skin calm down and heal. My skin was extremely sensitive, raw, irritated, tight, and honestly uncomfortable even with water touching it.This did help, but I do want to mention that if your skin is VERY damaged or raw, there can be some stinging at first. I experienced that myself during the first few applications. The stinging didn’t last long for me, but I think it’s important to mention because people with damaged barriers are usually desperate for relief and can panic when products sting.What ended up helping me most was using this as part of a simple barrier repair routine instead of using it alone.What I personally did:* Wet my face first with either water or Avène Thermal Spring Water so my skin was damp but not soaking wet* Applied the Avène Cicalfate onto the damp skin* At night, I sealed everything in with CeraVe Healing Ointment (Aquaphor would probably work too)I repeated this every night before bed and sometimes during the day if I was staying home.If I was leaving the house during the day, I would do the same steps but use sunscreen instead of sealing with ointment. I honestly think sunscreen is extremely important when your skin barrier is damaged and trying to heal because irritated skin feels even more sensitive when exposed to sunlight.I used this day and night, very easy to use, and didn’t experience breakouts from it. The texture is thick but comforting once applied, especially when your skin feels dry and stripped.Overall, I would buy this again. I don’t think it’s some overnight miracle product, but it genuinely helped my skin calm down and recover when my barrier was damaged. I personally didn’t notice any strong fragrance, which I appreciated since my skin was already extremely irritated. I also like how versatile this product is. Even though I originally bought it for barrier damage, I can see why people use it for irritation from retinol, over-exfoliating, dry patches, or skin that just feels compromised in general.

I bought this after hearing a dermatologist on Instagram rave about this cream and now I see why. As someone who suffers from pretty severe eczema this is my go to holy grail for flair ups. Perfect for sensitive skin and can be used daily. It is very thick so provides a thick layer of moisture on your skin. I will say I have bought 2 sizes in this and the smaller size (1.3fl oz) did separate and had a liquid part that would come out. I have bought numerous tubes of the larger size (3.3fl oz) and never had an issue with separation with the larger size. I’m learning as I get older that more expensive does not mean better quality skincare. This is one that is not only affordable, but will also give you noticeable results. I have everyone in my whole family using this product!

Una delle migliori creme che abbia usato, l'ho acquistata anche qui ed era perfetta. Come in negozio

Sürekli kullanılıyor

El aspecto de mi piel ha mejorado mucho desde que empecé a usarla, yo regularmente la utilizo por las noches con una pequeña cantidad es mas que suficiente. mi piel es grasosa y apesar de eso la crema tiene una perfecta absorcion al otro dia amaneces como radiante tambien se las recomiendo mucho para la rozadura de pañal le quita el dolor casi inmediatamente.

I have bought this product endless amount of times. With super sensitive skin it is one of the only creams that doesn’t irritate and creates a great barrier against drying out.It is affordable and keeps my skin hydrated for hours. Have recommended this product to so many friends with other skin problems.Keep in mind it’s a thicker consistency but I love that as I feel like it lasts longer through out the day.

helps as it is ment to do.